'Finish what we started.'
'She is your slave, why the hell aren't you taking her?'
'You're fucking hungry. I'm hungry!'
Duncan's brow furrowed deeply. The warm water surrounding him did nothing to calm the raging storm inside.
"Stay still, Ash. Retreat," Duncan growled at his Lycan, but it only made things worse.
His Lycan, Ash, stirred even closer to the edge, restless and relentless.
'Take the goddamn slave!' Ash roared louder.
Claws extended, scraping against the edge of the bathtub. Duncan's eyes squeezed shut as he tried to suppress the beast within.
That night at the lake, he had wanted to take her right there but decided to test the limits of his Lycan. To see if his inner wolf would crave another—perhaps Valkyrie or even one of the maids.
Just any female other than her.
But no.
Ari.
A sharp pain pierced his abdomen, and when Duncan looked down, he realized he was painfully hard. Just the thought of her had done this to him.
Roughly, he got out of the bathtub. He grabbed his robe, put it on, and stepped outside.
The night soldiers guarding his chamber gave him respectful bows.
As the cold night breeze hit his skin, Duncan shut his eyes, trying to steady his breathing.
"Is she our mate?" he asked his inner Lycan, but the beast fell silent, though it still writhed restlessly.
It seemed his Lycan was as confused as he was.
That night, he had seen the unmistakable ouroboros mark on her neck. Could he have been mistaken?
He could tell she hadn't lied about her parents' background when she narrated. So that isn't possible.
Ouroboros are all dead many years ago.
Taking a deep breath, Duncan turned and decided to take a stroll.
*******
Arianna paced her room, unable to sleep.
How could she?
She had been lying on her bed for hours, yet sleep seemed to have fled entirely. Her mind raced, her thoughts swirling uncontrollably.
She leaned toward the mirror again, checking her eyes.
They were silver—silver!
How could this be?
Her mother's eyes had been brown, a trait Lylah had inherited. Hers had always been green, just like her father, Alpha Thane. So where did the silver come from?
Had her eyes changed color overnight? It felt surreal.
Her mind drifted to the stories she had read with Brigid.
The Ouroboros, dragon-keepers—they had silver hair and eyes. They could control fire. Could she be one of them?
Arianna shook her head. That couldn't be possible. Her mother was a werewolf, and so was her father. She was a pureblood. An alpha blood at that.
Perhaps it was because of Lily's absence that her eyes had changed color. Surely, once Lily returned, she'd go back to her normal self.
Definitely.
But how could she explain the fire incident with the slave master?
Her eyes flicked to her lantern. There was only one way to find out.
She opened it and stared at the small flame flickering gently, its light casting a soft glow in her chamber.
Arianna took a deep breath and waved her hand over the flame.
It wavered, almost going out, but quickly returned to normal. Nothing happened. Nothing unusual.
"Burn," she whispered, commanding the flame. She waved her hand again, but still, it remained steady.
"Surely it's all a myth. Dragons aren't real... they're just night tales told to children," she assured herself.
Perhaps Selene had saved her in the cell, pretending not to, before killing the other slave master.
What was Selene then? Urgh! She doesn't want to think about this.
Her door creaked open, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Y-Your Grace," she stuttered, startled by Duncan stepping inside.
What was he doing there in the middle of the night?
His eyes locked onto hers, filled with pure hunger—pure lust.
As he approached, Arianna instinctively stepped back. Her legs hit the edge of the bed, and she fell onto it.
He loomed over her, his intense gaze boring into her soul.
The way his eyes seemed to devour her sent a chill down her spine.
Duncan's face came close, his lips brushing against her neck.
"What the hell are you doing to me, little flame?" he growled against her delicate skin. His warm breath making her skin tingle.
"My king," she rasped, barely able to comprehend his words.
"Why the hell do you smell so good?" he muttered as his lips trailed to her collarbone, sucking hard, marking her with hickeys.
Sensation hit her body like tidal waves, her toes curling.
His hand cupped one of her breasts, and the thin fabric she wore did nothing to shield her from the warmth of his touch.
It felt so good. Why? Oh she doesn't care.
It was magical.
Soft—perfectly made for his hold. Like her entire body was crafted for him.
His.
Tearing the fabric, his mouth trailed down to her breast, capturing her hardened pink nipple in his mouth. He nibbled on it, sending waves of pleasure through her.
Her moans hitting the four corners of the room and before she knew it, she tangled her finger in his dark long hair.
Surprisingly, he didn't mind, instead, he squeezed her other breást harder.
Her core throbbed, wet with desire.
"Oh... God!"
"My king..."
Duncan grazed her nipple slightly harder. It hurt, but it also excited her in a strange way.
His tongue rolled over the sensitive peak.
"Why the hell does this taste so good?" he murmured, his deep voice igniting her even further.
Damn!
Duncan had never pleased a woman before. He only ever took them to satisfy his lust.
But this slave...
Slave?
Even thinking the word felt awkward.
This woman beneath him.
Her moans—he wanted more of them.
He grazed his teeth over the delicate flesh just above her nipple. Her moan rose, filling the room.
Now that was more like it.
Flipping her over, he pinned her upper body to the bed. Without warning, he shoved his hard fat côck into her.
A cry tore from her lips, pleasure mixing with pain.
Her walls clenched around him, so tight, so warm, engulfing him completely.
His Lycan purred.
'Now that's more like it,' Ask growled.
Thrust. Thrust.
The sound of skin meeting skin echoed through the room, mingling with her cries of pleasure.
He gripped her hair tightly, pulling hard enough to ripple through a few strands.
He was rough, but surprisingly, her body took it all, matching his brutality.
Her eyes rolled back, her spine arching perfectly under his hold as he slammed into her over and over.
Why had he resisted this? He could have taken her with a snap of his fingers.
Good. Just so good.
He released his seed deep inside her, locking her body to his, ensuring she took all of it.
Arianna felt his warmth spread through her like wildfire.
Her grip on the sheets tightened as he began to move again.
One thing she knew, she'd ache all over once the sun rose.
Her king didn't seem to plan on stopping anytime soon.
**********
{NEXT DAY}
Four days ago, she was filled with joy—so much joy that one could see it clearly in her eyes.
However, as the days passed, Valkyrie grew restless.
"His grace is busy."
"He is in a council meeting."
"His grace wished not to be disturbed."
It was utterly frustrating!
Was he so busy that he didn't even give her a chance to be with him or dine with him?
Hell! Every part of her missed him; every fiber and nerve screamed for his touch, yet he never summoned her.
Four days ago, he had given her his word that he was going to announce her as the Luna of the Citadel soon, so why? Why hadn't he summoned her yet?
"All done, princess," her maiden's voice resounded.
Valkyrie's eyes flicked open to the mirror, gazing at her reflection.
She was clad in her finest dress: a golden long velvet, off-shoulder, revealing her smooth skin.
Her makeup was stunning, with jewelry matching her calm, composed self. Today, she would face the king no matter what.
With steps filled with purpose, Valkyrie approached the King's chamber.
Lucky for her, the king was also stepping out. Valkyrie's face lit up.
"Your Grace," Valkyrie greeted, her voice tinged with sweetness.
The king simply gave her a flat look. "What do you want?"
"It's been four days since we last spoke or saw each other. You gave me your word that..."
"Say what you want, Valkyrie. Go straight to the damn point," Duncan cut her off, his voice devoid of warmth.
"Dine with me. Let's have breakfast together, Your Grace. I've had the maids prepare your favorite, and I'm sure you are going to love it..."
The king stared at her for a moment before replying, "Fine."
******
"Are you sure you are going to work? You look exhausted, Arianna," Brigid spoke worriedly, and Ariana gave her an assuring look.
"I'll be fine," she said, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Thanks to Brigid, she was able to cover most of the red marks the king had left on her body last night.
"Thank you," she said.
"My pleasure. I'm quite curious, though. I heard the king takes his mistress like a hound takes a bitch, yet none have ever seen a love bite or hickeys on any part of her body, let alone him visiting her chamber. It's quite surprising to see that he did it to you, Arianna. Maybe you are special."
Ariana rolled her eyes. "You need to stop imagining things."
"But isn't it a good thing? What if the king's having an interest in you?"
Ariana sighed. "Do you think I want this? I really hope the king will never have an interest in me and that one day he'll grow tired and set me free." Her voice grew quieter as she returned her gaze to her reflection.
"Love, mate, dedication... They are all just words—empty promises used to bind and control. It took me long enough to realize that."
"Without the king's order, you can't be free," Brigid pointed out, and an idea slipped into Ariana's mind.
Ariana's eyes shut in frustration. "I have to go home. My sister must be waiting for me."
"Now I'm curious about who your sister is."
A small smile crept onto Ariana's face. "She's the most stubborn wolf you'll ever come across. But she has a good heart... and she's fun to be around."
"I'd love to see her someday. Bye, I need to train with the warriors," Brigid said, heading out.
"But what if the Beta catches you again?"
"He won't," she winked and left.
Ariana snorted. "She is sure drama."
*********
Lylah paced in her cell, unsettled. These barricades were slowly making her lose her mind.
She went to grab hold of them and yelled for the umpteenth time, "I need to talk to your Lord!"
The guard simply ignored her, as he did every time.
"Seriously, don't I have the right to speak for myself? I did nothing wrong!" She yelled at the guard again.
"Be quiet!" The guard snapped at her, and Lylah sighed.
What kind of deep trouble had she gotten herself into? Who would have thought she would directly confess to the second ruler of Lunaris Citadel?
She even spoke improperly with him.
Groaning, she went to sit in the corner with her knees folded. Famished and weak, Lylah thought she might die if she didn't eat anything.
That cruel Lord had thrown her into the dungeon without caring to give her food.
"Urgh... he is so cruel. Why save me when he knows he was going to make me die of hunger?" she whined.
The gate at the end creaked open, and she quickly stood at the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Lord Lucas," Lylah quickly bowed, but then winced at the sharp pain that surged through her abdomen.
Oh heavens! Now she regretted not having the food the maids brought to her while she was still confined in that room.
Raising her head slowly, she met his icy gaze.
This time, he was dressed in his regal attire—dark as midnight and perfectly tailored—giving him an aura of authority and menace.
"I'm sorry for..." Lylah decided to apologize, but he cut her off.
"What is your name, and why did you plan on intruding this place, despite being aware of the dire consequences?" His voice was icy, his gaze piercing.
Lylah drew in a deep breath, sounding polite. "Lylah Greystone, my Lord, and I'm here to find my sister."
"Greystone?" Lucas frowned, a flicker of recognition in his gaze that gave Lylah a little more confidence. "You're an alpha's daughter?"
"Yes. My older sister was sold to the Citadel." Lylah's voice slightly trembled. What if Lady Gelena was right? What if her sister was truly dead?
"Arianna... is that her name?"
Lylah's eyes flickered with hope. This man knew her sister. "Yes... yes, Arianna is her name. She is tall, with long black hair and these cat-green eyes... she's..."
"I know who you're talking about, little one," Lucas cut in.
"She's alive?" Tears welled in her eyes.
Lucas stayed quiet for a moment, then his voice was flat. "Yes."
Lylah breathed out in relief, a smile flashing on her face. She wiped her tears before they could fall. "Where is she? I need to speak to her. She needs to find a way to return home..."
"You think you can get in here, demand your sister, and step out of the Citadel freely?" His voice cut her off like a jagged blade.
"I know what they said about her being a traitor, but that is not true. She is an alpha who loves her pack. The Elders and her so-called mate... ex-mate betrayed her..."
Lucas frowned at the word "ex-mate." Arianna had a mate?!
"The guards sold her instead of killing her. This is all a mistake..."
Lucas stepped forward, leaning slightly as her height barely reached his shoulder, the barricades between them. His cold gaze locked with hers.
"Sinners labeled as traitors are normally sentenced to die. Why do you think your sister survived the slave trial?"
Lylah blinked in confusion. She was curious about that too. Clearly, Lady Gelena wasn't joking when she mentioned that Arianna was going to die that day.
But Lylah had held onto a little bit of hope. Arianna was strong.
However, Lucas's next words sent dread into her core.
"The king took an interest in your sister. She is a slave to King Duncan now... There's no guarantee that your sister will ever be free from him."
The blood drained from Lylah's face.
The king's... what?!
"And as for you, little wolf, for planning to intrude this Citadel and for your disrespectful act, you'll be punished severely—one that will make you regret each day that you made that decision," he declared with utmost solemnity.
Then he spun and left the room.
The gate shut, and Lylah's jaw clenched, but then a smirk formed on her lips.
"At least she is still alive," she mumbled.
She just needed to find a way to escape the clutches of this handsome lord.
********
"They look good together," said a servant to another.
Ariana glanced at the king and Valkyrie walking gracefully outside. Valkyrie was saying something to him while he listened.
Seeing them together gave a strange pang in her heart.
The king's gaze met Ariana's, but it didn't last a second before he averted his eyes.
"I know, right? I've heard the king plans to announce Lady Valkyrie as his Luna at the upcoming grand festival."
Ariana's movement froze.
"The news is spreading like wildfire through the citadel."
I guess the king has been delaying this, using it to wait for his true mate. Maybe he has given up.
"The king has no choice, by the way. He needs to show allegiance with the alphas. So I've heard."
For some reason, the servant's words got under her skin. When she glanced in the king's direction again, they were already leaving.
"Hello again," Atlas greeted behind her, flashing a sweet smile.
"Good evening, Ser," she replied, forcing herself to return the smile.
"I hope you have a beautiful night," he said, walking with her as she took an empty bucket to fetch some water.
"I did, Ser," she lied. "How about yours?"
As they walked, they crossed a slave who flashed a smile at Atlas but shot a displeased gaze at Ariana.
Atlas had a lean, muscular frame, a cheerful aura, and a cute smile. Many of the female slaves swooned over him, but not her.
"Mine was alright. It looks like you didn't sleep a wink, though," Atlas observed. "Is there something troubling you? You know I promised to help."
Ariana forced a smile. "That is so kind of you, Ser Atlas. But do you have any idea where I can find the headmaid Selene?"
She hadn't seen Selene since that day, and she needed answers about what was happening to her.
"She is in the servants' wing, preparing for the upcoming grand festival," he replied. "Is there something you need? I can help instead."
Ariana's lips paused. Why was this master so nice to her? Did he have any motive, just like the previous one?
She shook her head lightly. "No, Ser. I'm good," she continued walking, and he followed.
"So you've confirmed it. Your eyes are silver in color," Atlas said as they walked.
"Yes, they are," her voice trailed off.
"Wait," Atlas said, and Ariana stopped in her tracks. "You have something in your hair."
He reached out to pluck the leaf from her hair before she could reply.
"Thanks," Ariana flashed him a small smile.
As they spoke, Duncan watched from a distance, his gaze piercing as he observed Ariana smile with the new slave master.
Valkyrie noticed this and, deciding to avert the king's attention, spoke up.
"Shall we—"
"I'll leave for my chamber," Duncan cut her off and left.
Valkyrie's gaze returned to Ariana. This b!tch annoys her for no good reason.
But then a thought slipped through her mind, and she smirked. All right, it's been long since she taught this b!tch a lesson; now is the time.
******
By evening, Ariana was done with all her work. As she started to head for her chamber, a maid came up to her.
"The king summoned you."
Sighing, Arianna headed for the King's chamber instead.
Stepping in, she found the room empty. It seemed the king was busy with something.
Or perhaps with Valkyrie, her mind whispered, and Arianna shut that thought down.
Wanting to distract herself, she decided to explore the King's chamber.
The room was crafted beautifully—huge and magnificent. Ancient paintings hung on the walls, accentuating its beauty.
One of them caught her attention the most.
A dragon-like painting with flames surrounding it. It was beautiful yet terrifying and spoke untold stories. Terrible stories she presumed.
The door suddenly swung open, and three hefty guards stepped in with Valkyrie.
With one look, Ariana could guess what was happening.
"You dare come into my darling's chamber without being summoned? You are here to steal something, are you not?" Valkyrie smirked, and Ariana's face turned pale.
"Guards! Arrest her!" she roared, and the guards grabbed Ariana.
"You fûcking b!tch! I did nothing wrong! You have no proof!" Ariana yelled defiantly, her eyes showing no fear.
"B!tch?" Valkyrie glared. "How dare you insult your Luna?" Valkyrie shifted her gaze to the most powerful guard in the room. "Do it!"
The hold on Ariana's shoulders tightened. The hefty guard landed several punches on her stomach, making her groan out loud.
Blood spilled from her lips. The impact made her ribs hurt so badly.
A roar tore inside her. That familiar growl... Ariana's eyes went wide.
"Thieves are to have their hands cut off," Valkyrie smirked.
They held Ariana's arm as one of them pulled out a sword, raising it in the air to cut off her arm.
Another growl sounded within her... Just around the corner, a fire in the room was triggered in response.
"What the fuck is happening here?"
The king's deep voice made them all freeze.
Valkyrie was surprised. The king was supposed to be in a council meeting... not here.
"Darling," she kept her voice steady as the king stepped towards her like a predator.