The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation

 So I got up, barely able to breathe, and screaming like a madman, I lunged at her with my claws and fangs bared.

She lunged at me too.

We fought like we did in the past, only this time it was to the deathno more games.

My attacks aimed for her throat, her eyes, her chest, her weak spots.

But she just dodged and dodged, toying with me like a pet, leading me exactly where she wanted me.

Suddenly, her hand grabbed my head, her claws digging in so deep that I thought shed crush my brain into pulp.

Furious and desperate, I struck at her chest, trying to wound herbut it didnt even faze her.

Her beautiful, cruel face came closer, filled with hatred and resentment.

"Dont think itll be that easy, Kael.

As long as I liveand this time I plan to live for a very long timeyou will always be by my side.

Isnt that what you wanted? Didnt you crave my blood and power?" Her vicious words froze me.

Her claws sank deeper and deeper into my skull, and the pain brought me to my knees.

I gripped her wrist in desperation, clenching my teeth to keep from groaning in agony and humiliation.

"Go to hell, damn you, Gabrielle! You and your daughter can rot! If only you had been mine...

If you'd just looked at me once, none of this would have happened!" I roared, shoving her away and freeing myself, dizziness washing over me as more and more blood streamed down from the holes in my head.

---- I tried to stand, but I couldn'tnothing in my body would respond! Asearing burn coursed through my veins, like acid instead of life-giving blood.

"Give me back what belongs to me, thief," she said, calm and unwavering.

Unshaken, towering over me like always.

They called her the Merciful One, but only I knew how bloodthirsty this woman could be with her enemies.

"Aaahhh!" I couldnt hold back the scream as Gabrielle's blood began pouring from every pore and cavity in my body.

She was draining me alive.

I crawled across the golden floor, trying to escapeI knew she wouldnt kill me so easily.

No, she would torture me for centuries.

Itried to summon my power again, but another scream tore from my throat when my arm was ripped clean off my body.

Through the blinding pain and tears of blood, I looked toward the entrance to Umbros' prison.

I could feel its unstable vibrations.

Asuicidal idea crept into my mind.

Idrather die quickly than suffer a slow, agonizing torment for centuries.

At least, if I didnt survive, neither would her damn precious daughter.

ook QUINN Despite the critical situationdespite my body feeling like it had been burned alive over and over without reliefwhen she appeared, my entire world focused on that woman.

Groaning softly, I pressed my ribs and sat up to watch her as the crimson remnants revealed her pale, sensual skin and long black hair cascading down her bare back, almost reaching her hips.

She was magnificent.

Her commanding voice echoed, distorted and terrifying.

The things she was doing to the Vampire King would chill even the bravest warrior.

Like nowwhile he crawled away like a worm, leaving a bloody trail behind, she merely watched him and followed, savoring her work.

Walking barefoot, she dismantled him piece by piece without even touching him, just slicing through the air with a flick of her long claws.

Damn it.

Why was I getting turned on by such a macabre scene? No, it wasnt the sceneit was the woman executing it.

I didnt even need to see her face clearlyI knew.

My heart, now pounding wildly, confirmed it.

She was the same woman I had seen in my dreams ever since I found that portrait on an ancient scroll.

Thad tried to sneak it out of the village during my illegal ventures into the Dark Realm, searching for a cure for Celinebut they caught me, and I had to flee.

My attraction to Valeria had been a lie.

Tonly saw in her the features of the real woman who had captivated me, the one who called to me, just like nowI couldnt take my eyes off her.

"T love her wild scent.

I can feel it in my instincts, Quinn.

She's ours.

That female is mine," Mordred, my inner wolf, confirmed the craziest thought ---- of my life.

How could I, of all people, even come close to standing next to the Queen of the Selenias? Goddess, what kind of sick joke was this? Dont do it.

Suddenly, I heard the old womans soft voice.

The one tending to Celine.

My sister was in far worse condition than I was.

The wrinkled face lifted, and those eyesdarker than the nightlocked onto me.

"Accept the rejection and wait for another chance.

That woman has a frozen heart.

You will never reach her, and you will suffer bitterly," she warned, her words shocking me.

Who was this old woman? She came from Valeria's pendant as some sort of magical companion, but could she be connected to Gabrielle? Ym not aman who gives up so easily, I replied without hesitation, meeting her gaze head-on.

Imeant it.