The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 186

20 YEARS LATER…

NARRATOR

"SIGRID!!"

Zarek’s thunderous voice echoed through the dark castle.

Celine, seated in the library, looked up with a smirk before returning to her book.

Who knew what trouble that girl had gotten herself into this time with her mate’s belongings?

Sure enough, the Dark Prince was fuming as he stormed into his secret library—where he kept every kind of dark and forbidden sorcery book.

They were called forbidden for a reason—the spells inside were dangerous, ominous, and came at a steep cost. That was why he kept them hidden from certain unscrupulous little hands—and that hyperactive brain.

"This time, I won’t let it slide. Sigrid, get the fuck out here—NOW!"

Zarek left the underground chamber, his mind scanning the entire palace. But, as always, that menace of a Selenia was—without a doubt—his archnemesis. The bane of his power. The only one capable of hiding even within his own domain.

"ROUSSE, GET OVER HERE!" he commanded, summoning his commander—one of his most loyal undead servants.

"You were in charge of this area! I gave explicit orders that Sigrid was not to wander in here! HOW did she get into the forbidden library?!"

His ruby-red eyes bore into Rousse, practically burning with fury.

"Y-Your Highness, I… I stepped away for just a moment… I was bringing this deer to the kitchen—"

If Rousse’s pale, corpse-like skin could sweat, he’d be drenched right now.

Zarek glared at the basket in his hands—dripping with fresh blood, covered by a dark cloth.

"Of all times, you decided to play errand boy now? Did I order you to serve in the kitchen?"

Rousse stammered.

This entire mess was clearly Sigrid’s doing. And he had been the main trigger.

From the moment that Selenia was born, Zarek knew. Maybe it was because she had consumed so much of his blood while in Valeria’s womb—but dark magic had dominated her power.

Zarek would swear she was the reincarnation of the most powerful sorceresses of the past.

And to make things worse?

She had always followed him around like a shadow, obsessed with learning his spells—so much that it nearly started another war with Aldric.

Reason?

"Stealing the love of his mini Selenia."

"Wait a minute—!" Zarek suddenly stopped Rousse, something not adding up.

"Turn around. Now."

Rousse’s stiff posture made Zarek even more suspicious.

"W-What… What’s wrong, My Lord?"

"I can’t believe you, too, have betrayed me for that brat—"

Zarek didn’t know whether to laugh or strangle someone.

"Come out."

"P-Prince, what are you talking about…?"

"I said—GET THE FUCK OUT. NOW. Or it’ll be worse later! I will seal this castle entirely from you!"

Every day, the idea of having children seemed less and less appealing.

He had already had enough with Aldric’s daughter.

A transparent shadow detached itself from Rousse’s back—wearing a bored expression as she materialized beside him.

Rousse bowed his head, knowing this would have consequences.

Short, jet-black hair brushed against her neck.

Sharp gray eyes—cunning as a fox.

Pale, flawless skin.

Rosy cheeks.

Plump, red lips.

A stunning beauty—one who could charm you into giving her your soul… only to shred it to pieces in her claws.

"You get more boring every day, Uncle Zarek." Sigrid huffed, raising an eyebrow.

This time, she had almost been caught.

But this ancient vampire mummy was still too sharp and too powerful.

"What did she offer you for your betrayal?! Don’t look away now—TELL ME!" Zarek barked at his commander.

But instead of looking at him, Rousse glanced sideways at Sigrid.

This was the final straw.

"Tio, don’t be mad at Rouse…"

"Did I give you permission to speak?" Zarek cut her off, making the Selenia pout.

"Tell me."

"My Lord, she… well… she was going to talk to Mousse on my behalf…"

Aldric was jealous.

His little wolf pup was always more interested in that bloodsucker’s cursed magic than doing actual werewolf things.

"Did you come looking for me?" Sigrid grinned, her eyes identical to those of her beloved father.

"No. I came to… talk to Quinn."

A blatant lie.

Yes, he did have to speak with Quinn, but that was just an excuse to drag her back home.

"Well, I’ll head back to the castle first and wait for you. Then we can go howl at the moon."

"Hey, don’t mock your old man," Aldric grumbled.

He knew she wasn’t really part of the lycans, despite how much he wished she was.

But Sigrid always humored him.

"SIGRID, I SWEAR I’M GOING TO SKIN YOU ALIVE!"

A deafening roar echoed through the entire castle.

"Oh, no—he noticed," Sigrid muttered, quickly pulling out a few pages she had ripped from the book and stuffing them into the hidden pocket of her skirt.

"Daddy, stall him for me, will you? Pretty please?"

"Pup… what exactly did you do this time?"

"Just do me this tiny favor, okay?"

She covered him in kisses—pressing them all over his cheeks before dashing off again.

"Love you, my favorite redhead!"

Aldric sighed as her short black hair disappeared through the castle doors.

This girl was going to turn his hair gray one of these days.

No matter how much he wanted to call her an angel, she was impossible.

Shaking his head, he watched as she boldly faced that snob Zarek—then turned toward the pack’s castle.

He needed to get back to his mate and reassure her that she didn’t need to worry about their troublesome daughter.

He was seriously reconsidering whether he wanted more kids.

*****

Sigrid ran deep into the woods—beyond the castle’s borders—before finally stopping to catch her breath.

Leaning against a tree, she exhaled sharply, then pulled out her prized loot to examine it.