The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 193

SIGRID

That man had sat up and was attacking me, with a monstrous strength I had no idea where he was pulling from, given his condition.

"I'm… removing… the seal," I clawed at his wrists, fighting against the lack of oxygen, staring directly into that golden eye now burning with clouded, erratic fury.

Madness lurked in its depths.

"Don’t… touch me… you damn…—" he growled, his voice dripping with such visceral, bloodthirsty hatred that it sent shivers down my spine.

"Aagghh," I gasped, struggling against him.

His black nails dug deeper and deeper into my pale throat, darkness creeping into my vision, dizziness clouding my mind.

"I'm not… her… calm… down… I'm not… Lucre…cia…"

I realized he was confusing me with her—that the hatred he felt for his former mistress was fueling the last remnants of resistance in his body.

I was going to have to attack him—I could feel it—but I wasn’t about to die for someone else’s sins.

Just as I was about to summon flames in my hands, the pressure on my neck began to ease, little by little.

I started coughing the moment he finally let go, my fingers brushing over the bruises that would no doubt remain on my skin.

I kept my eyes on him the entire time as I regained my composure. He just stared at me, lost, his hands shaking.

Looking into that dark eye, its iris completely black, an abyss with no end, would be enough to give me nightmares.

"I was only removing her mark," I explained hoarsely. "She won’t know you escaped death."

I gestured toward his groin, looking away, and at last, he understood.

"I… I’m sorry…" he rasped, his voice low, guttural, twisted—like everything about him. "You… may punish me…"

"I'm not going to punish you. Just… lie down, and as hard as it may be, try not to choke me again, or I will kill you," I warned him.

Obediently, he collapsed back onto the pillow.

"Let’s get one thing straight—I’m not interested in you as… as a sexual slave or anything like that," I clarified, sitting at the edge of the mattress.

"I just want a quiet, obedient servant. But don’t worry—I’ll never ask you to do the things you were forced to do before."

I explained, and he just remained silent. I didn’t know if he believed me or what he was thinking—his ruined features watched me, calculating, waiting.

It felt like I was keeping a sleeping tiger at my side.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath but extended my hand again under his wary gaze.

"Cover yourself with the blanket," I instructed, heading to the entrance.

I let the innkeeper in, followed by two servants and a woman who began setting food on the table while the men filled the wooden tub with buckets of hot water.

"In the morning, bring breakfast and a basin of clean water. Knock, leave it in the hallway, and don’t wait for me to answer. Unless I call for you, don’t disturb us," I ordered, tossing him another coin.

If Electra had anything in excess, it was money.

I walked toward the steaming water and dipped my hand in, pouring healing magic into it.

"That food is yours, and so is the hot water. Bathe and clean yourself up. The wounds will sting, but bear with it—it’s for healing. I’ll come for you tomorrow. Don’t leave this room, and take your breakfast from the hallway."

"Mine? I… I can bathe… with hot water?" he asked in disbelief, staring at the table and swallowing discreetly.

"My… lady… I can… bathe with water from the stables and just eat the scraps…" he struggled to sit up.

"No. It’s for you. Take it or leave it—I don’t care. See you later," I said, turning my back and opening the small balcony door.

The night breeze made me sigh.

Being near that slave was suffocating—he radiated such dense, dark energy, even for me.

I transformed into mist, pretending to leave, but instead, I remained hidden in the shadows outside, watching him.