The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 231

SILAS

My eye itched and burned, but I didn’t stop it. Magic surged from my body once again, and a dark mist filled the night.

"Quick, close the gates! It’s an order from the boss, close them now!"

"Dammit, what is this fog? I can’t see a thing! Alfred, Alfred…!"

"Don’t move, or you’ll fall into the pit—wait, I can’t see anything!"

"Aaahhh!"

Amid the shouting and the grinding gears of the closing mechanism, the neigh of a horse echoed.

It leaped just as the two massive wooden doors were about to shut.

BAM!

The heavy sound rang behind us as the De la Croix stronghold was sealed.

Panting and sweating, every muscle in my body tensed as I lay completely over the back of the magnificent black horse, racing into the darkness and the safety of the forest.

I kept using this magic to hide from the witches, despite the toll it was taking on my body.

My veins, on the verge of bursting, pulsed and darkened like a spider’s web spreading under my skin.

This feeling was familiar. I had pushed my power like this before—to kill someone. It must have been that woman.

It didn’t matter as long as I could warn my lady. I just had to hold on until I found her.

*****

SIGRID

This party was torture.

The only thing I enjoyed—immensely—was Lucrecia’s twisted expression at the entrance.

She looked like she had swallowed a fly.

She barely managed to hide her shock and disgust at the fact that I had been invited.

Fuck her.

I sipped from my cocktail glass, though I needed something stronger, even if I didn’t like these brews.

But enduring the lecherous glances, the constant flirting in every corner, and the murderous intentions of several who couldn’t stand Electra’s arrogance made me want to drink myself to death.

Not that I was in the body of a particularly pleasant woman either.

I tried to slip outside for some air, to hide behind the tall hedges, waiting for Alessandre Vlad to somehow inform me about the exchange that actually interested me.

“Distinguished guests, it is a pleasure to have you here tonight.”

Shit. I got caught just as I was about to sneak out of the overcrowded hall.

Leaving now would be rude.

“We thank the Silver family for making us feel at home.”

They were praising that idiot Lucrecia, all “It’s a pleasure,” “It was nothing,” and blah, blah…

“Well, this party is in honor of our heir, Alessandre Vlad, which is why we’ve gathered the finest of the finest among single women…”

So that’s what this party was for—to find the relative a match. But wait, that means the Selenia who married him, the one we descend from, must be here too.

Petra, a blonde witch from the Sole family, stepped in front of me, eyeing me up and down with obvious sarcasm.

I searched my memories of her and didn’t like what I found.

She had once fought Electra when they were younger—and had beaten the hell out of this fool from De la Croix.

"Of course, I’m participating. See you soon, Petra."

I snatched the paper with her name from Lucrecia’s hand.

Backing out wasn’t an option—that was exactly what they wanted, to humiliate Electra. I couldn’t show weakness.

Lucrecia’s malicious eyes told me she had rigged this match-up. She had a hidden agenda.

Well, so be it.

I would fight using part of Electra’s power—because mine couldn’t be exposed.

But Petra looked far too confident.

She had no idea.

The one controlling this body now wasn’t just some witch who knew a few magic tricks like them.

I had been trained by the lycans—by the most powerful of them all.

My father.

*****

"…Put her out!" they shouted, as a burning competitor was doused in a snow spell on the so-called battlefield.