The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 418

NARRATOR

Katherine carefully unwrapped it, revealing more as she went. She spread it out over the mattress in front of her.

"It looks like a location, maybe somewhere in the realm," the Duchess examined the finely painted markings and illustrations on the ancient parchment.

The irregular, worn edges gave the impression that it had been torn from a much larger map.

"I don’t recognize this place… Then again, it’s not like I’ve been out much."

"I do," Elliot said suddenly, reaching over and shifting the piece on the pale sheets. "I’ve been here. It’s the mountain pass between the Duchy of Thesio and mine, a grim and dangerous place."

Elliot recognized it from certain details.

"Elliot, look, it seems to mark a path within those mountains," Katherine traced her finger along a red line snaking through the drawing, though it was incomplete.

"That place is too dangerous. I don’t know why, but there are some of His Majesty’s specters roaming around. I barely escaped one," Elliot frowned.

"Then why is it marked here? Where does this map lead?"

Katherine’s questions hung in the air.

They didn’t know, but the answers were likely hidden within that small journal the Duchess had to decipher.

The last thing they could have imagined was that a dangerous vampire was right behind the secrets their witch ancestors had buried.

*****

ONE MONTH LATER…

NARRATOR

Things were settling in at Everhart’s ducal castle. Everyone was adapting to their roles, refining what didn’t work and replacing it with something new and reliable.

Freya had recovered thanks to the willingly given blood from the she-wolves.

She spent her days embroidering and keeping a close eye on Lavinia, teaching her how to be a proper lady.

Everything seemed calm—too calm—until one afternoon…

"Brenda sent me a secret note. She wants to meet in private," Elliot confessed to Katherine, handing her the paper over his desk.

The Duchess examined it, her lips curling in distaste.

"What does that woman want? Do you think she’s about to make her move?" she asked, placing the note back on the table.

"Yes, I have a feeling she’s looking for an alliance," Elliot nodded. "She knows that a widow, even if she remains a Duchess and has the next male heir, is still vulnerable."

That was the reality.

The other duchies would soon set their sights on her land, and internal wars for occupation were a common threat.

"Is she pregnant with the Duke’s child?" Katherine mused. "That must be the case; otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to kill him."

"I think we can find out," Elliot said, rising to his feet.

"You’re going to meet with her?" Katherine’s words dripped with jealousy.

Elliot smirked, tempted to tease her, but the dangerous gleam in the witch’s eyes made him think twice before joking.

"Don’t be silly, baby, you’re coming with me. Whatever deal she wants to make, she’ll have to say it in front of my representative."

"Funny," Katherine scoffed, patting his chest at his playful tone.

Elliot kissed her deeply, their mutual desire as wild as ever.

"Do you think it’s dangerous?" she asked breathlessly against his lips.

She intended to get rid of Thesio.

"Brenda, spare me the tears. Whatever Thesio does to you in private is your business. The only thing that matters is—what do you want from me?"

Elliot cut through her complaints, uninterested, and got straight to the point.

Something was making him uneasy.

Vorath was restless, itching to come out, even though they had agreed not to expose themselves in front of Brenda’s she-wolf.

Something in the air felt suffocating, a looming threat creeping in the shadows, too close to his mate.

Neither of them liked it.

"I want us to be allies. I want you to declare me under your Duchy’s protection, and in return, you can claim part of my territory," she offered, a deal that was quite beneficial for the Duke.

"Elliot—"

"Call me Duke," he corrected her, knowing full well he needed to appease the fiery woman beside him—or he’d be sleeping in the stables tonight.

"Duke," she repeated through gritted teeth. "I just want to survive and avoid being attacked by other nobles. Leave me some land, give me enough money to live comfortably, and the rest is yours."

"If you were pregnant, it would be easier for you to hold onto the Duchy…"

"I don’t want it. I don’t want a child from that beast," she replied, lowering her head in feigned distress.

Neither of them believed her for a second.

BAM!

Suddenly, the window beside Katherine flew open, and an icy gust of wind rushed in, making them shudder.