The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 430

SALVATORE

My sorceress’s melodious voice floated through the air as the runes ignited with magic, glowing in golden particles that danced in the breeze.

The wind stirred her brown hair—it was just as I remembered, like I had stepped back in time.

When the final words left her lips, words I couldn’t truly understand since they were witchcraft, it was my turn.

"Get out of the way. See? Cooperating wasn’t so hard. I shield you with magic, and this is how you repay me?" I nearly kicked that idiot Brenda.

She stood up with her head bowed, still in one piece.

At least Kath had control over the spell—she hadn’t sent her flying through the air. Now, we just had to see if it actually worked.

"Come, let’s do it together. Stand in front of me," I called Katherine. I no longer cared about keeping up appearances in front of Brenda.

I remembered how the first time, I had held Bella’s waist as she surrounded us with her protective magic.

"No, I don’t dare. I don’t want to lose focus and fail," she refused, and my patience with her endless rejections was wearing thin.

"Fine. Do it however you feel most comfortable." There will be plenty of time later.

And so, the next round began.

I felt the power thrumming beneath my skin, my eyes fixating on the depths of the canyon.

The long-awaited escape awaited me—awaited us. The night stretched overhead, inching forward.

By now, that fool Elliot Everhart should be searching for his woman.

A sly grin curled my lips.

"You won’t find her. I’ll take her from your side."

*****

NARRATOR

Katherine performed the spell three times—two protective enchantments first, followed by a different one just for herself.

It was incredible how the change of a single rune or a mispronounced word could alter everything.

This was meant to be a shield—to keep them undetected by beasts and allow them to escape from the specters.

Katherine wanted to test whether it truly worked.

Everything she did tonight was an experiment, a way to verify if the journal’s knowledge could be used without danger.

She wouldn’t risk Lavinia’s life—or Elliot’s and his friends'.

Could she take them through as well?

With the information Salvatore provided and the stolen pages, they were preparing for an escape. But now, she watched the rats scurrying ahead of her.

They ventured deeper into the canyon, dark as a wolf’s maw and cold as death’s grip.

Air currents whistled through cracks in the rocks and underground caves, sounding like the lament of ghosts.

The three of them remained on high alert, each calculating their own odds, silently conspiring against the other.

Even I was growing nervous, my heart pounding wildly against my ribs.

In the eerie silence, unsettling laughter echoed—or rather, the distorted calls of creatures imitating laughter.

Vicious yellow eyes gleamed from the darkness. I looked up, stiffening as I realized they were watching us from the lower rocks as well.

Hyenas. We were surrounded by at least fifty of them—an entire ravenous clan, and we were their next meal.

"Move forward slowly," Salvatore instructed, and we obeyed.

The three of us tense, measuring every step. Suddenly, a few of them advanced toward us.

"Damn it, Salvatore…"

"Stay still, Brenda. The spell must be working—otherwise, they wouldn’t be so calm."

Sure enough, one of the hyenas—a massive, muscular creature with brown fur and black spots—stepped closer.

So close, its exposed fangs nearly brushed Salvatore’s cloak and trousers. We all froze, watching as she—clearly the leader—sniffed each of us in turn.

I had no idea what scent we carried, but somehow, we had fooled their senses. It worked!

"Love, it works!" I told Elliot, who let out a relieved breath.

This formidable clan of hyenas was only a glimpse of the dangers in this land. Even Elliot, a powerful lycan, had struggled with them before.

The alpha raised her head, letting out one of those strange guttural calls—an order for retreat. I listened as their powerful paws shuffled away in search of their next prey.

Until something changed.