The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 431

KATHERINE

We turned to watch them retreat, but I stepped back, separating myself from the other two. And as the tide of predators surged past them, I stripped away their protection.

Just as I had given it to them, I could just as easily take it away.

How naive Salvatore was—just a pathetic fool who had the blessing of being loved by a talented sorceress.

She had taught him a few magic tricks, and he already thought himself a master, even believing he had me under his control with his great power.

"Zanareth lûmen val’shara, tesh al’morath ven’dorei." I recited in my mind, my eyes glowing in the darkness, golden sparks flickering in my pupils.

"The protection I granted you now returns to me."

I extended my arm, catching the light that evaporated from their bodies. In an instant, everything shifted, and chaos erupted.

The hyenas caught the scent of flesh once more, their hunger driving them back into the hunt.

Their sharp laughter echoed through the mountain pass, and the carnivores began to circle us—or rather, them.

"Wait, what is this?! What did you do, witch?! Aaahhh!" Brenda was the first to scream as a hyena leaped from above, aiming for her head.

She shifted instantly, her wolf form fighting for survival in the midst of the ravenous pack.

I watched as Salvatore pulled a weapon from his hand—daggers, gleaming under the moonlight, razor-sharp.

The scent of blood and the sound of snarls filled the air as he fought, skillfully cutting down one hyena after another, each trying to tear a piece of him apart.

He might have been a powerful vampire, but they outnumbered him.

I grabbed my skirt and ran toward higher ground—I needed to see the full picture.

Where exactly were we? Were we near the location marked on the map?

I had to regroup with my people and wait for the chance to retrieve the stolen documents from Salvatore’s bag.

But then, a chilling sensation prickled the back of my neck. I turned and saw a wolf—a rabid specter from the underworld.

Her fangs dripped crimson, one eye swollen shut from claw wounds, patches of raw flesh exposed from vicious bites.

Yet she had still managed to leap past the hyenas.

Her hatred ran so deep that instead of attacking her treacherous partner, she—as always—chose to go after the weakest link.

"So that’s what you think, idiot!" I shouted, summoning my magic.

I felt it surge through my veins, pooling in my chest, the heat rising and rising, climbing up my throat like molten lava.

My brown eyes flared into glowing gold. My fist clenched over my lips, and I roared, expelling the fire from my insides with all the strength of my heart.

The fire spell burst from my parted lips in ferocious flames, engulfing Brenda’s wolf in an instant.

"Aaaauuuu!"

Through the rising smoke, I heard her agonized howl.

But I never expected that, even in her final moments, Brenda would still try to kill me.

Apparently, she really didn’t take well to losing the attention of two men.

I stepped back as her burning silhouette lunged through the haze, her enraged snarl thundering in my ears.

There was no escape, but I also couldn’t unleash magic too recklessly—I feared the eyes of His Majesty above.

A dark shadow launched at us from the top of the cliff.

Seizing the moment while the vampire was frozen in shock, I shifted back into my human form and snatched the leather bag tied to his waist.

I yanked with all my strength, breaking free from his hold and fleeing behind the tall rocks—giving Vorath his opening.

"KATHERINE!" Salvatore roared, his voice laced with fear.

For a second, I think he actually thought I was in danger. That the lycan was another enemy.

But then, realization struck him like a dagger to the heart.

That lycan is my husband, you idiot. Vorath’s enormous claws shot straight for his throat.

Even in mid-air, his massive form seemed to blot out the moon.

His fangs—razor-sharp like serrated blades, capable of ripping off Salvatore’s head in a single bite—bared with feral, murderous rage.

BAM!

A dull thud echoed as he slammed Salvatore into the ground, attacking with relentless fury.

The sound of laughter and the hyenas scattering filled the distance.

I imagined Brenda’s charred corpse—perhaps they were dragging it away as carrion. I crouched behind my cover, watching the brutal clash of supernatural forces, waiting for the right moment to help Elliot in battle if needed.

Only, I never expected how soon that moment would come.

And in truth, Salvatore wasn’t even our biggest problem.