The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 442

BEOF

"Father, I caught the Duchess of Everhart murdering that elemental girl!" he shouted, pointing to the side, at the unconscious woman lying on the grass.

The shocking stain of blood on her clothes, her pale skin—it gave the impression of death. However, I could still hear her breathing. Weak, but there.

The elemental soldiers were beginning to march in. I could hear hurried footsteps rushing through the corridors and the garden.

We would be surrounded soon.

A roar powerful enough to make the stones tremble erupted from that so-called Duke of Everhart as some soldiers moved to restrain him under the leader’s command.

Chaos.

I stood off to the side, debating whether to keep getting involved or not.

From the shouted argument, I pieced together the truth—these two supernatural beings were hiding under the guise of elemental Dukes in this prison of a realm.

"Everyone, calm down. Lord Regent, it’s not wise to approach him now. He’s a lycan protecting his mate—he’ll tear apart anyone who steps forward."

"Do not tell me what to do in my own Realm!" the Regent snapped at Quinn, who had stepped in to mediate.

The garden was a disaster. People peeked through the palace windows, filled with shock and the thrill of gossip.

"I know this is your Realm, but they are supernatural beings. I’m sure there is an explanation for these accusations…"

"What do you know, abomination?!" the Regent’s brat spat, though he instantly took a step back when Quinn let out a low growl.

Fucking coward, hiding behind his daddy’s ass.

"Do not call me abomination... neither me nor anyone of my kind." Quinn’s voice was cold, his glare toward the Regent turning downright menacing.

His patience was running out, and his stance grew more dangerous. I stepped closer beside him—after all, I was part of this ridiculous delegation, too.

"I will not tolerate any more disrespect. I have been patient since arriving in your lands, but I will not stand by while innocent people are slaughtered simply because they are different from you."

"You said it yourself, ‘Ambassador,’" Baltazar finally spoke—at least he had more balls than his son.

"You are not welcome here. So, leave my palace. The Everhart Dukes are members of my Realm—I will judge them as such. You have no authority to meddle in Elemental affairs."

Quinn clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly. I knew him too well—I could already tell what he was considering.

One wrong move, and we’d be back at war between the Realms. The situation was beyond delicate.

I looked toward the pair standing near the cypress tree. For a brief moment, the red eyes of the lycan met mine.

He wasn’t shifting back into his human form. He wasn’t surrendering. And I wouldn’t either.

I would fight to the death for my woman. And judging by his expression, so would he. We couldn’t just leave them to a certain death.

"I will not move from here until I speak with the Specter King. I will not negotiate with intermediaries."

Sigrid was cradled in his arms, massive black wings stretched behind him, still rippling in the air. The deadly bullets aimed at them—suspended in the air around him.

And behind him, the supernatural couple stood untouched. From the dense fog that surrounded him, ghastly mouths emerged—monstrous specters with jagged, bloodstained teeth.

They grinned with macabre delight—then devoured the bullets, swallowing them whole.

"Who told you this was ‘your palace’ or ‘your Realm’? Who named you the master of the elemental beings?"

His piercing gaze locked onto the Regent. One eye gleamed gold like the sun. The other—black as the deepest starless night.

Strange shadows slithered at our feet, moving like black cats clinging to our ankles—omens of ruin.

Even I felt a chill crawl up my spine.

If I didn’t see Sigrid stepping down from his arms, standing before him, I might have still considered this man our greatest enemy.

A rival—one that not even the Goddess herself could tame. He wasn’t like lycans—his strength wasn’t pure brute force.

It was something worse. Something more complex. Something far more dangerous. We all felt it.

And no one more than the Regent and his son—who collapsed to their knees instantly, trembling, scrambling to justify their disgusting actions.

And then—the unconscious woman on the ground, the key witness—finally stirred.

"Baltazar, speak clearly. Stop babbling nonsense. And you’d better convince me… or you’ll lose your precious position… along with your head."