The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 281

ALDRIC

Suddenly, Zarek walked to the edge of the bed and, catching us all off guard, knelt on one knee.

"I, until now the last descendant of the Vlad bloodline, heir of the royal house Von Carstein, am deeply ashamed of my parents' actions. Even though I am not directly responsible, I will do whatever I can to make amends for their mistakes."

He struck his chest firmly, displaying the honor of a warrior.

All of this is getting too heavy.

"Then, I too must ask for forgiveness on behalf of the Selenias. I always thought it was unfair for us to be the ones sacrificed—why only us, out of all supernatural beings?" Gabrielle added.

"Now I understand why. Power comes with responsibilities that we failed to fulfill."

A tense silence settled over the room.

Celine helped Zarek to his feet, Quinn embraced his mate, and we comforted our little one.

"I know how to prevent the catastrophe… I just… need your support," Sigrid suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"No," I answered without hesitation. "Whatever you’re thinking—"

"Dad, I have to do it!" she grabbed my hands, leaning toward me, her desperation burning in her gaze.

"I have to be the one to wake him up. I love him, I love him so much… He’s suffered too much. I know you hate him, everyone does, he’s been misunderstood for millennia. He’s not the villain."

"I won’t let you risk yourself like this. No, Sigrid!"

"Dad, if it were Mom, would you let her suffer that way? Would you not save her, no matter the risk?"

Her tears started falling again.

My eyes found my mate’s.

She sighed, nodding, the mist clouding her tired gaze.

I don’t want this. Every fiber of my being resists sending my pup into this fight.

"We will both support her. When she removes what’s left of the seal, all the remaining power of the Selenias will be shared with her. We’ll give you wings to fly, defense, attack, speed… What remains, from Juno until now, will be yours," Gabrielle assured her.

The thought of my mate getting involved unsettles me even more—especially now.

"Valeria…" I call her. She knows exactly what I mean.

"I’m pregnant again. I have two lycan pups," she announces, caressing her belly.

This moment is so bittersweet.

"Really? Is that why you felt so different?" Gabrielle immediately approaches, smiling in amazement.

A bit of happiness, at least.

"Am I going to be a big sister?" Sigrid hugs her, resting her head on her lap, listening to her belly like she used to as a child—back when she didn’t question how little wolves were made.

My mate gently strokes her hair, whispering words of encouragement and strength.

Both Selenias embrace her on the bed.

I glance at Quinn, who meets my eyes.

He is my general, and we have been preparing the entire realm for this battle.

The truth is, I don’t know how far this massacre will reach.

Zarek also watches me, nodding. His undead army is ready—he’s expanded it several times over the years.

At least I can be certain that, aside from criminals and the condemned, the rest enter their grim contract of death with him of their own free will.

"Sigrid, we will all support you—your family, the entire realm. We all stand behind you," Celine finally speaks.

*****

NARRATOR

Meanwhile, Zarek stood on the railing of the tallest tower in the castle.

His mind drifted through memories of the past, his red pupils contracting, turbulent with emotion.

"Are you planning to stay here all night, trying to fix something you didn’t do?"

Celine’s hands slid around his waist, moving up to caress his chest.

Zarek leaned his back against the softness of her breasts, closing his eyes as he tilted his head to the side, burying himself in her neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent that calmed his mind.

"Now I understand why my mother almost seemed relieved when she was called to sacrifice herself. She must have felt it was only fair, I suppose—her conscience," he confessed to his mate.

"One after another, the Goddess only waited for the Selenias to leave behind heirs before calling them to immolate themselves. She stopped at my niece. She wasn’t called, and then several generations passed before another Selenia was needed."

"Maybe at first, she needed more energy to keep him locked away, and later, the prison became stable as the power accumulated."

"Whatever the reason, I feel like I did nothing for the elementals either. I spend my life blaming the Goddess, but no one forced us to make our choices… Sigrid is right—we were scum."

"Zarek, enough tormenting yourself," Celine turned him to face her.

"We all carry our mistakes. Now is your time to fix them. We have to support Sigrid," she told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"You’re always by my side, even if the world collapses, but I can’t bear to see anything happen to you. Do you understand?"

Zarek grabbed her by the waist, whispering against her lips, his fears taking shape.

"Then let’s fight and win together," Celine wrapped her arms around his neck and let her vampire kiss her deeply, pouring all the intense emotions they felt and shared into it.

They didn’t know if this would be the last night they could declare their love.