The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 116

VALERIA

My heart was hanging by a thread, shocked, but I couldn’t just sit and watch Aldric fight to the death against the Vampire King. I had to act—I had my own power too.

I pushed myself up from the ground; fainting was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I had to save my friends—we all had to get out of here.

"I am strong, I am strong, I am strong."

I repeated it in my mind over and over as I stood and lunged at the vampires already battling Quinn and Celine.

Their powers were restricted by those horrible collars, and fighting against so many elite vampires wasn’t easy.

Gathering all the speed I could muster, I went straight for the first one's head, my nails sharpening into deadly claws, and a murderous hiss escaped my lips.

“Aw, damn it! Watch out for the Selenia!” one of them shouted to the others, barely dodging my claws that tore through his chest, sending blood gushing out.

The scent of slaughter ignited my violent instincts. I couldn’t take on the Vampire King—not in my current state—but I could definitely take down his underlings.

“Aahh!” I heard Celine’s scream as I moved among them like a shadow, swift and precise.

Three of them tried to capture me like a wild beast.

My crimson eyes locked onto Celine, who had fallen to her knees, clutching the collar tightly with both hands, agony etched on her face.

That damned spell.

Dodging their attacks, flapping my wings, and striking down with my claws amid their hateful roars, I glanced toward the battle between the Vampire King and Aldric.

They were literally tearing chunks out of each other. I couldn’t believe the Vampire King had time to activate the spell on my friends—Aldric wasn’t giving him a single opening.

Then who was it?

“Celine!” Quinn roared, running toward his sister, but he collapsed too, writhing in agony, clutching his throat as if he couldn’t breathe.

“Which one of you bastards?! WHO?!” I shouted furiously in my Selenia form, surprised to realize that I could even speak.

My eerie, unfamiliar voice echoed from my chest, making them tremble.

Blood splattered in my wake, my claws ripping through their flesh, shredding them to pieces in a fit of rage.

I vanished from one spot and reappeared behind another, tearing out throats and heads until the three vampires blocking my path lay dead at my feet.

But two more remained—I couldn't find those rats. I frantically scanned my surroundings.

“Find them! Search for them and bring them to me—NOW!” I screamed, raising my arms and summoning my magic. Whatever it took, the desperation of losing my loved ones was unleashing all my potential.

A wave of magical energy surged from my body, creating a powerful gust of wind.

A dark mist filled with ravens, flapping like a flock of death, burst from my pendant and soared through the air.

Hunters seeking their prey.

This place was enormous, filled with statues, water, underground caves, and hiding spots, but my ravens moved swiftly, showing me every shadow and crevice through their eyes.

I pursued them as they ran, sending my ravens to torment them, their sharp claws and beaks tearing at them until they reached the end of a bridge. Only a sheer drop into the abyss awaited them.

My feet touched the ground, soaked in blood. Selenia blood, my own blood, vampire blood—my entire world was red and black.

“If you touch us, we’ll drop the key! Without it, you’ll never be able to save those filthy mutts!”

They dared to threaten me, holding up an ancient black key hanging from a silver chain, now suspended in the air over the void.

“So, what do you want in exchange for the key?” I asked mockingly. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to rip their eyes out with my own claws.

“Get us out of here—right now! Take us out of this damn place or tell us how to leave, and we’ll give you this in return,” said the one without the chain. “If you trick us, we’ll throw it into the waterfall!”

“Fine, sounds fair,” I said, nodding with sarcasm before flashing them a sinister, malicious smile.

“The exit is right behind you, gentlemen. If you jump, you'll reach your Dark Realm—the same lake we entered through.”

“What?! You think we’re idiots?! You have three seconds to summon your damn Selenia magic, or consider them dead! By now, they must be burning from the inside out. Every second you waste playing the brave one means less time for them!”

“Three seconds sounds fair. Let’s start counting. One…” I took a determined step forward, watching their bodies tremble in fear. “Two…”

“Believe it or not, we’ll drop the key…! WE WILL! STAY BACK, DON’T COME ANY CLOSER!”

“Three…” I whispered the final count, becoming one with the wind, lunging at them like a blur they could barely see.

A scream, deep and primal, erupted from within me, announcing their deaths as both my hands plunged into their chests, tearing through skin, muscle, and tendons until I reached the organ that kept them alive.