The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 159

NARRATOR

Whispers of footsteps echoed through the forest, the moonlight revealing silhouettes moving stealthily and cautiously, hiding and waiting.

“The entrance to the cemetery is just ahead...”

“No, we’ll go another way,” Dante cut off the hybrid who was his trump card. “Follow me.”

He ordered, and although doubtful, Celine followed his quick steps in silence until the sound of water reached her ears.

Dante led her through a stream filled with pebbles, following the current until they reached tall weeds that obscured the path ahead.

When the vampire pushed aside the thick grass, Celine was astonished to see the water flowing from a large, round hole—like the exit of an old aqueduct.

“Come on, let’s go through here. This area is still outside the castle’s influence. Zarek doesn’t control it, and it’s safer than the cemetery. Let’s go.”

He gestured with his hand, and both stepped into the dark hole, their boots splashing in the water.

The damp, stale air reeked of death and decay.

“But why don’t you want to go through the cemetery?” Celine asked curiously.

The truth was, she felt awful—nauseous, with a throbbing headache, barely able to move forward.

It was as if puppet strings were pulling at each of her limbs.

“The cemetery isn’t safe. If we take this route, we should end up directly in the inner plaza, inside the castle walls, after you help me pass the barrier.”

Dante didn’t want to give too many explanations to that fool. He wasn’t sure how much Merkall had invaded her mind— that old manipulator must have had some vision involving this girl.

The cemetery wasn’t safe for one simple reason. Despite being imprisoned for centuries, Dante feared the power of that formidable vampire prince he had only heard about in whispers.

Celine cautiously looked around, scanning the narrow stone walls that twisted deeper underground.

Her vampire eyes pierced the darkness.

Soon, the path opened into a vast chamber with many dark tunnels leading to unknown places.

And in one of them, crouched like a predator, was Merkall.

He knew it. He knew Dante would take the old aqueduct route.

This was the vision he had of her—guiding Dante to the castle.

The only thing he hadn’t known was the exact moment it would happen, so when fate led Celine into his hands, he decided to take control and give destiny a little push.

What he never understood from his vision was how she could enter the castle. Now he knew—it was through her bond with that powerful bloodsucker.

The red mark on the inside of her thigh, which he used to confirm that she was the same woman from his clairvoyance, seemed to be connected to Zarek.

“Celine, tell me, do you feel any kind of pull? From here on, it’s a maze of tunnels, it’s hard to tell the way. I haven’t gone any further,” Dante asked. He seemed relaxed on the outside, but inside, he was more than alert.

“I think...” Celine looked at the gaping tunnel mouths, but one in particular seemed to pull her in. “That way.”

She pointed, but as soon as she took a step, her entire mind exploded in agonizing pain, as if thousands of knives were stabbing into her brain.

She clutched her temples, roaring in agony, bending forward.

“Yes, boss! We checked the tunnels; there was no one here!”

“And you checked, you fools… but did you look for animals?” Dante sneered, his amusement palpable.

At his words, Merkall tensed. It couldn’t be—had Dante prepared so far in advance?

When did he suspect enough to set up an ambush before they could spring theirs?!

“Attack him! Don’t let him live!” Merkall ordered in a panic, but it was already too late.

Dante roared, baring his fangs, and a shrill cacophony of high-pitched screeches filled the tunnels, accompanied by the thunderous flapping of wings.

Dozens of bats, camouflaged in the darkness, swooped in, their wings whipping the air and sending the sorcerers into a frenzy as they realized their fatal mistake.

The sorcerers began hurling fireballs, elemental spells, and gusts of wind to push the creatures back, but soon the dark cloud loomed above them.

“Slaughter these damned rebel slaves! I’ll promote anyone who brings me Merkall’s head!” Dante bellowed in rage.

To him, anyone who wasn’t a pure vampire was nothing but filth. He strongly agreed with the former Vampire King on that matter.

Wings shifted into arms with razor-sharp claws, transforming into soldiers—men and women—who descended into the chaos, clashing with the sorcerers in a bloody battle.

Blood flowed into the slow-moving water, and the air was thick with the stench of death.

Magic against brute strength and speed. In such a narrow and enclosed space, the vampires held the advantage.

As the chaos consumed the depths of the old aqueduct, Dante seized the opportunity to drag the tormented Celine down the tunnel she had pointed out.