The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 167

NARRATOR

As Merkall stretched out his arm and began to read the runes beneath him, his knowledge as a sorcerer came into play.

Suddenly, as the words fell from his lips, the chains wrapped around Zarek’s body began to move like venomous serpents, slithering across the spirit of his form.

The bindings slipped from Gabrielle’s hand and began to glow, coiling tightly around Merkall’s extended wrist. He felt like the king of the universe.

Every vein in his body pulsed with ecstasy, and adrenaline surged through him, fueling his desires and delight.

“Oh, yes... fuck,” he nearly had an orgasm, closing his eyes in sheer pleasure as he seized control of that ancient and powerful magic—chains forged by the Goddess herself to bind such a dangerous and untamable being.

When Merkall opened his eyes, breathing heavily with sparks still flickering in his pupils, his new servant stood before him.

“Show me your army, Zarek. Show me why you were so feared!” he commanded arrogantly.

Now he was the master and ruler of everything here—he could feel it, every nail and plank, every door and window in the castle, all under his command.

“As you command, master,” Zarek replied, barely concealing the mocking smile tugging at the corner of his cruel lips.

He walked toward the wide balcony, Merkall following close behind.

Gabrielle watched the back of that foolish sorcerer. She didn’t know what Zarek was planning, but it wouldn’t be anything pleasant—he was a sadistic bloodthirsty monster.

Her gaze shifted to Celine, who still stood frozen, as if spellbound.

Why did she still seem to be under Merkall’s control?

Gabrielle remained silent, protecting her as she had promised Quinn, not wanting to interfere with the prince’s plans. She knew the safest person in this castle right now was Celine herself.

As Merkall rubbed his hands in anticipation, eager to witness the greatest manifestation of Zarek’s power—the army that had once ravaged the land, an army he sought to control—something stirred deep within the castle.

Blood-red eyes snapped open in the darkness of the dungeon, and the chains wrapped around his body began to glow intensely. A burst of energy illuminated the deep cell.

Zarek’s deadly fangs gleamed in the darkness as he stretched his hands and lazily rubbed his neck.

The sharp clatter of chains hitting the floor echoed through the space.

The curse of that damn Goddess no longer existed—he had dismissed it.

His pact with her was to protect the Selenias; he had no obligation to lend his power to anyone else.

Even the Selenias had to ask for his help politely; they were never his owners, and he certainly wouldn’t bow to this pathetic sorcerer who had just signed his own death contract.

Kael had only taken possession of part of the castle and the throne because Zarek had been asleep, indifferent to this world, to Gabrielle’s dealings.

But now, everything had changed.

However, Zarek was in no rush.

He leaned back against the wall, waiting patiently while his spiritual projection toyed with that fool of a magician.

Zarek wanted her to come and rescue him.

The rain began to subside over the castle, and below, all the twisted sounds fell silent at once.

"My dear brothers-in-arms, as you've already heard, there’s a new master in the castle, so I think it’s time to show him our respect and welcome him properly!" Zarek announced, the Machiavellian smile on his handsome face becoming harder to conceal.

"Bring in our newest acquisition!" he roared, and Merkall felt a terrible premonition creep up his spine.

He glanced back at Celine and gave her secret orders.

"Look, sir, our new recruit is eager to present you with his offering."

"I don't know what you're planning, but you're going to regret it if... LAILA!"

Merkall leaned dangerously over the edge of the balcony, staring in horror at his daughter’s terrified face as she stumbled forward, the ranks of the undead parting for her passage.

She couldn’t speak; her mouth was sewn shut, tears streaming endlessly from her swollen, red eyes. Her entire body was covered in filth, her hair a tangled mess, and her arms were held tightly behind her back by none other than Dante, the former vampire leader of the rebellion.

"I thought, since you enjoy playing with puppets so much, you'd appreciate this little performance. Shall I start the show for you?" Zarek spoke beside him with malice, his cruel expression igniting both fear and fury in Merkall.

"Give me back my daughter, you monster! I’ll destroy you! I want you to burn along with this damned castle, to ashes, to the ground!" Merkall bellowed, summoning his magic and attempting to tighten the contract chains around Zarek.

The prince, visibly bored, simply flicked his hand, and the silver chains crashed to the floor, corroding and disintegrating into nothing.

"No, no! I signed the contract! I am the master! No matter how powerful you are, you can’t defy the power of the Goddess...!" he screamed, stumbling backward in sheer panic, frantically invoking his magic, which rebounded off Zarek's body without leaving a single mark.

In the blink of an eye, he found himself being lifted into the air, Zarek’s hand wrapped tightly around his throat.