The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 172

ZAREK

“Mmmm,” I groaned desperately, wanting to speak, struggling against the invisible force holding me in the air.

Despite the instinctive fear creeping into my soul, the rage clouded my thoughts, making it impossible to think clearly.

“You want to destroy everything I have created, you believe it’s unfair that the Selenias must sacrifice themselves for my mistakes. Do you think I want to send my favorite daughters to their deaths?” my sister’s features contorted with the words spoken through her lips.

“This is not the time, Zarek. The conditions are not ideal. Even if you slaughter every creature I have created and turn them into your servants, you will not be able to defeat Umbros. And my time here is limited. I am tired too, my son.”

She approached me and caressed my cheek.

Her fingers burned like red-hot steel against my skin.

My entire body trembled in response to her overwhelming presence, her oppressive aura. I fought to keep my gaze up, but I couldn’t meet those eyes, glowing like blazing stars.

“If you want to end all the creatures of the night, there is a solution, here and now. Without the Selenias, no one can guard the prison. Umbros will be unleashed and will destroy everything, just as you desire,” she said, and my mind began racing frantically at her words.

No, no, that wasn’t exactly what I wanted.

I had done all of this to protect my family, not to have them slaughtered anyway.

“Your niece is dying,” she said suddenly, shocking me as I looked toward the crib.

“Alana summoned me with all her power to save her. In exchange, she will go to the prison, do whatever I ask of her. But she has been waiting for you. I await your decision.”

Then she released me from the spell. As soon as my mud- and blood-stained boots touched the carpet, I ran to the crib.

I don’t know when or how I started screaming like a madman, my trembling and filthy hands reaching out to pick up the pale, barely breathing body of the baby.

I couldn’t bring myself to touch her. A deep wound tore through her chest and stomach, exposing the insides—she was dying.

“Save her, save her, please! I TOLD YOU TO SAVE HER, DAMN IT!” I collapsed at her feet, crying, more desperate than I had ever been. I grabbed at the hem of her dress with clenched fists, begging in every ancient language I knew.

“If I save her, the Selenia lineage continues, and your sister will sacrifice herself. Everything will happen exactly as you don’t want it to. If only your sister survives, I will not force her to go to the prison. You can create your army and wait for Umbros. He will break free anyway.”

“No, no, no, save her! I beg you, take my life! I was the one who offended you! Save the baby, don’t let her die, she is your Selenia daughter, don’t let her die!” I pleaded, offering my life in exchange. I didn’t care about dying for them.

My sister would never forgive me if I made the decision to abandon her. I would never forgive myself.

The Goddess knew this. She knew she had me in the palm of her hand.

“Then I will do as you wish, Zarek, but I have conditions,” she whispered, stroking my hair like a merciful mother. But I hated her, hated her with everything I had.

No one dared challenge her throne—not after the massacre I had left in my wake. They feared the crown, and so it remained for centuries.

I didn’t want to see her in person anymore. I didn’t want her to step into this gloomy cell or feel guilty for anything. Roger twisted the real story.

My consciousness, always watching over the castle, saw her grow, fall in love, and have her descendants. I watched Roger die of grief and sorrow, and I began to experience all the deaths I never wanted.

That’s when I realized that the punishment wasn’t just reflecting as a silent guardian for a few centuries.

Since my wish was to protect my family, she took it to the ultimate extreme.

I later understood that these chains, the ones I couldn’t easily break now, wouldn’t let me age or die.

One by one, I witnessed the births of the Selenias and their deaths. Some were “called,” others were not—it was an endless torture.

I was forgotten, no longer needed. I didn’t even wake up when a new owner signed the contract, and I became the castle’s imprisoned monster.

At some point, the Realms separated, and I spent more time asleep in my consciousness than awake.

I couldn’t die, and I didn’t care to live, so I watched over them in silence.

Until one day, when the cruel Goddess’s conditions were met again, and I would move once more—just another pawn in her game.