The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 332

NARRATOR

“Quickly, take this boat across the eastern stretch of the river, and you’ll reach the neighboring village. Look for Joaquín at the only inn there. He should be about to leave with his trade caravan. Tell him you come in my name…”

Aldo was giving hurried instructions as they untied the knots securing the boat and prepared to push the small vessel down the ramp and into the water.

Sheltered inside the old boathouse, Katherine watched them nervously, barely managing to slow her frantic breathing after their reckless sprint.

For heaven’s sake, these men didn’t even look like they had just spent half an hour running through the forest like mad dogs, while she felt like she was about to cough up her lungs.

And to think she had supernatural blood—if she didn’t…

“Push.”

With a dull thud and the splash of water, the boat landed at the river’s edge.

All that was left was one final shove to send it down the ramp.

Katherine moved to help them; between the three of them, it would be quicker.

Suddenly, Elliot beside her went rigid.

He glanced over his shoulder toward the dark entrance of the old boathouse, and without warning, he grabbed her wrist and shoved her into a shadowy corner behind some barrels.

“Who’s there?!”

At the same time, an angry voice rang out, and the flickering light of a torch illuminated the face of an older man who entered with a stern expression.

“Relax, he’s an ally,” Aldo reassured with a sigh.

The tension was thick, the atmosphere stifling.

“Old man, it’s me…” he said, stepping forward to speak in hushed tones with the newcomer.

Katherine made a move to leave her hiding spot, crouched behind the barrels, but her eyes met Elliot’s in the dim light. He subtly gestured for her to stay put.

She remained hidden until, after a few minutes, Aldo approached them.

“Don’t worry, I’ve made a deal. He’s the ferryman. He’ll get you safely to the other side,” he said quietly to Elliot, though Katherine could hear him.

“But did he ask for payment? You can’t just keep giving away your grain.”

“It’s nothing, just a little…”

“No, take this. I was going to give it to you for our expenses anyway.”

Elliot pulled a solid gold ring with a ruby stone from his inner pocket.

It was highly valuable and could be sold for a small fortune in gold coins.

Katherine let Elliot take her hand in his larger one.

Throughout this whole desperate escape, she couldn’t help but notice the shift in the Duke’s demeanor.

He had protected her at all times, never left her behind.

Something unfamiliar spread in Katherine’s chest—she wasn’t used to being cared for by any man this way.

“Elliot, you gave Aldo something valuable. I don’t think it was wrong, but… what if we need to pay for more things?” she asked, frowning as she voiced her concern.

They walked hand in hand, trying to stay unnoticed along a path cutting through a field of tall wheat stalks.

Before Elliot could tell her he had kept the gold cufflinks he was wearing, he was taken aback by what Rossella did next.

“Oh! That’s right, I still have this!”

She pulled her hand from his and reached into her neckline, fishing out an old pendant she had hidden among her father’s belongings.

She believed it had belonged to her mother because of the engraved initials on the black opal stone, which was why she had kept it.

When Elliot saw her take out the pendant with the black stone—one that didn’t appear particularly valuable but to him meant his damnation—he froze.

Was Rossella really handing him the magical item her father had used to blackmail him?