The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 381

NARRATOR

“Ma… Madame?” The maid dared to step forward, gently pushing the wooden door.

“I'm sorry if you're sleeping, but it's urgent, we don't know if the Duke... Aahhh!”

She screamed, covering her mouth with her hands as she saw Nanny Freya lying on the carpet, a pool of blood spreading around her head.

Instinct drove her forward instead of freezing or running away.

“Mrs. Freya!” She threw herself to her knees beside the lifeless body.

Laura had been a volunteer at the treatment center; she knew the basics.

Her trembling fingers stretched out, her lips quivering as well. Everything in her was shaking uncontrollably!

"Please be alive, for heaven’s sake, please, Mrs. Freya," her cold fingertips touched the pulse on the side of the elderly woman's neck.

After a few seconds, Laura closed her eyes, and tears slipped from the corners.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO FREYA?!" The Duchess's roar snapped her out of it.

Laura's eyes shot open, meeting the woman's distorted expression, filled with fury and shock.

"I didn’t do anything, I swear! I found her like this! Ah!" she shrieked as the Duchess shoved her roughly aside and threw herself over the old woman’s body to examine her.

Laura’s hand landed straight into the burning embers of the fireplace, making her hiss in pain. Still, she understood the gravity of the situation.

"I just found her here, right now! She's alive, still alive, Your Grace! I can give her first aid!" She tried to approach again, attempting to calm the Duchess, who was sobbing while clinging to her old nanny.

"If you lie to me, I'll burn you alive, I swear I will! Save her! Save her as if she were your own mother!" Katherine roared desperately, not caring about being unfair.

Seeing Freya like this had shaken her to the core, and worse, she hadn't found Lavinia in her room.

With pain gripping her soul, she had no choice but to leave the old woman in the maid’s hands.

She ran out like a madwoman, searching for her daughter everywhere. That wretched woman and her son had taken her little girl.

"SEARCH EVERY INCH OF THIS DAMNED DUCAL ESTATE! NOBODY SLEEPS, NOBODY EVEN BREATHES UNTIL MY DAUGHTER IS FOUND!" she commanded with absolute authority to her escort, and soon, the guards in the vicinity were also summoned.

The servants were suddenly yanked from their much-anticipated holiday.

Now, the entire castle was being turned upside down, every nook and cranny searched, but that “secret” exit wasn't called that for nothing.

Only three people knew about it: Elliot, her right-hand man; Mr. Wallace; and, of course, the butler’s trusted little friend, Mrs. Prescott.

*****

Katherine also sent for the Duke’s personal physician, who was immediately summoned.

Freya’s life was hanging by a thread; she had lost too much blood.

In the midst of her desperation, the Duchess suddenly remembered the spellbook.

Someone was creeping up behind her—she was sure of it.

The whistling of the wind and the attacker's labored breathing made her react, throwing herself to the side just in time.

CRACK! An object smashed against the wall, shattering into pieces.

Shards of glass scattered in the air, droplets of water splashed everywhere, and flowers tumbled down like a macabre spring scene, making it clear that someone had been aiming to smash the bedside vase over her head.

"YOU!" Sprawled on the carpet, Katherine immediately recognized the man who had ambushed her. "STOP!"

Francis decided to make a run for it. He couldn't waste more time dealing with this lunatic or he'd be surrounded within seconds!

But he had barely taken a few steps when Katherine pounced on his back like a wild animal, clawing at him with vicious fury, yanking his hair with a blind rage surging through her.

“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER, YOU BASTARD?! WHERE IS SHE?! GIVE ME BACK MY BABY!" Her voice cracked with anguish. “Take the jewels, the gold! TAKE IT ALL, JUST GIVE ME MY LITTLE GIRL!”

She roared between sobs, her tiny fists raining blows on his head and back, trying to scratch at his eyes.

Something inside her was on the verge of exploding.

Francis struggled like a trapped beast, thrashing with such desperation that he seemed willing to break himself just to escape the Duchess’s furious grip.

He screamed as something burned the skin on his nape, like a branding iron searing flesh.

With time running out and no better options, he charged backward with all his strength, slamming Katherine’s body against the wall.