The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 41

QUINN

"Stop making that face, like someone just died… Nmmm…"

I couldn't help but groan in pain, clutching several fractured ribs as I lay back on the bed.

"Why are you doing this, Quinn? I told you to stay away from that woman. It's obvious the King has become infatuated with her."

"This is his warning. He noticed you paying too much attention to his maid!"

"Ah, damn it, easy, Celine, or you'll end up piercing my heart with the tip of a rib." Her rough hands were cleaning the blood from my torso, and as always, there was no trace of delicacy.

Sometimes I even doubted she was a woman.

"Are you even listening to me?! Of all the women, you’re interested in her?!" she shouted, exasperated, straightening up.

"Yes, sister, I'm listening. It's just… Valeria is different. She has so many mysterious things about her that draw me in. I don't know why, but I can't stop following her with my eyes every time we cross paths," I finally confessed with a sigh.

"I know exactly what attracts you to that maid…" I tensed when she added that, her gaze lowered as she stood at the edge of my bed.

"They look so much alike, but she isn't that woman, Quinn. End this stupid obsession of yours, or it will get you killed. Heal yourself—it's your own fault for being an idiot." She threw the bloodied cloth at my face and stormed out of the room, furious.

"Valeria can read them, Celine," I called out, watching her stop at the door, still facing away from me.

"I don't know what connection she has to the Dark Kingdom, but she can read the Altars to the Goddess. Maybe… maybe she could help us heal you."

"I don't care for her help if it means your death, Quinn," she replied in a low voice. "And now, even more, since you’ve told me that. It's just another reason to stay far away from the danger she represents."

"You risk your life every day by hiding me right under the King's nose. What do you think His Majesty will do when he discovers his maid has ties to the Dark Kingdom?"

She finally turned to face me, her eyes turning completely black, like two endless voids.

"Celine, he… I don't know. That's also why I don't want to leave her to her fate. Valeria isn't even aware of the danger she's in with Aldric…"

"He will kill her. Just as he will kill you if he finds out you're hiding a hybrid, with half her blood from the Dark Kingdom."

"Brother, forget that woman, or all your sacrifices until now will be meaningless. I won't sit by and watch you destroy yourself over an obsession."

And with that, she stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.

I leaned back against the headboard, sighing in frustration, closing my eyes to summon my powerful lycan strength and speed up my healing.

Valeria's vibrant blue eyes invaded my mind, just like the moment I first saw her and almost thought I was seeing an illusion.

That mysterious woman who haunts my thoughts seemed to have come to life right before my eyes.

Yet Valeria wasn't that female… and Aldric, too, had fallen under the spell of his maid.

I'm not afraid of the King, even though he's stronger than me.

I could feel the others' subtle glances on me, and I thought that any moment now, I’d hear him order me back to his side.

"Nothing, I just wanted to give you some instructions for the next few days while I’m away from the castle," he finally answered in a rough voice, and even without eyes on the back of my head, I knew very well that he was watching me.

His searing gaze burned my body and made my heart race.

Now that he was so close, I wasn’t as brave as when I used to run off through the corridors.

"Very well, I’m at your service, sir," the housekeeper assured, and then I heard them leave.

The air escaped my lips in a long, relieved sigh.

"Hey, Valeria! Wait, woman, you're going to tear a hole in the bedding if you keep that up!"

"You're splashing everywhere!"

The girls suddenly shouted, and I realized I looked like a duck in a puddle, splashing water and soap all over the place.

Everyone had stopped when the King arrived. I was the only fool still stomping away.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, embarrassed, finally stopping with my feet swollen and aching.

Damn perverted King, you're going to drive me insane!