Too Tempting for the Lycan King のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Ariana’s POV“The King is falling in love.”The guard’s whisper stayed inside my head and I stepped away from the window.“No.”I shook my head.“That’s impossible.”Kael was the Lycan King, he was powerful, feared and respected.A man like him would never fall in love with someone like me.A rejected mate, a divorced wife a woman carrying another man’s child.I sat on the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands and my heart felt heavy.Everything around me had become confusing, Damien was my mate and Kael was my protector.I loved one and I feared the other.Yet every day, the line between fear and safety became harder to understand.A knock came at the door.“My Lady.”It was the maid again.“Dinner is ready.”“I’m not hungry.”There was silence and then she spoke again.“My King said you must eat.”I closed my eyes.“I’ll eat.”A few moments later, she entered quietly and placed the tray on the table and she bowed before leaving.This time, I did not throw it away.I slowly

Ariana’s POVI heard the old man’s voice before I could open my eyes.“My King.”His voice shook.“Her blood carries the mark of the old moon.”I lay still and my body felt heavy like stone, I wanted to move but nothing worked and I could only listen.Kael’s voice came next, low and sharp.“What mark?”The elder did not answer right away and I heard cloth move, like he was bowing lower.“I cannot say more tonight, my King.”“You will say it now.”“No.”Silence filled the room and then the elder spoke again, and it was softer this time, but every word landed heavy on my chest.“Protect her with your life, Kael. That is all I can tell you.”My heart rang. Protect her from what?Kael’s voice turned sharp again.“Give me a name, a reason, something.”“Not yet.”“Elder…”“Not yet, my King!”The old man’s voice cracked like a whip and even Kael went silent after that and footsteps moved away slowly. The door creaked open, then shut and I finally forced my eyes open.The room looked differe

Ariana’s POVThe sound of the doors echoed across the royal hall, every noble who had been staring at me immediately lowered their heads.The guards struck the floor with the ends of their spears.“Her Majesty has arrived!”I froze and Kael remained standing beside the chair he had pulled out for me.The hall became so silent that I could hear my own heartbeat and slow footsteps filled the room.I turned toward the entrance and an older woman walked in, wearing a long silver gown embroidered with the royal crest of the Lycan Kingdom.A diamond crown rested on her dark hair and her face was beautiful, but her eyes were sharp enough to make my heart race.Everyone bowed deeply.“Your Majesty.”“The Queen Mother.”I looked at Kael and he bowed his head slightly.“Mother.”She did not answer him, and her eyes stayed on me.They slowly traveled from my face to the hand resting on Kael’s arm and then to the chair beside his throne.The smile on her lips disappeared and I wanted to step back

Ariana’s POV I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the piece of dry bread and my stomach hurt from hunger. I then picked it up but it was hard. I broke off a small piece and forced myself to eat. “This is enough,” I whispered. “I’ve survived worse.” I reached for the cup beside the tray but it was empty and I smiled bitterly. “They even forgot the water.” A tear slipped down my face and I quickly wiped it away. “No.” “I won’t cry.” “If I cry now, they win.” I lay down for a while, hoping the hunger would pass but didn’t. Hours later, another knock sounded and hope rose inside me. I hurried to the door, a young maid stood there and she lowered her head without looking at me. “My Lady.” “I need some water.” She remained silent. “Please.” “I haven’t had anything to drink.” Her fingers tightened around the tray she was holding. “I… I can’t.” “Why?” She looked over her shoulder as if someone might be watching. “I was told not to.” “Who told you?” She looked

Ariana’s POVThe nobles clapped and cheered, and the sound filled the entire hall. I stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, and I watched Lyra smile at everyone like she already wore a crown.Then she turned and walked straight toward Kael.Every eye in the room followed her.“Kael.”Her voice sounded warm, almost soft.“It’s been too long.”Kael gave her a small nod.“Welcome.”And before he could say anything else, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. The nobles around us smiled and whispered happily, like this was exactly the moment they had been waiting for.I stepped back quietly, further into the shadow of the pillar beside me.I didn’t belong here.Then Lyra’s eyes found me over Kael’s shoulder.Her smile stayed in place, but then something behind her eyes shifted, it was something sharp and cold.She then pulled away from Kael slowly and walked toward me and each of her steps was graceful and unhurried.“So,” she said, stopping only a few feet away. “You must be