The silver seers' temple rose high on the mountain. Its white towers reaching high into the sky. At the entrance, two Lycan statues stood each holding a glowing orb that shone like a piece of the moon.
Dark clouds surrounded the temple with lightning tearing down like bright veins of power. Yet beyond the temple's edge, the skies were calm and clear, untouched by the storm. This strange sight makes the temple feel even more mysterious, as if it held secrets no one had yet uncovered.
Ninzu sat cross legged on the floor Holding a staff with her eyes closed. Elira, her apprentice seer entered softly.
"You were right," she said. "Two of them ventured close to Vargorath yesterday," she said.
Ninzu didn't look up. "How close?"
"Too close. Derrom found tracks just beyond the outer ridge. Do you think they sense her presence?"
"Yes."
Elira swallowed hard. "What should we do?"
Ninzu's violet eyes opened slowly, glowing faintly. "We wait."
Outside, Derrom groaned as he gazed toward the highlands. The mountain ogre's heavy frame shifted restlessly against the dark horizon.
....
It was still early in the morning, as they prepared to depart.
"My Lady," Seralyn came running inside holding out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "I brought these honey cakes from the baker in the square. They're fresh and warm. And some dried fruit and cheese. It should keep you full until midday."
Lara's eyes brightened as she took the bundle.
"They smell wonderful," she said. "Thank you."
Seralyn beamed.
"Would you like to come with me... To Vargorath?"
The girl's eyes widened, clearly not expecting it. "M-me.?"
"Yes," Lara said softly, smiling. "I would like your company, and you can come back here anytime you want."
"Really? Truly?" Seralyn whispered, her voice trembling with hope.
"Yes, really," Lara said with a soft nod.
Before she could think twice, Seralyn flung her arms around her in a rush of excitement, then gasped, pulling back, clearly embarrassed . "I'm sorry, my lady."
Lara only laughed. "Don't be. It's all right."
The trip back to the capital and the castle would take at least a whole day on horseback. Most of the Lycans had already left, running ahead in their Lycan forms. But Thornak refused to leave Lara's side. Instead of joining the others, he stayed with her, riding close on horseback.
The small human village they had stayed in for those two weeks was tucked between the borders of Vargorath and Draemore, the northern Lycan kingdom. Life there was quiet. The people loved the king. Long ago, when he was wounded, he had stayed in their village. They hid him and nursed him back to health. In return, he had saved their village from raiders and rogue attacks.
As they rode, Lara thought of the vision and tried to push it to the back of her mind, but it stayed with her, refusing to fade. By the time night fell, the walls of Vargorath rose before them, lit with torches and guarded by a hundred Lycans. A lingering tension made her grip the reins tighter, the memory of her imprisonment refusing to let her rest.
Selene stood at her window, watching the king ride in with Lara and the others. A slow, satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
The king was back and that silly Wolfless stray will finally face justice.
The memory of her being chained on the ground like an animal filled her with so much joy.
But Thornak clearly did not see her as a traitor and that worried her. What happened should have been enough to break the bond between them, or at least make him doubt her. But instead they ended up on a holiday together.
She had been so sure Lara wouldn't survive the interrogation. How could a girl without a wolf be so strong? She had made sure the head guard would be... rough. At least enough to kill her, yet that stray still endured
Anger boiled inside her. She was raised for court, the queen's favorite. She had spent her whole life preparing to be the Luna and queen beside the Lycan King. Yet one wolfless nobody had ruined it all.
But it wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
Selene turned from the window. She still had allies. She still had time. And if Thornak thought she would give up the crown he was a bigger fool than she had thought.
Let him love her.
It would only make his loss more painful when She tore her away from him piece by piece.
"He is mine," she said, her voice low and venom-sweet. "I have worked too hard to make it happen. And now that I am so close…"
She trailed off, as she poured a cup of wine.
"Lara," she hissed. "He will never be yours."
The wind outside howled, as if it felt her anger. Then she took a slow, deliberate sip of the wine.
A soft creak came from behind her, but she didn't turn.
A man stepped from the shadows of the room and moved behind her without a word. His fingers brushed her bare shoulder, then slid around her waist, drawing her gently back into him.
"You're thinking about him again," he whispered.
She tilted her head slightly as his lips grazed her skin.
Then he kissed her neck. Softly. Then firmly. She turned to face him. He was devastatingly handsome.
Her mouth curved into a smile.
Then she snarled.
A low, warning growl rose from her throat and her canines lengthened.
He laughed softly, amused.
"Still playing both sides?" he asked.
She leaned in and whispered, "I don't play. I will win."
He grinned. He liked her like this, wild and possessive.
"You still want him," he said, almost bored. But there was a flicker of pain in his eyes.
"I need him," she corrected. "You know that."
"You have me."
She cupped his face in her hand. "And I keep you, don't I?"
Then she kissed him, hard and deep. Like she was claiming him. With one fluid movement, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
Before long he was pumping into her vigorously, while she moaned loudly. For a brief moment Thornak was forgotten replaced by this intense raw pleasure. He brushed his hands all over her body, cupping her breasts.
They moved together, each responding to the other's rhythm. The tension built until it reached a powerful, shared release, leaving them both breathless and trembling.
And wanting more...