The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation

---- 195. IN THE LORD'S CAMP. VICTORIA Leaving behind the underground city, the sewers, and the eerie tunnels, we reached a distant part of the forest. Perched on a hill, we could see the impressive black city in the distance. The fortress sat high on the mountainside, overlooking everything beneath it Nothing escaped the Lord's gaze. The first circle of walls protected the capital's werewolf pack. The outer ring housed the so-called "disgraced" vampires.

They were treated more like slaves than anything else. Doing the heaviest, dirtiest, and most grueling jobs for scraps of food That was the state of this realm. "Come on, Rousse." Shielded by the advancing night, we slipped into the trees. We ran like two fast-moving shadows, dodging occasional ---- patrols, always on alert. But just when we were about to slip past the fief's borders, we hit a serious problem.

"There's a werewolf camp set up." Perched in a tree, we watched the white tents from afar. Hidden among the thick foliage. My eyes scanned the warriors. "That damn vampire never mentioned a patrol this heavy here," he added with a scowl. Marius had said this side was usually less guarded. So why was the watch strengthened? I soon found out why. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted riders approaching in the distance. At the front, cloaked in black and with a stem face...

was him I could almost make out the golden glints in his light eyes. He dismounted in one swift motion, handing the reins to a stable boy. ---- He looked pissed, barking out orders to his men. I watched him disappear into the main tent. "I have an idea," I blurted out... like always, without thinking much.

"I'll create a distraction and give you an opening to slip out." "No," Rousse replied without hesitation, "I won't let you risk yourself, There are too many soldiers-if they catch you..." "Maybe I don't have all my powers at their peak, General, but don't forget I'm a Vlad," I told him, dead serious. We stood in tense silence, our wills clashing. "If something happens to you..." "Even if I get captured, you know I've got more than one trick up my sleeve.

We need a witch to get back, Rousse," I argued. No matter how reluctant he was, I eventually convinced him. Rousse looked intimidating-especially with his build-but his heart was softer than most "living" men. "Maybe you'll meet someone special out there," I teased. His back went stiff, but he didn't respond.noveldrama