Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 88: Final Apology

Another sharp scoff echoed through the queen’s drawing room, its sinister timbre sending a faint shiver down Kai’s spine.

Althea’s laughter was always unsettling, teetering between genuine amusement and derisive mockery. It was almost impossible to discern her true emotions.

"I admire your persistence, my dear boy," she said, her voice calm and measured once more. "It is far more satisfying to toy with humans when they understand their suffering completely, when they can fully grasp the pain and despair you inflict on them."

But that was not true, not for the crown prince.

Perhaps it had been in the past, back when Kai first laid eyes on Lorelai and saw her as a delicate white flower he wanted to crush beneath his dirty heel. Back then, the idea of breaking her spirit had thrilled him. Yet, as the years went by, that initial desire to dominate her had faded, replaced by something far more complicated.

Now, his feelings were an intricate web, tangled between possessiveness and obsession.

In the midst of the cruelty and corruption that defined his mother’s domain, Lorelai stood as the only untainted light. She was pure, untouched by the filth that surrounded them. And Kai wanted that light—all of it—for himself.

He did not mind resorting to any means necessary to claim her.

Even so, a small part of him still clung to the faint hope that Lorelai might choose him willingly. It was a dangerous gamble, but one he was willing to take, even if it meant waiting a little longer.

"Once everything is in place," Althea spoke again, her sharp gaze catching the tension in the prince’s expression, "Lorelai will have no choice but to want you. After all, you won’t just be the King of Erelith—you will rule the entire continent."

This time, it was Kai’s turn to scoff, the sound thick with skepticism. "And what about the beasts?"

"You need not worry about those animals, dear boy," Althea said with a serene smile, her words carrying an undercurrent of menace. "When the time comes, you will eat my heart as well. The full power of the original ghoul will be yours. Combine it with the strength you will gain from the King’s Gold, and nobody—nobody, Kai—will ever be able to defeat you. You will subdue everyone and everything."

She rose from her seat with an effortless grace, moving behind the couch like a shadow. Wrapping her long, slender arms around Kai’s neck, she leaned in, pressing her cold cheek to his face.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, intimate and chilling. "And once we find the Gypsy witch’s offspring and take her power, you will be immune to any spell or curse. You will be omnipotent."

For a fleeting moment, Kai was caught in Althea’s thrall again.

Her voice was like a poison-laced elixir, intoxicating and irresistible, seeping into his very being. It dulled his senses, pulling him into submission and threatening to make him fall to his knees.

The desire for power burned within him, as strong and consuming as hers. Yet, the question lingered like a thorn in his mind: did their ambitions truly align?

Did he crave the throne to see the world kneel before him, or was he simply chasing the only destiny he believed was available to him?

His head began to spin, a sure sign that he needed to change the subject quickly.

"The celebration is nearly over," he began, prompting Althea to release her grip on him. "The foreign delegations don’t seem to have noticed anything unusual. It’s best they leave unsuspecting. That includes the beasts as well. The sooner they’re gone, the better."

Kai wouldn’t have cared about the beasts at all if their king hadn’t started getting involved with Princess Lorelai. Everything about Rhaegar made the crown prince uneasy, stirring a sickness born of suspicion. The lycan king’s every move felt calculated, as though he intended to uncover their plans and dismantle them piece by piece.

"Even so," Althea murmured, sinking back onto the couch and crossing her legs with casual elegance. "They’ve been watching us closely. Even after they depart, we must remain vigilant and avoid drawing their attention again. If that fool Kadler hadn’t forced the lycan king into a fight, Rhaegar wouldn’t have discovered that we’re in possession of the beasts’ gold."

"True," Kai replied calmly, in a thoughtful tone. "But keeping our distance from them will only make them more suspicious. We must keep our enemies closer. The mood is still tense after the gladiator fight, and the final event of the celebration is the royal hunt. Let’s invite the beasts to join us. They won’t be able to refuse such a grand gesture of goodwill."

Althea nodded, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Of course. Let it serve as our final apology before they leave."

***

Lorelai sighed, leaning heavily on her elbow as she absentmindedly twirled an elegant quill in her right hand. The warm afternoon sun drowned her study in its comforting glow, but she found no solace in its beauty.

Restlessness had been her constant companion since the last time she saw Rhaegar, and she couldn’t understand why.

I wanted to cut all ties with him. He seemed to understand that perfectly, so why... why can’t I find the peace of mind I have been craving so desperately?

The thought weighed heavily on her, and with a frustrated exhale, she dropped the quill onto her desk.

The abrupt sound of loud knocking shattered the silence, making her entire body flinch. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and Marianna had explicit instructions not to let anyone disturb her. That left only two possibilities: either a member of the royal family or Duke Kadler had come uninvited.

Steeling herself for either unpleasant scenario, Lorelai forced her voice to remain calm as she instructed the intruder to enter.

The door creaked open, and the moment her visitor stepped inside, every muscle in her body tensed, her blood turning to ice. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Good afternoon, sister."