The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 115: A New Search

Sebastian~

Cold.

That was the first thing I felt as I stirred awake. A chill that seeped into my bones, curling around me like an unwelcome embrace. Something had gone terribly wrong.

For a moment, I remained still, my mind groggy, my body oddly heavy. Again, something wasn’t right.

Then it hit me.

She was gone.

The bed beside me was cold. The scent of her—wild and intoxicating—lingered faintly, but she was no longer here.

And that was when I remembered.

The soft touches. The way she had whispered to me. The slow, lingering kiss that had sent me into unconsciousness.

"Son of a—" I shot up from the bed, my head spinning.

That sneaky little minx drugged me!

I ran my tongue over my lips, searching for any lingering taste of the sedative she had used. I should have sensed it. I should have known! But no. I had been too caught up in her. Too addicted to the feel of her, the taste of her, the way her body fit against mine like we were crafted from the same damn mold.

A sharp laugh escaped me—bitter, breathless. "Damn, Brielle."

I raked a hand through my already-messy black hair, exhaling hard. I should have been angry. Should have wanted to tear the room apart. But all I felt was—

Excitement.

Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea what you’ve just done.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, standing up too quickly and instantly regretting it. My body still felt sluggish from whatever she had given me. That little traitor. I bet she thought this would keep me away. That I would give up just because she slipped me a sleeping potion and ran.

She really didn’t know me at all, did she?

A slow smirk pulled at my lips. Time to put this little gift from Fox to use. Stretching my senses, I reached into the mind link Fox had so generously bestowed upon Zane and me, already preparing to summon my Zane.

And then I hesitated.

Zane was my best friend. My brother in every way that mattered. But he was also a dramatic bastard, and if I told him Brielle had drugged me and run off, he would turn this into a full-scale hunt. Probably burn half the city down looking for her.

When ever Zane freaked out, people died.

Lots of people. That’s a story for another day.

No, no. This was something I had to handle on my own—for now. Besides, tracking down my runaway mate sounded like a challenge.

And I loved challenges.

I grabbed a clean shirt from the chair near my bed, tugging it over my head as I strode toward my office. If I was going to track Brielle down, I needed a plan. A damn good one.

Step one? Her picture.

I gathered my materials, rolling my shoulders as I sat down, the weight of determination settling over me. The charcoal felt familiar in my grip, cool and smooth, before I dragged it across the parchment in bold, precise strokes. Her lips—full and deceptively soft. Her cheekbones—sharp enough to cut. And her eyes—intense, knowing, the kind that could unravel a man with a single look.

Every movement was deliberate, my hand guided by memory and obsession. A few hours I had traced those features—under my fingers, against my lips. I knew them better than I knew my own damn reflection.

The picture was coming together perfectly, every detail capturing the essence of the woman who had drugged me and disappeared into the night.

I should have been pissed. I should have been furious.

Instead, I grinned.

"Damn, Brielle," I muttered, shaking my head. "You really thought you could just vanish on me?"

Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.

At some point in my ridiculously long life, I had taken up drawing and painting just because I was bored. Never thought it would come in handy like this, but here we were.

With the finished sketch in hand, I leaned back in my chair, surveying my work. It was perfect. Now, I just needed an army to help me find her.

Good thing I had one.

My coven.

***********

The underground hideout in Vereth was one of my greatest accomplishment. The entrance to my coven wasn’t marked by grand iron gates or ominous stone archways. No, it was hidden beneath the city of Vereth, tucked away in the labyrinth of tunnels that stretched for miles beneath the surface.

To the world above, Vereth was just another metropolis—sleek, modern, bustling. But down here? It was a different world entirely.

The tunnels gave way to an underground sanctuary—a sprawling network of chambers carved from the rock, bathed in the dim glow of enchanted lanterns. The air was thick with the scent of fresh blood, burning incense, and something undeniably... otherworldly.

This was my coven.

They weren’t just subordinates. They were my people. My family.

And unlike the bastards who left me to burn under the sun, these vampires would do anything for me.

The moment I stepped inside, heads turned. Conversations halted. A ripple of energy surged through the coven as my presence was noticed.

And then—

"My Lord!"

A dark-haired woman dropped to one knee, her head bowed. Others followed suit, their voices a hushed murmur of reverence.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "We’ve been over this. Stop kneeling. It’s weird."

Some of them chuckled. Others straightened up, smiling.

"Says the guy who literally saved us from starvation," a voice drawled from the shadows.

I turned, already smirking. "Luca."

Luca emerged, his silver-white hair catching the soft glow of the lanterns. He was dressed in his usual all-black ensemble, looking every bit like the deadly second-in-command that he was.

Beside him, a woman leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, dark eyes sharp and assessing. Amelia. His mate. She had black hair so glossy it looked almost liquid in the light, and she was as fierce as she was beautiful.

"You’re... early." Luca said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I quirked a brow. "Disappointed?"

Luca snorted. "Just shocked. You usually only come down when something’s on fire. Or about to be."

"Ah, well," I sighed dramatically, "consider this a preemptive visit before the chaos starts."

Several of my vampires exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. They weren’t wrong to assume chaos was coming. I was coming.

I stepped further inside, taking my usual seat in the high-backed chair that overlooked the room. "I need your help."

At once, silence fell.

Luca folded his arms. "This should be good."

"Oh, it is," I assured him with a grin. "I need to find someone. A woman. She’s beautiful, dangerous, and utterly infuriating."

Luca smirked. "Sounds like love."

"Sounds like insanity," another vampire muttered.

I ignored them. "Her name is Brielle Hector and I need to find her ASAP."

Luca sighed, shaking his head. "Of course. Come on."

I didn’t argue, I got up from my seat and followed him. He led me into a private chamber, the VIP lounge of our underground haven. The room was lavish—plush velvet seating, a bar stocked with the finest blood reserves, walls lined with priceless art (most of which had been ’borrowed’ from human collectors).

Amelia poured herself a drink and took a seat, watching me over the rim of her glass. "Alright, Lord Sebastian. Let us have it."

I pulled the parchment from my coat and placed it on the table between us.

Luca and Amelia leaned forward.

Luca picked it up first, studying it with narrowed eyes. "You drew this?"

"Obviously."

Amelia raised a brow. "Since when do you draw?"

Luca snorted. "He gets bored, remember?"

I rolled my eyes. "Can we focus? I need to find her."

Luca’s expression shifted from amusement to something more serious. He exchanged a glance with Amelia, then looked back at the sketch. His fingers brushed over the edges of the parchment, a strange tension settling in his shoulders.

I frowned. "What?"

Luca didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he slowly placed the drawing back on the table, exhaling through his nose.

"This isn’t Brielle."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

Luca tapped the paper. "This woman... She’s not who you think she is."

I stared at him, my mind whirling. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Lucian leaned back, his silver eyes locking onto mine. "Her name is Cassandra. The Cassandra."

The name was like ice piercing through me.

I swallowed hard. "You’re wrong."

Amelia’s voice was quiet but firm. "No, he’s not."

I shook my head. "That doesn’t make any sense. She told me her name was Brielle."

Luca sighed. "My Lord... every vampire knows Cassandra is dangerous. She’s a rogue werewolf and a vampire hunter."

I stilled.

Amelia continued, her voice softer now. "She has strange dealings with demons. And if she was with you... that means something is very, very wrong."

My grip tightened on the armrest of my chair.

"She wouldn’t—" I stopped myself. Wouldn’t what? Wouldn’t lie? Wouldn’t manipulate me?

Hadn’t she already done that?

Luca studied me carefully. "You care about her."

It wasn’t a question.

I clenched my jaw. "She drugged me."

Amelia smirked but you could see the shock on her face. "How the hell is that even possible?"

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. My mind was a storm. Brielle–Cassandra. A vampire hunter. A rogue. A woman working for a demon who had sent her to kill people like me.

And yet...

She didn’t kill me.

She ran.

Why?

Was it because we’re mates?

Luca’s voice was steady. "Lord Sebastian... you need to let this go."

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Not a chance."

Amelia groaned. "Of course."

Luca sighed. "Sir—"

I held up a hand. "She ran from me for a reason. If she was really working for some demon, she would have killed me the moment she had the chance. Instead, she ran."

Luca and Amelia exchanged another look, something unspoken passing between them.

Finally, Luca nodded. "Alright."

Amelia groaned again. "You’re actually going to help him?"

Luca smirked. "Of course. He’s our master."

I grinned. "That’s what I like to hear."

Luca picked up the drawing again, his expression thoughtful. "We’ll find her. But you better be ready for what comes next."

I met his gaze. "I always am."