The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation Novel

---- Tts here, I whispered, standing beneath a set of crumbling stairs.

Iplaced my hand on my chest, wondering how I would awaken my mother.

Nana never gave me many details.

She told me that when the time came, I would knowand oh, did I know.

The Vampire King was nervous, the magical energy thickened in the air, pulsing through the labyrinthine hallways of the ruins.

Statues of women stood everywhere, some incomplete, watching us in silent vigilance.

We finally reached the center of the ruinsthere was no roof, anda starry sky stretched above our heads.

Alarge, dark lagoon of reddish water blocked our path.

This place was the most sacred part of the ruinsI could feel it.

Seeing the feminine faces of the statues surrounding us filled me with both fear and reverence.

It seemed as if their closed eyes could open at any moment.

There it is.

Incredible.

Magnificent.

I can feel its immense power from here, he spoke, intoxicated by his deep greed.

I followed his gaze and finally saw itin the center of the lagoon stood something resembling a fountain, with a round base, and atop it, an enormous silver moon engraved with intricate carvings.

Embedded in its center was a shining light, so red it looked like the very bleeding heart ripped from a Selenias chest.

Without a doubt, the source of all the power here lay within that magical artifactformed by the sacrifice of my ancestors.

The collective power of all the Selenias who had sacrificed themselves in ---- the past was contained within that rubyand it was what he wanted.

Bring it to me.

Go, rip it from the stone, or forget about your friends! he pushed me toward the lagoon.

My boots were stained by that thick, dark liquid, and then I realizedit wasnt water.

It looked more like blood.

I took one step, then another, staring into the eyes of the statues surrounding us.

I lifted my head solemnly and focused on one that stood out above the others.

Sitting atop the giant moon where the heart of the Selenias was embedded, one statue stared down at me.

She held a spear in her hand, her long hair cascading down her back, waiting silently within her prison of silver and stone.

The heels of my boots sank into the muddy ground.

I had no idea what I was stepping on, but the viscous liquid was now up to my waist.

Isuppressed my shivers and fears as I reached the fountain, where the liquid cascaded down in a small waterfall.

What do I do, Nana? What do I do? I stood and looked up, far above my head, at the glowing light that seemed to pulse with lifefueling the magic of this entire place, sealing the barrier that kept darkness from invading our world.

Crimson cracks extended around it like veins of a living being.

My trembling hand reached outI couldnt take it, I couldnt steal the sacrifice and death of so many women of my race.

This was sacrilege.