The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation Novel

---- In the distance, a flash of movement.

That manFrancishad just stepped out of the house.

Thad to reach my daughter first, and even better if I wasnt seen.

I had never run so fast in my life.

Branches scraped against me, roots caught at my feet, but I never stopped.

"ahh!" I crashed to the ground, hitting my forehead.

My weapon slipped from my grasp, rolling a meter away.

Pain burned through my legsI had to be bleeding, covered in scratches.

The scent of my own blood filled my nose, sharp and stinging.

Still, I forced myself to get up.

T swallowed a pained whimper as I felt a tear in my right knee.

Limping, I retrieved my branch and was about to keep moving when, through the silhouettes of the trees, under the moonlight breaking through the clouds, I saw it Lavinia.

That bastard had caught her.

He grabbed her by the arm roughly, yanking her.

She sobbed, struggling with her small body, screaming for him to let her go.

Fire roared inside me when I saw him slap her across the face.

That fucking bastard ---- Clenching my branch, I crept forward.

I stepped out from the cover of the trees, praying he wouldn't sense me, wouldnt hear the crunch of leaves under my feet.

Maybe it was my magic, fueled by my desperation, but the moment he raised his hand to strike her again because Lavinia had collapsed, refusing to walk.

1 lifted the thick branch with all my strength and smashed it against his head from behind "What the fuck?!" He howled, raising a hand, trying to turn around hit him again, harder, screaming in fury.

I watched him crumple to the ground.

Run, Lavinia! Run!" I shouted, shaking her from her shock.

Her teary eyes met mine across the small gap between us, and I rushed to grab her hand.

"Mama!" she cried, throwing herself at me, sobbing.

I knew she was terrified, but now was not the time to break down.

"Come on, baby, run! Run, sweetheart, run!" I tugged her little arm, her short legs struggling to keep up, weak but steady.

I felt completely drainedthis magic I had used today was taking atoll on me.

But my will to save her overpowered everything else.

Through the thick white mist obscuring my vision, through the eerie whispers of the night creeping from all sides, I searched ---- desperately for the castle.

Thad to remember the way.

"Aah!" Lavinia couldn't keep going.

Her exhausted legs tripped again, and this time, she nearly fell flat on her face.