Vireya's POV
What felt like an hour later, I was still alive.
The Lycan took me to a bathhouse where I met a lot of hornless Lycan women, which was very strange, I thought all lycans had horns.
One of the women bathed me and dressed me up. She also did my hair. I finally felt like myself again, but the dread remained in my stomach.
"Why am I wearing this?" I asked the beautiful Lycan as I looked down at the shimmering white gown that now hugged my body.
"You don't like it?" He asked. His eyes raked over my body.
Normally, if a man looked at me that way, I would have shivered and tried to cover myself. But this Lycan looked at me differently.
I felt insulted by the detached looks in his eyes. Like I was even a living thing, like I was mere furniture he was inspecting at the harvest market.
"It's a lovely dress," I said quietly. The dress was truly beautiful. Its fabric looked like it had tiny stars meshed into it. It flowed past my ankles, but the sleeves were mere straps.
What I didn't like was how it made me feel. Like I was some sort of sacrificial lamb about to be walked to an altar.
"Come now," He beckoned me closer. "We're going to be late."
"Where are we going?"
He walked up to me and placed a hand over my shoulder, pulling me closer to his side. "You'll see soon enough, little hunter."
I tried to look at him, but he was so tall that I'd have to crane my neck all the way back. Instead, I signed and focused on the path in front of me.
"Are you going to kill me?" I asked.
He laughed. His laughter was beautiful, like distant silver bells and a forgotten melody. "That is not for me to decide."
My energy is returning. Soon I'll be able to use my soul magic. At least I'd cast a small spell that'll buy me enough time to run.
I refuse to be a captive in this place. There's no telling what these lycans will do to me.
The Lycan led me past grand halls and towering stairs till we got to a guarded set of double doors. The guards, two bulky lycans with jagged black horns, bowed deeply when they saw us.
"Lord Sylien," One of them greeted. "We thank the goddess for your safe return."
"You're too kind, Len." Sylien replied.
The other guard nodded wordlessly.
The doors opened to reveal a massive banquet hall. Everything screamed of obscene wealth. My jaw dropped as we walked in, deeper into the hall.
I was used to wealth, I am afterall a Princess. But this...I had never seen before. The polished floors, the high ornate walls, the vaulted ceiling covered in paintings and gold.
The Lycans. My goodness. They all looked ethereal, pale skin, pale hair, beautiful features. They partied and conversed amongst themselves, without a single care in the world.
A scream pierced through the air.
I jerked, turning to the source of the sound. A few feet away was a massive throne cut from obsidian and moonstone. Around it, commotion was brewing.
There was a powerful looking Lycan. I didn't need any announcer to let me know that this was the King.
He had broad shoulders, a body that was trained to perfection. Rippling muscles that his silken robes failed to fully conceal. Long black hair flowed down his shoulders to the back of his knees.
He was very handsome, easily the most handsome face in the entire room, with eyes that looked like light passing through a prism. So many hues dancing together, reflecting the perfect image of boredom.
And then…his horns.
My eyes followed them, up and up and up. They were silver, huge, and massive like the rest of him. Dark runes and inscriptions were etched onto them. They looked very heavy. At their midpoint, they were covered with bands of pure gold.
A creature of myth. Raw power flowed from him. I stood rooted in my spot, unable to even breathe.
He held something in his hand. Something that dripped gold, staining the polished floors.
"Another foolish official." He said. His voice rolled like distant thunder, deep and dark.
I gasped when I recognised the object in his hand.
A severed head. One that had horns broken in half. A male Lycan, very dead by the looks of it.
The King tossed the head aside. A servant ran up to him with a cloth. I watched him wipe the golden blood off his hands with a bored expression.
My heart beat so hard I was sure everyone here could hear it. Cold sweat broke out all over my skin.
What? What is going on? How did I get here? This is the Lycan King...the one that every single story told about him ends in bloodshed and destruction. The one that my family has always fought, from my grandparents time.
He's going to kill me!
I'm from the Hunter Packs, if he finds out who I truly am, he's going to cut my head off like that poor Lycan!
"As you were." The King commanded, waving dismissively. The party roared back to life like nothing had happened, the dead Lycan forgotten in mere seconds.
I wanted to do something! Run! Fight! Use my magic!
Fight?
I can't fight! I've never fought a Lycan before! Much less the King?!
The King turned and looked right in my direction.
My heart stopped.
His eyes felt like fire. But he wasn't looking at me. His gaze moved, falling on someone beside me.
Something strange happened in that moment.
Those prismatic eyes of his brightened. Like someone had turned on a candle buried deep inside them. The boredom was gone, and in its place was… an emotion I couldn't quite name. hunger? Excitement? Challenge?
He perked up, and I was reminded of a peacock ruffling its beautiful feathers at the sight of a mate.
"Sy! There you fucking are!" He called out, his voice booming through the banquet hall.
The sound of his voice echoed deep in my bones. My body couldn't take it anymore. The fear. The sight of the Lycan King. Sylien's cold body beside mine.
I can't handle this!
My eyes rolled to the back of my head. I heard the dull thud of my body hitting the ground before I lost consciousness.