Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 61

Liliana

I blinked in confusion, my hands still resting on his chest where moments before I had felt his desire. The intoxicating perfume should have been driving him wild, yet something had shifted—his demeanor transformed from heated passion to cold distraction.

"My King?" I whispered, trying to draw his attention back to me. "What has happened?"

But Lycanthar said nothing. He rose and moved toward the tent entrance, pushing aside the canvas flap. His golden eyes fixed on something in the distance—a figure moving away from our tent.

Adelaide. That damned human girl, walking alone in the moonlight. Her slender form appeared ethereal under the silver glow, shoulders set in deep sadness. The sight made my blood boil.

*Again! Always her!* The thought screamed through my mind. *Even when she does nothing, she still manages to destroy my plans.*

The way Lycanthar stared after her revealed everything I feared. He had sensed her presence somehow, felt her proximity in a way that transcended normal awareness. The connection between them was stronger than I'd realized, and infinitely more dangerous.

I crept closer to peer through the gap at Adelaide's retreating figure. She moved with that infuriating grace, never hurried despite the obvious distress in her posture. Even in simple traveling clothes, she possessed an elegance that made my elaborate gown feel like a costume.

*What hold does she have over him?* The question tormented me. *She's nothing but a human slave, yet somehow she captures his attention without even trying.*

When Lycanthar finally turned back, his expression had returned to its usual regal composure. I quickly arranged myself in an alluring pose and moved toward him with renewed determination.

"My King," I purred, allowing my hands to trail along his chest. "Let us continue where we left off. You require nourishment, and I live to serve your needs..."

But his response shattered my hopes. His hand caught my wrist—not roughly, but with unmistakable firmness—and gently pushed me away.

"That will be sufficient for tonight," his voice carried absolute authority. "I have military matters that require my attention. You may take your leave."

The dismissal hit me like a physical blow. I stood there, staring in disbelief, my carefully planned seduction crumbling. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. One glimpse of that human girl had destroyed it all.

"As you command, my King," I managed, forcing my voice to remain submissive despite the rage building inside me. I performed a graceful curtsy, gathering the remnants of my dignity.

I maintained my composure until I stepped outside his tent, but the moment I was beyond his sight, my mask fell away. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as fury consumed me. The unsatisfied desire only fueled my anger.

*Adelaide,* I thought, her name like poison. *That wretched human girl continues to interfere with my destiny. She must be eliminated, or I will never truly possess the Wolf King's heart.*

Lycanthar

The morning sun filtered through the council tent as I examined the disturbing evidence Vespera had collected. The crystal container holding the insect specimens caught the light, its contents seeming to pulse with otherworldly energy.

Around the table, my commanders and the Greywolf Pack elders waited in respectful silence. I studied the unnatural arrangement of the eggs, their geometric precision more unsettling than any random pattern.

"Summon Adelaide," I commanded. "Her observations may prove valuable."

When she entered, I felt that same inexplicable stirring that had interrupted my evening with Liliana. Adelaide moved with quiet grace, her simple gray dress somehow more compelling than the finest silks. Her violet eyes met mine briefly before she lowered her gaze.

"You called for me, my King," she said, her voice professionally neutral, carrying none of the warmth I had glimpsed in private moments.

The formality stung more than I cared to admit. I gestured toward the specimens. "Commander Vespera will provide his report. Your insights would be welcome."

Vespera detailed their discoveries. "Yesterday evening, Adelaide and I traced the contamination source upstream. What we found defies natural explanation." He indicated the container. "These eggs are arranged in precise geometric patterns, far beyond any known insect species. The quantity suggests coordinated placement rather than natural spawning."

Adelaide examined the specimens with scholarly focus. "The arrangement resembles ritualistic symbols," she said with quiet authority. "Notice how these overlapping circles form a larger pattern—this isn't random placement. Something designed this configuration deliberately."

She produced a detailed sketch, spreading the parchment across the table. "I documented the positioning during our investigation. The repetition suggests this is part of a coordinated attack, not a natural phenomenon."

Her analysis was thorough and insightful, delivered with analytical precision. Yet throughout her report, she maintained careful distance, addressing me with formal respect while avoiding any hint of our connection.

"Excellent work," I acknowledged. "This confirms we face a deliberate threat. I want samples and documentation sent immediately to the archives. Our scholars may find references to similar patterns in ancient texts."

I turned to the pack leader. "Greyson, expand the quarantine barriers and dig deeper trenches. Deploy additional mages to strengthen the protective wards."

As the meeting concluded and others filed out, I found myself saying, "Adelaide. Remain."

She stood quietly as the tent emptied, hands clasped formally, that maddening composure never wavering. In the sudden privacy, I struggled with inadequate words.

"About last evening..." I began, my voice rougher than intended. "You may have witnessed something that requires explanation—"

"Please, allow me to interrupt, my King," she said, lifting her eyes to meet mine. For just a moment, I saw a flash of hurt before professional calm reasserted itself. "There are many injured among the pack who could benefit from my knowledge of healing herbs. I request permission to temporarily transfer my duties to the medical area, where I might better serve you and Silverhowl."

The request caught me off guard. My jaw tightened as I processed what she was really asking—permission to avoid me, to retreat behind the safe barriers of duty and distance.

"If that is your preference," I said finally, the words tasting bitter. "Granted. But remember, your primary obligation remains as my attendant."

"I would never forget my place, my King," Adelaide replied, executing a perfect curtsy that felt like another wall being built between us. "Thank you for your understanding."

She turned and walked away with that same graceful dignity that haunted my thoughts, leaving me alone with nothing but confusion and an inexplicable sense of loss.

I found myself pacing the empty space, my mind churning with contradictions. *She is merely human,* I reminded myself sternly. *A convenient Moon Bride who served her purpose. I owe her nothing beyond protection and fair treatment.*

Yet even as I repeated these rational thoughts, the memory of her wounded expression lingered. Why should her emotional distance affect me so profoundly? Why did I feel compelled to explain my actions when I had never owed explanations to anyone?

The questions gnawed at me, challenging the careful barriers I'd constructed around my heart. In three centuries of solitude, I had learned to exist without such complications. Now, this human girl with her quiet dignity and hidden pain threatened to unravel defenses I couldn't afford to lose.