Vanished Sisters: The Lycan King's Slave Island Chapter 146

Natasha's POV

Morning came too soon, dragging me from restless sleep into a waking nightmare.

The citadel was in chaos. Guards moved through the corridors, banging on doors, shouting orders. All human servants were being evacuated—forced out of Howling Citadel to make way for the execution.

"Everyone out!" a guard barked, his voice echoing through our quarters. "By order of Lord Sebastian, all humans are to vacate the citadel immediately. No exceptions!"

"No," I whispered, my hands gripping the edge of my bed. "No, I can't leave. I have to—"

"Nathan." Victoria's voice was sharp, cutting through my rising panic. She stood in the doorway, her expression grave. "You need to go. Now."

"I can't," I said, my voice breaking.

"You don't have a choice." Victoria moved closer, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "Anyone who disobeys will be killed. Do you understand? They're not making idle threats. If you refuse to leave, they will execute you on the spot."

"I don't care—"

"Well, I do." Davelina grabbed my arm, her grip tight enough to hurt.

Then she whispered in my ears, "And so does Mordred. Do you think he'd want you to die here? To throw your life away for nothing?"

Tears streamed down my face, but I let her pull me to my feet. What choice did I have? I was powerless. Helpless. Unable to do anything except watch as they prepared to murder the man I loved.

We joined the stream of human servants being herded toward the exits. The corridors were packed with guards, all of them armed, all of them watching us with cold, suspicious eyes. The message was clear: obey or die.

As we passed through the main courtyard, I saw him.

Lord Fergus stood near the gates, his mismatched eyes scanning the crowd of evacuating servants. When his gaze found me, he gestured sharply to one of his guards.

"You," he said, pointing at me and Davelina. "Come here."

We approached hesitantly, and Fergus leaned down to speak quietly, his voice barely audible over the chaos around us.

"I'm sending you to my territory," he said. "My guards will escort you there and keep you safe until... until this is over."

"My lord, I can't—" I started, but he cut me off.

"This isn't a request. You're not safe here, especially you." His eyes bored into mine with an intensity that made me shiver. "Sebastian's assassins failed yesterday, but he won't stop trying. You need to be somewhere he can't reach you."

"Please," Davelina said suddenly. "Our friend Lucy—can she come with us? She has no one else."

Fergus glanced at Lucy, who stood nearby looking terrified, and nodded curtly. "Fine. All three of you. My guards will take you there."

"But—"

"Go," Fergus said, his voice hardening. "Now. Before I change my mind."

His guards moved forward, forming a protective circle around us, and began guiding us toward the gates. I looked back over my shoulder, my heart breaking with every step that took me farther from Mordred.

The citadel was filling with more guards, more soldiers, more warriors. They were gathering in the courtyards, on the walls, in every available space. Hundreds of them, all armed, all preparing for tonight.

Preparing to kill my king.

I stumbled, my vision blurring with tears, and felt Davelina's arm around my waist, holding me up.

"I know," she whispered. "I know. But we have to keep moving."

We passed through the gates and down toward the docks, Fergus's guards surrounding us like a shield. Behind us, Howling Citadel loomed against the morning sky, and somewhere inside those walls, Mordred waited, unaware that his own people were preparing his execution.

My heart felt like it was being torn from my chest with every step.

I was leaving him.

Abandoning him to his fate.

And there was nothing—nothing—I could do to save him.

---

Sebastian's POV

The failure of last night's assassination attempt had been irritating, I'll admit. Five trained warriors, equipped with the best weapons and poison money could buy, all dead.

But it was merely a minor setback. Nothing more.

I stood in the great hall of Howling Citadel, my eyes scanning the crowd gathering before me, and I could barely suppress the smile tugging at my lips.

Tonight, Mordred would die.

And tomorrow, I would be king.

The other lords had already agreed. Gregor, with his pragmatic nature and desire for stability. Several of the lesser lords who saw opportunity in the chaos. Even some of Mordred's former supporters, who had grown tired of serving a mindless beast.

Once Mordred was dead, we would hold a council. We would debate and discuss, make a show of considering all options. And then, inevitably, they would choose me. Young, ambitious, capable—the obvious choice to lead the Lycan people into a new era.

My gaze swept over the assembled crowd. Gregor stood near the front, his expression somber.

And Fergus... my eyes narrowed as I spotted the Northern Lord standing apart from the others, his face a mask of barely controlled grief. Fergus had always been loyal to Mordred, even when that loyalty made no sense. Even now, knowing the King was lost, Fergus looked like a man preparing to attend a funeral rather than witness a necessary execution.

Sentimental fool.

But it didn't matter. Fergus was outnumbered. Even if he tried to interfere, I had enough supporters to overwhelm him. The Northern Lord would have to accept the new reality, or he would be removed as well.

I turned to address my lieutenants, my voice carrying across the hall.

"How's it going?"

"It goes well," one of them replied. "The tranquilizer darts are ready. The chains have been reinforced. The executioners are standing by."

"Good." I nodded, satisfaction warming my chest. "Make sure everyone understands their roles. This needs to be done cleanly, efficiently. No mistakes."

I allowed myself a small smile. By tomorrow morning, I would be king. And the first thing I would do would be to hunt down that troublesome boy who had somehow survived yesterday's attack.

But that could wait. Tonight was about Mordred.

Tonight, the beast would finally die.

And I would finally claim what should have been mine all along.