Vanished Sisters: The Lycan King's Slave Island Chapter 206

Mordred's POV

"Yes," Fergus said. "I killed three Lycans who were trying to assault her, then chased her through the forest like prey. And when I finally caught her, when I had her pinned against a tree, that's when I knew for certain. The mate bond snapped into place so hard it nearly brought me to my knees."

"And then you took her," I said.

"Yes," Fergus said simply. "Right there in the forest. I couldn't stop myself. Didn't want to stop myself."

I looked at Davelina, seeing the way she stood close to Fergus, the way her hand had found his. There was something in her eyes when she looked at him—not quite love, but something close. Acceptance mixed with desire and a kind of resigned tenderness.

"This is a disaster," I said quietly. "This is worse than I thought. Two of the three Grand Lords with human mates. If this gets out—"

"I know," Fergus said.

"Sebastian will use it against us. He'll twist it into proof that we're conspiring to elevate humans, that we're betraying our own people."

"I know."

"And when the trial happens," I continued, my mind racing through the implications, "when they question Natasha, there's a chance they'll discover she has a sister. And if they start investigating Davelina..."

"They'll find out about the mate bond," Fergus finished. "Yes. That's why I'm telling you now. So you're prepared for what might happen."

The door to the study suddenly burst open.

We all spun around to see Gregor standing in the doorway. His face was pale, his eyes wide, his chest heaving like he'd been running.

For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke.

Then Gregor's gaze shifted from me to Fergus to Davelina, and I saw understanding dawn in his eyes.

"No," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, don't tell me—"

"Gregor—" Fergus started, but Gregor held up a hand.

"You have a human mate too," Gregor said, and it wasn't a question. "That's what this is. That's what I just heard."

Fergus's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it.

"How long?" Gregor demanded, his voice rising. "How long have you been keeping this from me?"

"Since the New Year's feast," Fergus said quietly. "That's when I knew for certain."

"The New Year's feast," Gregor repeated, and then he let out a harsh laugh. "Of course. Of course that's when it was. I remember now—you disappeared for hours that night. Came back covered in blood and dirt. You told me you'd dealt with some vagrants attacking a servant."

"I did deal with vagrants," Fergus said.

"But you left out the part where you fucked her afterwards!" Gregor's voice cracked. "You left out the part where she was your mate!"

Davelina flinched at the crude language, and Fergus's eyes flashed with anger.

"Watch your tongue," Fergus said, his voice low and dangerous.

"You kept this from me!" Gregor shouted. "You let me commit my forces, my reputation, my life to supporting this regime, and you never once mentioned that you had a human mate! That both of you—" He gestured wildly between Fergus and me. "—that both of my friends I was supposed to trust had human mates!"

Gregor's fist slammed down on a nearby table, making Davelina jump.

"Stop it, Gregor." I said.

"I could have made an informed decision about whether to risk my people's lives for this. But you didn't give me that choice. You manipulated me. Used me."

"I said stop!"

Gregor ignored me anyway, "You knew, and you let me believe I was supporting a King who could unite the kingdom. Not one who would tear everything apart over a human girl he raped during his madness!"

The words hit like a physical blow.

"Get out," I said quietly.

"What?"

"GET OUT," I repeated, my voice hardening. "Before I do something we'll both regret."

Gregor stared at me for a long moment. Then he laughed—a harsh, broken sound.

"You know what?" he said. "I should thank you. Both of you. For showing me exactly what kind of leaders you really are."

He moved toward the door, then paused and looked back.

"I remember now," he said, his voice quiet but cutting. "During the poisoning incident. When you were dying, Fergus, You refused to let anyone touch you except her." He gestured at Davelina. "I thought it was strange then. Thought maybe you were delirious from the poison. But it wasn't delirium, was it? It was the mate bond."

Fergus said nothing.

"I saw how you looked at her," Gregor continued. "How protective you were. How you wouldn't let her leave your side even after you'd recovered. And I wondered—I actually fucking wondered—why you cared so much about one human slave."

He shook his head, his expression a mixture of disgust and disappointment.

"Now I know," he said. "You weren't just protecting a slave. You were protecting your mate. And you let me stand there like a fool, never once telling me the truth."

"Gregor—" I started, but he cut me off.

"No," he said flatly. "I'm done. I'm done with the lies, the secrets, the manipulation. I'm done with all of it."

He opened the door.

"Gregor, wait—" Fergus took a step forward, but Gregor was already gone, the door slamming shut behind him with a finality that echoed through the room.

Silence fell over us like a shroud.

Fergus stood frozen, staring at the closed door, his hand still outstretched. Davelina had gone pale, her hand pressed to her mouth. And I—

I sank back into the chair, feeling the weight of everything crushing down on me.

"He's going to leave," I said quietly. "He's going to take his forces and abandon us."

"I know," Fergus said, his voice hollow.

"And when he does, when word gets out that one of the three Grand Lords has abandoned the King, Sebastian will use it. He'll rally support, claim we're unfit to rule, and—"

"I know," Fergus said again.

I looked up at him, seeing the defeat in his eyes, the way his shoulders had slumped.

"Was it worth it?" I asked quietly. "Keeping this secret? Protecting her?"

Fergus looked at Davelina, and something in his expression softened.

"Yes," he said simply. "Every time."

I understood that. God help me, I understood it completely. Because if someone asked me the same question about Natasha, my answer would be exactly the same.

Outside, the chanting continued.

"What do we do now?" Davelina asked softly, her voice trembling.

I looked at Fergus, and he looked back at me, and in that moment, we both knew the truth.

We were out of allies. Out of options. Out of time.

"We survive," I said finally. "However we can."

But as I stood there, watching my kingdom turn against me, I couldn't help but wonder if survival was even possible anymore.