Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 95: The Walk

Rhaegar stared at Lorelai’s flushed face, his lips pressed into a thin, unreadable line.

He was always like this—silent, unreadable, and maddeningly evasive. He could have spoken plainly, but he refused to do so unless she asked first. And, once again, she found herself with no choice but to insist, to coax clarity out of his cryptic words.

"What... what did you mean?" she asked again, her voice faltering as she squeezed her eyes shut, overcome with embarrassment.

The repetition of his own words felt foolish to her. She should have been more eloquent, more poised, instead of letting her tangled thoughts spill out so clumsily. Heat flushed her face, creeping up her neck and tingling at the tips of her ears.

The tent was deathly silent, save for her own uneven breaths. Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity, but Rhaegar still did not answer.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found him watching her intently, his gaze unwavering. It wasn’t just a look—it was a predator’s glare as if she were the most alluring prey in all the land.

"You are as clueless as you are beautiful," he whispered at last, his voice soft yet heavy, laced with an aching vulnerability that cut deeper than his words.

Lorelai felt a shudder course through her body, her composure unraveling under his gaze. The king noticed, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes as he realized he’d flustered her again.

If she became any more endearing, he thought, he wouldn’t be able to resist devouring her completely—heart, soul, and every delicate piece in between.

The princess took a shaky breath, but it did little to steady her. His arms tightened around her, his gloved hands moving to cup her face, their touch both possessive and tender.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her neck before gently biting the sensitive skin. Every so often, he would suck lightly, leaving faint marks that made her shiver. Lorelai remained dazed, her hands tugging at the edges of her vest in a futile attempt to anchor herself. She was utterly helpless.

A faint whistling sound drifted through the air, breaking the spell. Rhaegar froze, his expression darkening with irritation. "Now I really have to go." He groaned softly, as though tearing himself away from her was a punishment.

"Stay attentive, Lorelai," he added, his amber eyes locking onto hers. "And don’t be startled. Naveen will be close by."

The mention of the unfamiliar name jolted Lorelai from her haze. Her brows furrowed as she tried to place it, but this was the first time she had heard it. She could only assume he was referring to the silver-haired woman she’d seen with him earlier.

"She’s a witch of Gypsy descent," Rhaegar explained, his tone low and deliberate. "She is strong... and she is here to help me with something."

He paused, his expression tightening as though he regretted saying too much. With a small shake of his head, he seemed to scold himself before stepping back, his departure leaving a weight in the air between them.

"Alright, it’s time for me to leave."

He lifted the princess effortlessly, planting a quick kiss on her lips before flashing a mischievous smile. "I will cherish that ribbon, princess. I’m certain it will bring me good luck."

Lorelai barely had time to blink before he vanished as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving her behind, disoriented and adrift. She sank back onto the couch, her pale hands finally releasing the fabric of her vest, her slender fingers trembling.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips after what felt like an eternity. The whole encounter felt unreal, like a powerful, cold wave had swept over her, knocking her completely off balance.

She pressed the back of her hand to her flushed cheeks, finding them still warm to the touch. Despite drawing several deep breaths, her racing heart refused to steady itself, the chaos within her reluctant to subside.

Her thoughts churned like a storm at sea. Rhaegar’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, their meaning twisting and magnifying as they replayed over and over. She tried to quell the rising tide of emotion, but it surged relentlessly, threatening to consume her.

The spell was broken when a voice called from outside the tent.

"Your Highness," Marianna said softly, and the sound jolted Lorelai like ice water pouring over her head. The storm within her finally began to settle as reality came rushing back. She had forgotten all about her summons to meet Queen Althea.

The weight of Althea’s looming presence pressed down on her like a shadow. With her heart still heavy and her mind clouded, Lorelai stood, feeling as though she were stepping into a nightmare.

"Yes, I’m coming," she replied as she exited the tent.

***

When Lorelai entered the queen’s tent, she was immediately struck by Althea’s new hunting attire. The princess blinked in surprise; even for royalty, it was unusual to change outfits when not participating in the hunt.

Althea noticed her and turned, a faint smile curling her lips.

"You’re finally here, Lorelai."

Her words were followed by a low, rumbling growl from behind her. Seeing Lorelai’s confused expression, the queen stepped aside, revealing several hunting dogs sitting obediently in the corner of the tent.

Among them was the black dog that Lorelai favored, but the ribbon she had tied around its neck was missing.

Althea followed her gaze, her smirk widening as her dark eyes settled on the dog. "Ah, yes. Someone thought it amusing to tie a ribbon around the dog’s neck. How utterly disrespectful. This is an old and sacred tradition, and one would have to be insane to degrade it by giving such a precious charm to... an animal."

She emphasized the word "animal" with a sharp edge, her gaze fixed on Lorelai’s pale face. The princess understood the unspoken message clearly.

Satisfied, Althea walked up to her stepdaughter, her expression softening into a warm smile. "Let’s go for a little walk, Lorelai. How is your leg? I hope it’s okay?"

Lorelai nodded, her grip tightening on her cane as she took the first step forward.

With a graceful motion, Althea signaled to the other ladies before following Lorelai out of the tent.

For a while, the two of them walked in silence. The quiet rustling of the forest was occasionally broken by the distant, muted chatter of the queen’s entourage, who trailed a few paces behind.

Lorelai focused on the sounds of their footsteps, desperate for a distraction from the oppressive tension that hung between them. But instead, her thoughts drifted back to Rhaegar and his enigmatic words.

Suddenly, she recalled the name "Naveen."

Her gaze flitted around the forest, searching for the silver-haired woman she had seen earlier, but all she found were Althea’s friends.

They walked closely behind, a group of women from high-ranking noble families, their movements elegant yet devoid of substance. To Lorelai, they were like empty shadows, bound to follow the queen wherever she went.

Lorelai guessed that the queen had never been blessed with a truly close circle of friends. These ladies lingered by her side out of obligation rather than affection. Althea had likely uncovered their weaknesses and exploited them, ensuring their loyalty through subtle manipulation.

The princess was lost in her musings when Althea suddenly stopped walking. Turning to face her stepdaughter, the queen fixed her with the sweetest, most disarming smile.