Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 71

~Zirah~

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that,” says King Theron's voice behind us.

Regan’s steps falter for just a moment, but he quickly recovers and continues walking, ignoring hisfather's words. I can feel the tension in his body, in the way he grips me tighter as we move throughthe dimly lit corridors of the castle.

A loud bang echoes through the air, causing me to flinch. Regan suddenly grunts, and his entirebody turns rigid. His lips part as if he wants to say something, but no words come out. I look at himin confusion and fear, searching his face for an explanation. Lyon gasps from the stairs, and Zekepeers up at his brother, his eyes wide with shock.

Another bang reverberates around us, and this time, Regan drops me as his back arches in pain. Hiseyes flicker to his Lycan side, and a deep, menacing growl escapes him as he turns to face his father.Only then do I notice the bullet holes in his back. A thud sounds behind me, and I glance over myshoulder just in time to see Lyon collapse to the ground on the stairs. His face twisted in agony.

My heart races as I peer back at Regan when Zeke suddenly collapses next to me, too. Reganstaggers forward and then snarls. He takes another step toward his father. King Theron stands witha gun in his hand, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He pops another vial of bluish liquid into thechamber and takes aim at Regan. Before he can shoot, Regan collapses on his knees just as Malachiand the King's guards rush out of the dungeon.

"What have you done?" Malachi gasps in surprise as he stares at the unconscious forms of Zeke andLyon while Regan is on his knees, gasping for breath.

"What I had to..." King Theron answers at the same time that Gnash roars, racing towards KingTheron, determined to rip him to shreds for hurting his master. But in the next second, the gun firesagain, and Gnash hits the floor, just as Regan collapses. King Theron’s eyes meet mine, filled withcold, calculating fury.

“Grab her! And lock my sons in the dungeon,” he orders, his voice cold and ruthless. As the guardsmove to obey, I scramble back, fear coursing through me as I try to come up with a way to escape.Desperation fills me, and I glance at the fallen bodies of Regan, Zeke, and Lyon. Just as the guardsreach me, I throw my hand out, my hands glowing as I muster every ounce of my power to summonair to push them back. They fly across the room, slamming into the walls with sickening thuds whileI move to get to my feet.

I stumble towards the door, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I run. I can hear the guardsbehind me, their footsteps heavy on the marble floors. I run for the double doors leading out. Onlywhen I rip them open do I come face to face with Shelley.

"Hello, Zirah..." She then lifts her hand and blows black powder in my face. My vision flickers, andmy throat burns fiercely as I struggle to breathe.

"You should have run when I told you to. Now you've left me no choice, nothing personal, but Ican't have that curse broken,” she whispers while I claw at my throat, trying to stop the burningsensation that moves to my lungs. The footsteps chase me slowly before coming to a halt as theguards catch up with me.

"Grab her!" King Theron orders behind me, yet I can't seem to think clearly. Whatever Shelley usedon me steals my breath. My vision tunnels, and I grab onto Shelley's arms, trying to steady myselfand regain my bearings when suddenly, everything turns black.

My eyes flutter open, and the darkness of my surroundings slowly gives way to dim, flickering light.My head throbs painfully, and it takes me a moment to realize that I'm not in a familiar place. Thecold stone walls and iron bars enclosing me send a shiver down my spine. I'm in a cell. Panic surgesthrough me, and I try to move, only to replace that my hands are chained.

Voices echo through the dungeon, drawing my attention to the source of the noise. Malachi isarguing with King Theron, their voices raised in anger. I struggle to focus on their words, but myhead feels like it's filled with fog. In the cell across from me, I see King Regan, Zeke, and Lyon, alongwith their wolves.

"Finally, you're awake!" King Theron growls, approaching the cells.

"Where am I?" I ask groggily, trying to get to my feet, yet I replace my ankles bound too.

"Don't play dumb with me, witch. You know exactly where you are!” I stare at him, confused. Whydoes he think I am a dead witch? Peering around, I replace guards peering at scrolls and the walls

It takes me a second to figure out that-this must be the dungeons where they kept Litha. Thecharred walls and bars are proof enough, yet what they wish to retrieve from the walls is beyondme. The carvings are barely visible when I notice one wall remains untouched, etched into the stone.I gasp when I see the curse embedded deep in the rock, and I begin reading.

Regan. I bestow the sins of Wrath and Lust. May your anger consume you and your desires be yourundoing.”

Zeke, I curse you with Gluttony and Envy. You shall never be sated, and your jealousy will poisonyour heart.

To you, Lyon, I grant Greed and Pride. Your insatiable hunger for wealth will leave you empty, andyour arrogance will blind you to the truth.

And to you, King Theron. I curse you with Sloth. You will never know the love which you crave. Yourcomplacency will ruin you

To guide our path and set the course, I call upon the timeless force.

In the hearts of mortal scorned lie seven sins: wrath, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, sloth, and pride.Amidst the vices, seven virtues stand, a beacon shining through the land—Temperance, charity,diligence, patience, kindness, and innocence.

A woman of virtue, brave and true, to fix the damage and start anew.

Before I can read anymore, my attention is pulled back to King Theron.

"All this time, I've had the Oracle right under my nose! Now tell me how to break the curse. Where isshe? You've hidden her; I know you have!" King Theron yells, making my head pound more. I clutchmy head against the noise as it throbs.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I am not this Oracle or whoever you think I am!"

Malachi watches us with alarm, his eyes darting from me to King Theron. "Your sons will neverforgive you for this! She doesn't know who you speak of!" Malachi argues.

"Malachi is right, Theron. All witches use runes, but that doesn't mean she is the Oracle. She is tooyoung. The Oracle would be an old woman by now." says the strange man from the dungeon."Because she is the Oracle's daughter, it's the only thing that makes sense! It's why we could neverreplace the Oracle. She'd be dead by now... so a new one had to be born!" King Theron says, pointingat me.

As I look at him, I notice an uncanny resemblance between him, King Theron, and Malachi.

King Theron's cold gaze settles on him, his face an expressionless mask. "She has the same markingsas the prophecy describes!"

King Theron scoffs. If she isn't the Oracle or part of Litha's curse, James. Then why is she covered inLitha's runes?" he asks, his tone mocking.

"How do you know there are Litha's runes?" James asks, staring at me peculiarly.

"Because I've been staring at those fucking runes for the last twenty years!” Theron snarls, and herips open his shirt, revealing the same runes that run down my back and arms, only his are inreverse, burned into his skin. Malachi gasps at the sight.

"Kill the Oracle for the curse to be revealed through the Oracle's blood. Our sins will be changed tothe seven virtues. Then the last female Lycan will be born." Theron snarls. James shakes his head.Malachi's eyes widen in horror. "What will be revealed?" he whispers, the color draining from hisface.

"The seven virtues!" Theron answers, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Litha will return. How elsewill the last female Lycan be born?" He turns to the guards who have been standing by, waiting forhis orders.

Malachi's eyes fill with panic as he looks back at me and shakes his head. "What you're sayingmakes no sense." he snaps at the king, his voice hoarse with desperation.

King Theron roars in frustration. "With fire, she'll fall, and the last female Lycan will rise. Litha willrise!” King Theron snaps. I blink, trying to take in what he's saying, when Regan groans, divertingeveryone's attention to him as he sluggishly sits up.

"We're running out of time. I won't lose my sons. Grab her!" King Theron orders his guards, and twoguards move toward my cell door. They unlock it, and the door creaks open. Regan blinks, taking inthe scene unfolding around him.

"Wait... father, what are you doing?" he demands, getting to his feet. He runs at the bars only to beripped back by the chains.

"I'm sorry, son. But it's the only way." King Theron tells him, just as the guards undo the locksholding my chains to the wall. Instantly I try to run, but I am yanked backward, and hands seize myarms. The two guards start dragging me from the cell while Regan screams and yells at them tostop, which wakes Zeke and Lyon.

"Theron, listen to him," Malachi begs.

King Theron ignores Malachi's pleas, instead following as I am dragged from the dungeons.