The Temptation of Sin And The Lycan Princess

ROYCE.

“Fine by me,” I reply.

Just then, Mom and Winona enter the hall. There’s no sign of Marcel or Dad but the

blood on Mom’s clothes makes me scan her

over. She looks ok.

What happened?

“Then what do the people say?” Aleric says scanning the crowd.

“I don’t give a fuck what people say. I know my daughter and you are not the fucking

one for her.”

“But I am her mate! Fated mate! You have

no right to stop me from being with my mate, Alpha King Alejandro.” Aleric says.

“Because I-” Alejandro begins.

“Dad, stop it!” Sky shouts.

I don’t want her doing that to her father… they’ve only recently come to an

understanding.

“Fated mate or not, she’ll always be mine. She chose me, and as much as I belong to her, she belongs to the Solaris King.” I say confidently, not caring how arrogant I

sound. 2

“How dare you!” Aleric snarls. “I demand you accept her rejection and back the fuck off, or I won’t hold back from killing you

either.”

I smirk coldly. “If you will succeed.”

“Try me!”

“But she is choosing Aleric Arden… we need to do what’s right, your majesty.” Another Alpha from the council says seriously.

I glance at Alejandro, who still seems to be struggling with the truth, as he stares at Skyla.

“Aleric.” Mom’s voice comes, but she

sounds exhausted.

“Mom… look, I found my mate,” he says,

smiling at her.

Mom looks between us, “Tell me Aleric, tell me the truth,” she says, looking between the three of us. “Did you have anything to do with Quade’s death?”

“No! How can you believe that? I have done

nothing wrong!” He says with false sincerity

as he takes Mom’s hands. Concern in his

eyes as he looks at the blood on her clothes. ”

What happened?”

She shakes her head, and I glance at her

hands, stained with blood…

But she’s observing him. Can she see through his façade?

My heart thunders as she slowly pulls away and looks at Skyla, who is standing silently. Mom goes over to her and takes her hands,

“Skyla Rossi, I wish our first meeting wasn’t like this… but please don’t pitch two

brothers against one another… isn’t Royce the one you want?”

“No,” Skyla replies. “It’s Aleric. Royce has committed far more crimes than you can

imagine. If I were you, I’d stay away from

him.”

My eyes flash and I’m about to speak when

Leo places his hand on my arm.

“Enough. With the allegations that are presented here. I vote that for now, Aleric

and Royce Arden are both taken into custody for questioning and held in confinement. until we have done our investigations. As for Skyla Rossi, I think she too should be kept apart from-”

“No! Aleric has done nothing wrong. Isn’t the law that everyone is innocent until proven guilty? Probe their minds, and you will get your answers! How can you hold someone innocent in prison? I’m telling you that he has done nothing to me! I want to be with him! And if anyone will make this difficult, then I demand that the council

defend me! isn’t that what it’s for?!”

A murmur crosses the crowd, but it’s clear without the facts and proof everyone is

debating it.

If Dad could see the state of the Arden name,

he tried so hard to protect….

“All in favour of Leo’s suggestion!”

Alejandro growls.

“Dad!” Skyla says, shocked.

sorry Sky… but I’m

chances.”

votes…I just want you to think if you truly think this is the right thing

suggest a mind probe and until there is

as he scans the crowd. But this was not part of his plan. I can see it from the look on his face, the way he paled and the way he’s balled

ok with the mind probe?” I

coldly.

at him, frowning

want is to simply

Aleric says.

“The truth, it’s

too late to atone-”

is no truth!

my mate! He got the kingdom!

woman I love!”

Bastard…

Arden and the Solaris King, Royce Arden, in confinement until further investigations!”

crowd is torn, and I know it’s going to be a mixed vote. Rayhan

followed by all

Westwoods.

as she looks

and mouths, ‘I’m sorry’.

everyone begins to raise

hand.

me forever. I

will only cause my

Aleric shouts.

it won’t,” Raihana

a time

can’t hold

goes against

in three days no

look at him sharply as

Three days?

“That’s not fair!”

words send

crowd.

in favour,”

go up and my

Three days.

Fuck.

for three days I can’t

anything?

his arm around Skyla, who hugs him

days… I need to find the answers in three fucking days… but I’m not opposed to getting rid of him

we will hold Aleric Arden and

After all, this involves

have something happen if they are under your watch,” Magdalene says

will

watch,” Raihana says, her

Aleric.

the witches trust

she’s a Rossi…

a frown crosses

Skyla shakes her head.

“This isn’t fair!”

we’ll be

days, they won’t find anything,” he says with confidence as

me then,”

my gaze snaps to them… removing my

wrong, there will be no marking.” Leo

stop me, mark me, Aleric!” Skyla says, glaring at her

not Sky.” I hear one

say.

I can see the

do this… come on… can you hear

Nothing.

as Azura runs over to her, shouting at her not to do this. Flames engulf them both and my own heart is thudding as I see her arch her

No.

me, blistering cold ice that is

whisper, my voice so cold and dangerous I barely recognise it as

Time seems to slow

higher and I send a powerful bolt of

them from my

someone shouts as I slam my fists into the

strong.

Kiara shouts, but it’s

are torn.

eyes, I see

her neck. A blast of my

around Skyla, but it’s not

by this barrier,

Aleric back and he hits

overrides his, destroying

in seconds.

spreads around us, encasing the floor,

Aleric

Skyla says

her neck.

it did nothing to the mark or the remaining tatters

bond.

4

are not

but the mark of a Solaris king cannot be

says

where he was holding Mom, and Winona

supporting her.

my

to focus on