Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 159: Unstoppable Tears

"That was quite a carnage," Naveen said as she took a seat beside Rhaegar in the dimly lit meeting room.

The single candle placed in the center of the wide wooden desk flickered feebly, casting long, ominous shadows on the walls behind them. Both the witch and the king appeared like specters, their silhouettes dark and menacing in the wavering light.

Rhaegar looked exhausted. His usually vibrant amber eyes, once sharp and commanding, were now dulled and almost lifeless. The effort of eradicating the remaining purists while simultaneously hunting those still in hiding had taken a visible toll on him.

Even the unshakable confidence that had so often compelled others to follow him without question seemed to have all but disappeared.

"I heard the warriors are ready to leave," Naveen said again, her voice breaking the heavy silence. She hoped to prompt some kind of response from him. "I still think you’re rushing things."

At last, Rhaegar shifted his weary gaze to her, his tone cold and resolute. "I’ve waited long enough already. Whatever happens... I will go and get her."

"But you don’t understand!" Naveen’s voice rose, her composure slipping as agitation flickered across her face. "Unless she’s able to break the queen’s spell herself, any intrusion into her consciousness will destroy her mind! What’s the point of bringing her back if she won’t even recognize you—or believe anything you say?"

Rhaegar’s brows furrowed, and he exhaled sharply, a signal of his growing frustration. Ever since losing his wife, his patience had worn dangerously thin. The witch’s warnings, however well-meaning, grated against his already frayed nerves.

For once, he didn’t want caution or resistance. No matter how reckless or foolish, he just wanted to hear something—anything—that gave him hope.

"I was able to penetrate the barrier," Rhaegar said, his voice quieter now, the weight of suppressed emotions evident in his tone. "I managed to link with her consciousness."

Naveen’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she nearly jumped to her feet, gasping. "You did?! Goodness, that’s a whole different story, then! How did she react? How did you feel?"

Contrary to her hopeful excitement, Rhaegar merely shook his head slowly, his expression grim. "She didn’t respond. I’m not even sure she knows what’s happening to her. When I manage to link my mind with hers, I can hear her thoughts... and I’m pretty certain she can hear mine. But the moment she does, her mind shuts off again. And then—there’s nothing."

Naveen sighed heavily, her heart sinking. Under normal circumstances, Rhaegar would have had no trouble forging a mental connection with Lorelai. But the princess was ensnared by layers of intricate spells that tampered directly with her mind. Any interference—even Rhaegar’s desperate attempts to break through—was perilously dangerous. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Still," she said at last, her tone more measured, "this is good news for you. The closer you get to her, the stronger this connection will become. But, Rhaegar... you must always remember—you cannot force her to remember you. She has to do it herself."

"I know," Rhaegar replied, his voice laced with resignation. Yet, in his eyes, there was still a flicker of hope. "I believe... she can do it."

***

Lorelai opened her heavy eyelids and found herself lying on her bed, the tall white walls of her bedroom closing in around her despite the room’s spaciousness.

She couldn’t tell how many times she had been jolted awake already, choking on her own tears as the relentless nightmares tormented her.

Will it always be like this? she wondered, closing her eyes again. The stinging sensation intensified as her fingers instinctively reached up to rub her red, swollen eyelids.

She sincerely hoped it wouldn’t. All Kai had done at the picnic was kiss her—with a passion she had once thought she wanted. But the longer his lips lingered on hers, the more repulsed she had become.

When his tongue had moved down her neck, tracing the outline of her collarbones with its slimy wetness, Lorelai had been unable to endure it any longer. She had burst into tears, begging him to stop and let her go.

Kai had been furious. She could see it in the hollow, yet dark look in his pale eyes, his face twisted into something unexpectedly grotesque. For a fleeting moment, Lorelai had feared he would hurt her.

But then, as if a shadow passed, the darkness in his expression dissipated. He released her, brushing off the incident as if it had never happened.

Even now, so many days later, whenever Lorelai closed her eyes to sleep, the horrifying memory of being forced to submit to his touch followed her mercilessly. It strangled her, leaving her gasping for air, squeezing out rivulets of bitter tears.

But I love him, Lorelai thought desperately, Kai’s face appearing in the haze of her dreams once more.

No, you don’t, interrupted the sudden, now-familiar male voice, startling her and making her eyelashes flutter.

Go away! Leave my head! It’s all because of you! Lorelai’s scream echoed in the vast emptiness somewhere deep inside her chest. The more she tried to suppress that stranger’s voice, the louder it seemed to grow, filling every corner of her mind.

You’re right, it’s all because of me, the voice insisted, unrelenting. But does it really make you unhappy? It’s because of me that you now find this life so repulsive. It’s because of me that you miss the sweet taste of happiness and freedom I once gave you.

A guttural, almost animalistic growl escaped the princess’s trembling lips as her fingers clawed at the sheets beneath her.

I’m happy... she rasped internally, her voice faltering. I’m happy here. I’m happy without you!

Lorelai, the voice interrupted again, but this time, its unshakable confidence faltered. For the first time, she caught the faint undertone of despair hidden within. Who am I?

Startled, Lorelai jolted violently, her body quaking as if the voice’s question had pierced her soul. Her eyes flew open, but all she could see was a thick veil of unstoppable tears, blinding her in a haze of pain and confusion.