The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation by Luna Nova

---- 209. I CARRY YOU IN MY HEART NARRATOR Victoria had only mentioned her father's name to be annoying, but when she started singing, her real feelings came pouring out. Standing on top of the bar, her lips began to hum one of Zarek's, favorite songs. The memories floated back into her mind as she closed her eyes. Back in the palace hall, with the warm fireplace crackling, consuming the wood...

She was just a little girl, and her father would ask her to sing that melody about unconditional love, separation, and longing. Victoria had learned it since she was small and always sang it for him. She could feel that Zarek would get a little sad, that the memories would take him back to something from the past. The notes drifted beautifully through the air, tangled with all of Victoria's memories. The candlelight in the tavern flickered, dimming and wrapping ---- the place ina half-lit mood.

Vampire magic cast a spell over everyone's heart, Victoria's melancholy seeping into their very souls. But the one hit the hardest was the Lord of the wolves. His clenched fist trembled on the table. That craving in his chest was growing wildly out of control. He wanted her so badly. A woman from that damned race he absolutely loathed. And he had good reasons. Very powerful ones. Wolves hadn't always been the masters.

his people treated like animals, the screams for mercy, the tragic life of his mother-they were still nightmares that haunted him Wanting her this way made him feel like a traitor... to his

From the first time the wind carried her intoxicating scent, he hadn't forgotten her for a second, no matter how hard he tried. He'd done everything he could to stay away. He'd even allowed her little skirmishes with those rebel rats. He didn't want to hurt her. He'd let her go, even at the

roar in pure frustration. For the first time, he was thankful that his wolf had been swallowed up by the curse of that lycan beast. Something

he suspected his obsession with Victoria had something to do with the mate bond. ---- His chest tightened when he saw tears roll down her beautiful closed eyes. Just like that night when he said those awful words to hurt her, to make her hate him. A twisted, ironic smile curled on the corner

he ached to. To finally tell her how he really felt. "Victoria, how the hell am I supposed to escape from what you make me feel?" he murmured in his mind, unable to tear his gaze from her. Victoria was reaching the last verses Her hands moved in the air as she sang with so much emotion that more than one person had drifted into their