Temptation of twin Lycans

Gerald's ultimatum

"Prince Gerald holds great sway with the king, receiving whatever he desires and not hesitating to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. Conversely, Prince Henrik prefers to achieve his goals without getting his hands dirty," Kelly explained calmly, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

Silvia pondered the implications of the king's favoritism towards Gerald and his apparent apprehension about Henrik ascending the throne.

"When Gerald vanquished the General, I expected retribution, but instead, the king elevated him to favor. Your intended union was with Henrik, yet the king married you to Gerald, likely to secure his control over both humans and demons," Kelly continued, her voice steady.

Kelly gazed at Silvia, who remained silent as she absorbed the weight of Kelly's words. "I want the king dead," Kelly asserted, her tone resolute. "Then one of the twins will ascend to the throne. You must decide where your allegiance lies. I've noticed you spending a considerable amount of time with Henrik lately. I dare say he would be a more advantageous ally than Gerald." With that, Kelly concluded her statement and departed, leaving Silvia to contemplate her options in solitude and the possibility of breaking free from Gerald's grasp.

As Silvia wandered the corridors of the palace, her mind filled with the cryptic words of the queen, she found herself standing before the imposing doors of the library that belonged to Gerald. A sense of apprehension gnawed at her, but her curiosity got the better of her, compelling her to linger just a moment longer.

Just as she was about to turn away, a shadow darted across the threshold of the library, disappearing into the dimly lit interior. Silvia's heart raced with a mixture of fear and intrigue as she hesitated for a moment, then decided to follow.

Inside, she found Gerald deep in conversation with a woman who appeared to be around her own age. The woman's expression was mostly unreadable, her features schooled into a mask of neutrality as she exchanged words with Gerald in hushed tones.

Silvia's pulse quickened as she strained to hear their conversation, catching snippets of their discussion as she hovered near the doorway.

"Prince Henrik is showing a great interest towards the human." The woman was saying, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's desperate to snatch her from your grip as soon as possible."

Gerald stayed cold as his eyes focused in space.

"So, it's all going according to the plan."

Silvia's blood ran cold as she listened to their exchange, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. She had suspected that Henrik harbored feelings toward her, but to hear it confirmed sent a chill down her spine.

But the woman wasn't finished yet. "And there's something else you should know," she continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Silvia has been spending a lot of time with the queen."

Gerald's brow furrowed with concern, his gaze narrowing as he considered this revelation. "What could they possibly be discussing?" he mused aloud, more to himself than to the woman.

But before he could ponder the question further, the woman's eyes flicked toward the doorway, where Silvia stood frozen in place, her heart hammering in her chest.

"She's listening to us," the woman said calmly, her gaze locking with Silvia's with an intensity that made her blood run cold.

Silvia's breath caught in her throat as she realized she had been discovered. Panic surged through her veins as she turned to flee, her mind racing with the implications of what she had just overheard.

As Silvia turned to flee, her heart pounding with fear, she felt a strong hand grasp her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. She turned to find Gerald standing behind her, his expression dark and menacing.

For a moment, Silvia thought her end had come. She braced herself for his wrath, expecting punishment for eavesdropping on his conversation. But instead, Gerald's grip on her shoulder softened slightly as he spoke.

"You shouldn't be snooping around where you don't belong," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But I'll give you one chance to explain yourself."

Silvia's mind raced as she struggled to find the right words. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a single syllable, Gerald turned her forcefully toward the window.

"Look," he commanded, his voice cold and commanding.

Silvia obeyed, her eyes widening in shock as she beheld the scene unfolding below. A group of guards had surrounded a figure on the palace grounds, their swords drawn and gleaming in the sunlight. At the center of the circle stood a succubus, her wings furled and her eyes wide with fear.

"A succubus was caught last night. Do you want to know what can happen to her on my command."

With a gesture from Gerald, the guards moved in, their blades slicing through the air as they struck the succubus down with ruthless efficiency. Silvia gasped in horror, her stomach churning at the sight of the creature's demise.

"This is what happens to those who betray me," Gerald said, his voice like ice. "Remember that, succubus. Remember what awaits you if you ever try to go against me."

Silvia felt a shiver run down her spine as she stared out the window, the image of the succubus's lifeless body etched into her mind. She knew then that she was trapped, caught in a web of darkness and deceit from which there was no escape. And as Gerald released her and turned away, leaving her alone with her thoughts, Silvia couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find a way out of the darkness that threatened to consume her.

......