The Lunar Crest Academy: Marked by The Lycans-Chapter 205: Into the Arms of Danger

Kieran’s POV

"I am the girl you were supposed to be wedded to... till I heard you ran off like a bloody coward."

Immediately she said that, I remembered. She is Kaelani Rothberg, daughter of the new Elite Council leader, Baldric Rothberg, the lady I was supposed to wed as my Queen.

Kaelani Rothberg’s voice sliced through the air like the arrow she held. Her stance was steady, her bow drawn to full tension, her blonde hair braided tight against her skull, her elite crest shining proudly on her collar as if she wore arrogance as armor.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Alistair beat me to it.

"Kaelani?" he blurted. "Kaelani Rothberg?"

Her lips pulled into a sharp, mocking smile. "Hello, Alistair Ashthorne. I always assumed seeing your face would be a displeasure. But not today. Today, seeing how far you’ve fallen with my own eyes...." She dragged her gaze over him in disgust. "It brings me so much joy."

Alistair stiffened, jaw tightening, but he didn’t respond.

Varya crossed her arms. "I assume you’re the lady Kieran was supposed to wed. You’re an elite. What are you doing here in Lycan territory?"

Kaelani’s eyes snapped to her, brimming with fury. "My entire family is here preparing for the wedding. My wedding. The one your dear prince stood me up for." She turned the arrow back toward me, her aim never faltering. "And he is going to die today for humiliating me."

I sighed, deep and tired. The timing couldn’t be worse. Lorraine was still limp in my arms, unconscious and frighteningly pale. I could feel her faint heartbeat against my wrist, each weak thud slicing fear through me.

"Kaelani Rothberg," I said evenly. "I apologize for not showing up. But we can discuss this another time. I need to get Lorraine to a healer immediately."

"Lorraine?" Kaelani’s brows shot up. "Lorraine Anderson? The same Lorraine the Crimson soldiers are hunting?"

Her disgust deepened, twisting her features.

"I heard she’s a feral. So she’s the one who has your heart?" She scoffed, laughing bitterly. "A feral? Just how low can you go, Kieran? How much lower can Lycans go?"

She stepped forward, lowering her voice with venom.

"Ferals are weaklings. Insignificant. No more important than the dirt beneath my shoe. And yet you hold her like she’s worth something. Like she...."

She never finished.

In less than a blink, Varya blurred forward. A sharp crack echoed through the street. Kaelani collapsed to the ground, her neck snapped.

Varya dusted her hands. "I was getting tired of her yapping."

Felix’s eyes widened. "Did you kill her?!"

Varya shrugged. "Maybe I should have. But I only snapped her neck. She’s an elite, she’ll heal and wake up. Unfortunately."

I exhaled slowly. "She needs to live, killing her might spark another war between Lycans and Elites. And that is the last thing we need right now."

Alistair gestured toward Kaelani’s unconscious body. "So what now? We just leave her here?"

"No," I said. "If we leave her, she’ll hunt us down the moment she wakes and alert the entire territory. That would put an unnecessary target on our backs."

Felix’s voice rose slightly in panic. "So what do we do?"

The answer was obvious, but not pleasant.

"The priority is Lorraine," I said, tightening my grip on her. "We need someone who can heal her. So for now.... we take Kaelani with us."

Felix stared at me like I’d sprouted horns. "You want us to take a well built, muscular, strong lady who is the literal princess of the elites, hates ferals, and wants to kill us all? You want us to carry her with us?"

Varya raised a brow. "Well built, muscular, and strong? Then where exactly do you place me, Felix?"

Felix ignored her, which only made her smirk.

"We don’t have time for this," I said. "I know someone... someone who might be able to heal Lorraine. She is labeled a criminal and she might need some persuading from us before she helps but she is our best shot and we need to get Lorraine to her fast."

Varya’s eyes widened as the realization hit. "No." She stepped forward. "Kieran, no. You’re not saying...."

"Do you remember the abode of the Shunned Priestess?" I asked.

She swallowed. Then slowly nodded. "I remember."

"That’s where I’m going." I shifted Lorraine in my arms, feeling her head roll weakly against my chest. "I’ll go first. You bring the others... and her" I nod my head at Kaelani "and follow behind."

Varya hesitated. Fear flickered in her eyes.

"Kieran... meeting the Shunned Priestess is dangerous. She was shunned for a reason. She’s irrational. She despises royal Lycans. Going to her is practically suicide."

"I don’t care," I said quietly.

It was the truth.

"I need someone powerful enough to help Lorraine. She’s the only one I can think of."

"This is still a reckless plan," Varya tried again.

"And it’s not up for debate." My tone hardened. "Do as I said."

For a moment, Varya looked like she wanted to argue. But then she lowered her head and bowed.

"Yes, my king."

I turned away from them. "Once she wakes, keep Kaelani bound. She’s dangerous. And angry. Don’t underestimate her."

"We know," Alistair said, already crouching beside Kaelani to secure her before she healed.

I didn’t wait another second.

With Lorraine held securely in my arms, I launched forward in a blur of speed.

The wind tore past me, whipping my hair back, stealing breath from my lungs. My feet barely touched the ground as the world streaked around me in dark shades of gray and forest.

Buildings whipped by. Stones cracked under my boots. Mist coiled around the trees like ghosts whispering warnings.

Varya was right.

The Shunned Priestess was dangerous.

She lived in the outlands of the Lycan territory, in a forest swallowed by ancient curses and thick wild magic. A place even Lycans refused to tread sometimes.

She once killed a royal Lycan in cold blood.

She was exiled after that. Banished to the outlands. Never to be allowed near the royal line again.

And I was about to show up at her doorstep carrying the unconscious girl who meant everything to me.

Brilliant.

But I didn’t care.

I glanced down at Lorraine. Her face was too pale, her lips colorless, her pulse faint but present. She looked fragile, frighteningly fragile.

Her hair brushed my arm, soft against my skin.

She was silent, too silent. Her body didn’t even twitch a bit.

And it scared me, more than any soldier had ever managed to.

If I lost her...

No.

I refused to finish that thought.

Dying at the hands of the shunned priestess was a risk I was willing to take.

If that’s what it took for Lorraine to open her eyes again.