The Play-Toy Of Three Lycan Kings-Chapter 390: Ancient II

SAGE

Prince Valenf was the one who spoke first.

"How are you feeling now, Sage?"

His voice was calm, measured, carrying the quiet authority of someone who did not need to raise it to be obeyed.

I bowed low before him, instinctively, deeply—lower than I had bowed to anyone in years.

Power wrapped around him like a second skin, dense and ancient and unmistakable. It pressed against my senses, not aggressively, but with a presence that dared anything around it to forget who he was.

Prince of his people.

I found myself wondering how old he truly was. He looked no older than Darius—no older than a virile male in his late twenties, broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed, his hair dark and neatly bound at the nape of his neck.

But the weight in his gaze told another story. Time clung to him differently. Like stone shaped by centuries of water.

"I’m better," I said, lifting my head. My voice did not shake. I was proud of that.

He studied me for a moment longer, then inclined his head slightly. "Sit."

Darius guided me to a rectangular stone slab positioned near the center of the cavern. It looked like an altar, though worn smooth by time and use.

We settled side by side, my hands folding neatly in my lap, my spine straight despite the way awareness prickled over my skin.

Every eye was on me.

The prince clasped his hands behind his back and paced once, slowly, before stopping in front of us. "Tell us about yourself."

The words landed heavier than I expected.

I licked my lower lip, suddenly too aware of my mouth, my breath, the steady beat of my heart. The cavern felt smaller with their attention fixed so fully on me.

Truth pressed against the inside of my chest, tangled and sharp. Lies rose alongside it, smoother, easier, safer.

Should I tell them the truth?

Or should I lie?

Darius’s voice slid into my mind without warning, steady and calm. Don’t bother lying, he said. They’ll know.

I stiffened slightly, keeping my face neutral. What the hell?! This was why I didn’t want his blood in the first place!!

And as ancients, he continued, lying is...strange to them. They avoid it entirely. If the truth is inconvenient, they simply won’t answer.

Just like Makeh, I thought distantly.

I pursed my lips. Should I do the same, then? Avoid the question altogether? Redirect? Deflect?

Before I could decide, footsteps echoed softly from the far end of the cavern.

A woman entered.

She wore flowing robes dyed in vivid colors—deep blues, rich golds, streaks of crimson that caught the glow of the crystals overhead. Paint marked her skin in intricate patterns, winding around her arms and collarbones, symbols I didn’t recognize but felt rather than understood.

A priestess. I knew it instantly.

Our eyes met, and she smiled.

Something inside me loosened unexpectedly, warmth spreading through my chest before I could stop it. I smiled back, helplessly, instinctively.

She crossed the space between us with unhurried grace and stopped directly in front of me. "How do you feel?" she asked gently.

Then she pulled me into a hug.

I gasped softly, startled, but didn’t resist. Her arms wrapped around me, firm and warm, and suddenly I was cocooned in something that felt like home. Not the place—never the place—but the feeling. Safety. Acceptance. Simplicity.

For a fleeting moment, I was sixteen again. Before everything had fractured. Before blood and betrayal and crowns and monsters. Before my life had begun its slow, inevitable spiral.

My hands moved of their own accord, wrapping around her waist, clutching her robes as if she might disappear if I didn’t hold on tightly enough.

"I’m fine," I said into her shoulder, my voice quieter now. "Thank you...for taking care of me."

She pulled back, still smiling, her eyes kind and knowing. "You are welcome, child."

The prince cleared his throat softly, drawing the attention back to himself. "Do you wish to return to the wolves’ region?"

"Yes," I said immediately.

The answer came without hesitation, sharp and sure. I needed to return—needed to do it before the queen grew suspicious, before whispers reached her ears and twisted into something dangerous.

Three days had already passed. Three days was more than enough time for questions to be asked.

For Isla to be questioned.

A chill crawled up my spine, a sudden sense of foreboding pressing down on me. I shook it off quickly, refusing to let it take root.

"When can I leave?" I asked.

Prince Valenf’s gaze sharpened slightly. "Will you be proceeding with your plan involving the vampires?"

I turned to Darius, my heart skipping painfully.

He didn’t look at me. He only shrugged. "The vampires are enemies," he said simply.

He had told them. Of course he had. The twat!

This stung more than I expected. I forced my breathing to remain steady, forced my heart not to betray the flicker of hurt that rose suddenly.

Fine. If that was how this would go, then so be it.

"No," I said, and this time, I lied. "I won’t go ahead with them."

The cavern felt...still.

"They may come anyway," I added carefully. "With the queen."

Prince Valenf waved a hand dismissively. "Do not concern yourself with that. We will be following you to the pack."

My jaw tightened.

I didn’t like that. Didn’t like the implication, or the lack of choice wrapped neatly inside his assurance.

But I said nothing. Challenging him here, now, would serve no purpose.

"I would like to see the environs before I leave," I said instead.

The prince nodded once. "Granted."

Darius rose beside me, but I shook my head slightly. "I’d like to go alone."

There was a brief pause, then another nod. "Very well."

I turned and walked away before anyone could change their mind. As I passed the edge of the gathering, my heightened hearing caught a low mutter from one of the ancients.

"The Abstenum is in the pack... how do we approach?"

My steps faltered for half a heartbeat before I forced myself to keep walking. They knew?