Chapter 15 Agreement with the Devil
DAHLIA
We arrived at the Lycan’s palace.
“Mother,” Liam whispered, awe dripping from every syllable. “Is this really where Daddy lives?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. “Yes, baby. This is his home.”
Lily gasped softly, her little hands pressed together. “It’s so big! Do we get to live here too?”
“For a while,” I said. “Just… for a while.”
Their excitement filled the carriage, their laughter light and sweet like the wind that teased through the open crack of the window. I wished I could feel even a sliver of their joy, but all I could sense was the dull thud of my pulse, a steady reminder that I was walking straight into a storm I might never escape.
As the carriage doors opened, I took a deep breath and stepped out.
The Gamma of the royal guard waited for us; he was tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in black armor. His face was unreadable, his eyes cold and assessing.
“Lady Dahlia,” he said curtly, bowing his head just enough to be polite. “The King awaits you. Follow me.”
Inside, the palace was incredible. Golden walls caught the light from chandeliers that sparkled like frozen stars, and tapestries depicting long-forgotten wars hung proudly along the halls. It was beautiful but also a little intimidating, the kind of beauty that reminded you power was never far away.
You’re trembling again. Sylvia, my wolf, murmured in my mind. Her voice was calm and low, always grounding me when I needed it most.
“I’m not trembling,” I whispered back silently.
You are. But it’s all right. You’ve been through worse.
I let out a quiet breath. “That’s the problem. I keep surviving worse.”
Then you’ll survive this too.
Before I could answer, a tall, graceful woman swept into the hall. She was the Luna. Her beauty was sharp and polished like a blade. Her golden hair shimmered beneath the light, her gown the color of blood and power.
Her lips curved into something that might’ve been a smile if not for the chill in her eyes.
“So,” she drawled, her gaze flicking over me with open disdain. “You’re the one they’re whispering about.”
I gave a small nod, my tone measured. “I am Dahlia.”
“Dahlia,” she repeated, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Pretty name. Common, though.” Her gaze slid to my children, her eyes narrowing. “And these are yours?”
“They’re mine,” I said firmly.
“How brave,” she sneered softly. “To bring bastards into the Lycan King’s home.”
My wolf stirred violently within me, but I held my ground, lifting my chin. “How kind of you to greet guests with such grace, Your Majesty.”
Her smile froze. “Excuse me?”
I took a slow step closer, my tone deceptively polite. “I was told the Lycan Kingdom prides itself on hospitality. I must’ve been misinformed.”
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut glass. Luna's eyes blazed, her perfect composure cracking for just a second before she turned sharply away.
The Gamma cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “This way, Lady Dahlia. His Majesty is waiting.”
As we moved down the hall, I caught a flicker of movement, a familiar face approaching. It seems like he was the beta. His expression was gentler than the Gamma’s, though there was still steel beneath his eyes.
“Lady Dahlia,” he greeted, bowing slightly. “I’m Simone, the king’s beta. It’s good to finally meet you.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice quiet but steady.
“The king has been expecting you,” he continued, glancing briefly at the children. “I’ll take you from here.”
We followed him through another corridor that led to massive double doors carved with ancient sigils. My pulse quickened. I could feel the weight of the man behind those doors before I even saw him.
When the doors opened, my world tilted.
There he was.
Dagnoth Draculis, the Lycan King.
He stood near the throne, a towering shadow wrapped in black and gold, his presence consuming the space like fire consumes air. His silver eyes lifted as we entered, my breath still hitched.
The pups, however, didn’t hesitate.
“Daddy!” Liam cried out, breaking free from my hand.
Lily followed, her tiny steps echoing across the marble as she ran straight toward him. Before I could stop them, both of my children were clutching his legs, looking up at him with smiles so bright it made my heart ache.
Time froze.
Dagnoth looked down at them, his expression unreadable, a flicker of confusion, then shock, and finally something colder.
“Simone,” he said sharply. “Take them.”
The Beta stepped forward instantly, gently pulling the children away.
“Wait—” I started, my voice trembling.
“Now,” Dagnoth commanded, and even the air seemed to obey.
The pups looked up at me in confusion as Simone guided them out. Lily’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Mommy, did we do something wrong?”
“No, sweetheart,” I said softly, forcing a smile. “Go with him, all right? I’ll see you soon.”
When the doors shut behind them, the silence was unbearable. I could still hear their little voices echoing down the hall.
Dagnoth’s gaze turned back to me, sharp and assessing. “You didn’t tell me you had children.”
“You didn’t ask,” I said, meeting his stare head-on.
He frowned. “You’re bold for someone who’s already on thin ice.”
I took a step closer. “I’m not bold, Your Majesty. I’m a mother. There’s a difference.”
His jaw tightened. “Your children called me Daddy.”
“They don’t know their father,” I said quietly. “They’ve only heard stories. If it offends you, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I couldn’t bring myself to lie to him. I acted like I wasn’t scared, but deep down I was trembling.
He studied me for a long moment, with that same cold, unreadable stare. The air between us crackled with something tense and dark.
Then he said, “I want you as my mate.”
My breath caught. “What?”
“For a year,” he said flatly. “You will act as my mate in public, attend all ceremonies by my side, and fulfill the seer’s command. After a year, you may leave if you wish.”
It should’ve felt like salvation. Instead, it felt like a sentence.
“And my pups?” I asked quietly.
His gaze sharpened. “What about them?”
“If I stay, they stay. And you treat them as your own,” I said, my voice steady now. “No one hurts them, no one questions their place. Not your Luna, not your council. You make everyone believe they’re yours. If you want me, that’s my price.”
His expression twisted not with disgust exactly, but with something that looked dangerously close to anger.
“You dare make demands of me?” He asked softly, his tone low and lethal.
My wolf bristled inside me, her voice a fierce growl in my mind. Don’t back down. He can’t scare you anymore.
I straightened my spine. “I do. Because I’ve already lost everything once, Your Majesty. I won’t lose it again.”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Dagnoth’s eyes darkened, his jaw flexing as he took a step closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him.
“You have courage,” he said finally, almost like it was an insult.
“I have children,” I corrected softly. “That’s not courage. That’s survival.”
For a moment, something flickered behind his eyes, something raw, almost human before it vanished.
He turned away, his voice cold once more. “Fine. The children will be treated well.” He paused, his gaze cutting back to me. “But if you ever defy me again, Dahlia… even the gods won’t save you.”
I held his gaze, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Then I’ll make sure I never have to.”
His lips curved not into a smile, but something darker. “We’ll see.”
And with that, he dismissed me.
But as I turned to leave, I could feel his eyes burning into my back. It was curious, furious, and conflicted.
And deep down, I knew this was only the beginning of the war neither of us could walk away from.