LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 30: Dinner with the beast
Elara stood motionless as her handmaids flitted around her, fastening ribbons, adjusting the bodice of her gown, and murmuring excitedly among themselves. Their joy was palpable, as if her apparent consummation with the King was their own victory. But Elara couldn't share their enthusiasm. Her heart felt heavy, and her mind swirled with questions she dared not ask out loud.
"Your Majesty?" Gina's cheerful voice snapped her out of her thoughts. The young handmaid gazed at her with wide, expectant eyes,"Do you like the gown we have prepared for tonight's dinner ?"Elara forced a small smile, but before she could respond, Theron's voice rang through the room.
"I love it."
The maids turned toward the doorway and immediately broke into delighted smiles. Theron strode into the room with an air of confidence, his gaze fixed on Elara. She stiffened under his scrutiny, her fingers itching to cover the guilt that flickered in her eyes.
Theron offered his elbow, the gesture smooth and practiced, as if it had been rehearsed countless times. Elara hesitated but eventually looped her hand through his arm, allowing him to guide her out of the room.
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They entered a smaller dining room, its table positioned perfectly to overlook the castle yard. The dim light of the night enveloped the scene in a quiet, muted glow, but Elara barely noticed.The intricate details of the castle, its towering arches and breathtaking views, had always eluded her appreciation. She had been too lost in a past she couldn't remember, too consumed by the fractured memories that haunted her.
Theron gestured for her to sit , and she obeyed, her hands smoothing over the fabric of her gown. Her thoughts spiraled again, torn between the idea of embracing this new life and her need to uncover the truth about herself. But the latter brought a sharp pain—one she felt not only in her chest but throughout her entire being.
She sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the ornate carvings on the edge of the table. Theron took the seat beside her, leaning slightly closer. The table was modest in size, with three chairs, one of which remained empty.
"What bothers you, wife?" Theron's voice was low, almost gentle, but there was an undertone of something sharper.
Before she could answer, the faint clinking of chains echoed from the hallway. The sound grew louder, and then the doors opened.
Two guards entered first, their expressions hard as they pulled at the heavy chains. Behind them, towering and barely restrained, was the King's Beast.
Elara's breath caught in her throat. He was enormous, his muscular frame barely contained by the shackles that bound his hands and feet. His eyes, sharp and feral, stared ahead with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
The guards tugged at his chains as if he were nothing more than an animal, and for a moment, Elara's thoughts rebelled. King's Beast? The title grated on her nerves. Wasn't it wrong to give ownership to a person, even one as fearsome as this? Yet, she reminded herself, kings made the rules, and their decisions were not to be questioned.
As Theron smirked, clearly entertained by the alpha lycan's subdued state, Elara's gaze locked onto the Beast's face.
Her heart sank.
It was him—the man she had seen pleasuring her .
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As they dined, the King engaged in a one-sided conversation with the blue-eyed man—the Beast—seated across from Elara. She couldn't help but feel uneasy, the tightness in her chest growing with each passing moment. How was this possible? Was it an illusion, or was she truly thinking of him between her legs?
The thought of it being a flashback never crossed her mind. Instead, she focused on the Beast, who, for some strange reason, could hear her thoughts. The bond between them lingered, unmistakable and undeniable.
The Beast's gaze never left her, his brilliant blue eyes trailing up her bare skin, following the curve of her long, slender neck. She could feel his intense stare as he searched for something. And then, his eyes landed on it: a mark. A mark that wasn't his.
His sharp, burning gaze shifted to Theron. There was no doubt in Elara's mind—the Beast was seething with rage. And Theron, completely oblivious, leaned in closer to her, his hand finding her chin before trailing to the back of her neck. "Wife," Theron asked, his voice dripping with a hint of something unfamiliar, "What do you think of pets? Would you like to have a pet one day?"
Elara blinked, taken aback by the sudden display of affection. She wasn't sure how to respond. This side of him—this attention—was new to her, and she didn't know how to handle it.
"A pet? Maybe a dog?" Theron repeated, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he turned his attention back to the fuming lycan across from them.
Before Elara could process the shift in the atmosphere, a loud bang echoed through the room. The table jolted, and the force of it caused the dishes to tremble. In an instant, the table lifted from the Beast's side, sending hot soup splashing across Theron's chest. He hissed under his breath, jerking back from the burning liquid. Burnt.
"Seize him!"Theron commanded, his voice seething with anger .
The guards, who had been standing in the shadows, rushed forward, grabbing the Beast roughly by the arms. His muscles tensed as they dragged him away, but he didn't fight back. Instead, his eyes locked with Elara's for a fleeting moment, a silent message passing between them.
As the guards hauled him out of the room, Elara sat there, still processing the events that had just unfolded. Theron stormed out in a fury, leaving her alone with her thoughts—thoughts that were only becoming more tangled and confusing by the second.