The Lycan's Forbidden Mate novel Chapter 189

189 Hidden concern

Ophelia, clenching her teeth in annoyance, focused her gaze on the target and pulled harder on the bowstring. Her breathing was tight and full of rage, her eyes morphed into their golden reptilian shape, sharpening ferociously. The moment she released the arrow, Nikolai materialized right in front of the target, catching it with ease.

Ophelia let out a gasp at his abrupt entrance.

“Darling,” He called, a taunting smile coming upon his sharp handsome features.

She scowled, putting another arrow against the bow. “I will split your skull. Get out.”

“Oh. You’re upset with me?” Nikolai questioned, seeming surprised, then grinned once more.

“Screw you.” Ophelia shot the arrow straight at his forehead with a harsh hiss of disapproval. But gods! he caught without a breath and started to approach her with his head cocked to the side. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him.

Shaking her head, she picked up another arrow and placed it against the bow. His commanding movements, his cunning smile, those dark crimson eyes spinning like an active hurricane. “Stay away.”

“I am afraid I can’t do that.” Nikolai hissed, melted into the shadows, and reappeared directly behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

Ophelia fell silent.

He loosened his jaw on her shoulder, breathing softly as her back rested against his chest. The memory of their passionate evening came back to

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her. O gods! It was an experience she will never forget!

She had questioned Nikolai earlier in the hopes that he would respond. The annoying thing was that he sounded and appeared as though he was going to respond to her. But before bathing and clothing her for the day, he knocked her out. She woke up in the chamber without him, food on the bed, and a cloak by her side. Why was he dodging her questions?

“Let go of me.” She tightened her hold on the bow, gritting her teeth.

“Forgive me.” Nikolai murmured, shutting his eyes. “I am simply not able to respond to your questions at this time. Not quite yet.”

“Even if you can’t, do not abuse your powers on me!” Ophelia growled, kicking his leg.

He gave a painful moan and then a quiet laugh. “That was the last time. I promise.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. How was she going to be angry with him? With a heavy sigh, she fixed her attention on the target. “The mark. It began to hurt. Please respond to that. At least.”

“It will only hurt whenever the blood pearl is near.” Nikolai answered as though there was no need to worry.

Ophelia was surprised nonetheless. “Blood pearl? Does that imply that Tiana was present within the castle?”

“A number of red moon witches apparently appeared within the castle operating as a diversion for whatsoever agenda.”

“And you didn’t bother to confirm their motive?”

“I had been expecting an invited guest.”

Ophelia twitched her lips and let the arrow go. It struck the target exactly, and she let go of the bow, kicking Nikolai’s leg once again.

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Nikolai laughed, with a groan. “You are aware, aren’t you?”

“Those werewolves appeared to be controlled rogues, and that crimson mist seemed to know you personally. I have my own share with gods. It is impossible for just anyone to control that many werewolves.”

“Hmm. How come I am not shocked?” Nikolai questioned, a flicker of pride in his eyes.

“I expect you to be.” Ophelia scoffed. “Blood moon gods. Are you acquainted with them?”

“I was in hell when I met them. They are pests, I assure you.”

Ophelia’s mouth tightened. “Blood moon gods are malevolent beings themselves. That–He appeared to be interested in you. It’s a little unnerving.” She put her hands on Nikolai’s, which were entwined on her tummy, and voiced her concerns.

Nikolai didn’t see any point to keep anything hidden since she had figured out the majority of it already. Vladmir had revealed to him that Ophelia was a sun goddess and the protector of the golden dragons, and that he was the reincarnation of the supreme master blood moon god. The blood moon gods had been watching him closely because of this, believing that his position as Alpha King was really a minor advantage. All of that, though, didn’t appeal to him.

“The blood moon gods are not a concern for you. Rhaziel’s father will see to it that they no longer approach me.” Ophelia gave a small smile in response to his firm reassurance.

“The devil.”

“Indeed, my love. At this moment, we must concentrate on the immediate task at hand. Locating and eliminating the sacred stones.”

“Esteban wields the sunstone and the moonst…”

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189 Hidden concern

“There’s a 99 percent possibility that the moon stone is already in the hands of a pure blooded lycan.” Nikolai jumped right in.

“Why do you believe that? Is it not a Novikov?” Ophelia asked, her eyes dilating slightly.

Nikolai closed his eyes, grasping Ophelia tighter, lost in her warmth. “This time, it’s a likelihood. The only Novikov who can sense the moonstone is Vladmir because he was born on the day of an awakened full moon in the daytime. However, he has made no mention of sensing the moonstone.”

Ophelia’s eyes narrowed at the target her arrow laid. “The moonstone was used to take his voice away.”

Nikolai jerked open his eyes. “Why do you say so?”

“You could sense that Vladmir used a great deal of his abilities to finish the wedding ritual, could you not? The struggle. There were a lot of attempts to stop it. And since there was no full moon, Vladmir probably drew power from the moonstone unintentionally–something that comes naturally to him. It seems that whoever was using it did not anticipate it. And because we don’t even know who it is, we can’t predict the response. However, I continue to believe that the moonstone was utilized to silence

him or… The moon. Perhaps?”

Nikolai nodded slowly. “You are right.” he murmured, shutting his eyes again. But as he was beginning to dwell completely in their peaceful alone time together, suddenly…

“Lia!” Esmeralda called out. Though it came from a distance, Ophelia sprung in his arms with joy at the sound of her voice. After all, Esmeralda had been asleep since the previous evening.

“Esme?” Ophelia called excitedly.

Sighing lazily, Nikolai released her.

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Ophelia turned to him, her eyes sparkling with eagerness. “Esme has

awakened!”

Nikolai gave her a dreary glare. “I don’t care about that pesky fly.”

Ophelia hugged him and bursted into laughter eliciting widened eyes from him. “Come with me.”

“No.” Nikolai balked, his expression turning dreary again.

“Oh?” Ophelia inquired as she slowly pulled away from him, but he drew her back to him, smiling brightly.

He cooed, “My darling Storm,” and stroked the side of her face with a

tenderness that was almost too hot to handle.

Ophelia’s face went scarlet. “Nik… Are you concerned about something else?”

Nikolai’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the abrupt enquiry, but they immediately fell back, hiding that expression. “No.”

Ophelia noticed that reaction, but she remained silent. She embraced him, locking her face in his chest, inhaling his minty masculine scent. “Fear is a normal emotion, Nikolai. All that counts is how you battle your fear and whether you decide to accept it or reject it.”

At those remarks, Nikolai’s eyes jumped, changing into their olive green form. He returned the embrace, shutting his eyes and savoring her warmth as it drove the winter’s chill away. “Thank you.”

Ophelia smiled. “I’m always here for you.” It was always Nikolai’s way to surprise her. Every time, he covered up his weakness. He was always hiding the reality that he was afraid of being abandoned and of losing the people he cared about. His terror never left him.

“I know.” Grudgingly, Nikolai pulled away from her embrace and let her go.

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