Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 65: The Gladiator Fight, Part II

Lorelai forced herself to watch, despite the mounting dread in her stomach twisting her from the inside and making her sick.

One by one, the gladiators fought against creatures pulled from the wild: panthers with glistening black fur, wolves with bared teeth, bears whose roars reverberated off the stone walls.

Some of the fighters emerged victorious, their weapons slick with blood and their chests heaving with exhausting effort. Others were not so fortunate, their bodies lying still as the arena floor drank in the crimson stain of their defeat.

The crowd erupted with each victory, cried out with each defeat, their voices merging into a single, deafening roar.

But Lorelai barely registered it. Her eyes kept drifting back to the chained lycan, waiting on the sidelines.

Rhaegar had not moved, had not taken his gaze from the spectacle even once. The princess could almost feel the devastating rage building within him, a storm waiting to break and ruin everything.

Finally, the host raised his hand, calling for silence. The arena fell still, and he gestured toward the lycan slave, announcing.

"And now," he declared, his voice laced with a sinister excitement, "for the main event. The mighty lycan, feared and powerful, will face a challenge unlike any other." He paused, letting the tension build. "He will fight against all of His Grace Duke Kalder's half-beast slaves—a battle to the death, where the winner shall have their freedom!"

Lorelai nearly leapt to her feet, her eyes blazing. "This is inhumane!" she hissed, her voice barely louder than a whisper but sharp enough to cut through the tense silence around her. Rhaegar's fists clenched harder, his nails biting into his palms as he fought to contain his fury.

Duke Kalder, sitting with a smug expression, leaned back, clearly savoring the king's reaction. Beside her, the crown prince placed a warning hand on his stepsister's arm. "Compose yourself, Lorelai," he whispered sternly. "It is not your place to interfere."

But the princess pulled her arm free, her patience gone. "This is wrong," she said coldly, her voice low but fierce. She turned to Duke Kalder, her emerald eyes flashing with indignation. "It is neither fair nor honorable to stage something so cruel. Pitting a single man, half-beast or not, against your entire stock of slaves—it's barbaric!"

Vincent Kalder arched an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling into a grin as he looked over at Rhaegar, his tone almost mocking. "Well, perhaps we can make other arrangements, Your Highness. After all, we wouldn't want to upset our esteemed guests."

Rhaegar's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in his gaze as he studied the duke's smug face. The princess felt her pulse quicken as she glanced back at the lycan king, feeling the tension thicken like a noose tightening around her heart.

"What exactly do you propose, Your Grace?" she demanded in a surprisingly challenging tone.

The duke stroked his gray mustache thoughtfully, his gaze gleaming with wicked amusement. "Perhaps," he said slowly, his eyes flicking over to the lycan king with an expression bordering on cruel delight, "His Majesty, King Rhaegar, might wish to interfere. After all, it's a rare occasion to witness true power on display."

Lorelai's eyes widened, shock and fury battling within her. She turned to Rhaegar, who remained silent, his expression as hard as stone.

Meanwhile, Duke Kalder continued, his words pointed and laced with venom.

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"I am willing to express my generosity tonight," he said smoothly. "If King Rhaegar wants to free the slaves, he can do so… by defeating the lycan in combat himself. A fair offer, wouldn't you say? One death to save the rest." He leaned forward, smirking as he met Rhaegar's gaze head-on. "So, Your Majesty, what will it be?"

Rhaegar's eyes flashed, but he remained silent, his mind racing. Lorelai's heart pounded as she looked at him, willing him to refuse, to find another way, any way, out of this twisted trap.

But the duke's words hung heavily in the air, and Rhaegar's silence only intensified the pressure. She felt helpless, caught in the pull of Duke Kalder's cruel game and the desperation in Rhaegar's eyes as he weighed his options.

Finally, the king rose to his feet and spoke, his voice low and steady. "If I fight, and I win," he said, each word tinted with controlled anger, "every single one of the slaves here goes free. And you will grant them safe passage out of your lands."

Duke Kalder's grin widened, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against the armrest of his seat. "Very well, Your Majesty. I accept your terms. One life to spare the rest." He gestured to the guards, who immediately moved toward the caged lycan, preparing to release him.