Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 88

“Wha…what did you just say?” I asked, not wanting to believe what I had just heard.

“I said we should sacrifice Donald or Mama. They fit the picture and that’s…”

I laughed. I f*****g laughed because what else was I to do? My mouth had gone slack as I simply stared at Nala, unable to comprehend the situation and what she had just said. I was lost for words, and I couldn’t even meet her gaze anymore. I tried, but I didn’t want to believe she said that.

My heart hurts so bad I just want to cry. If only I could. It felt as though it was being twirled and ripped into small shreds that stung, and with each passing second, it felt worse.

“Can you even listen to yourself? How can you look me in the eyes and ask that I sacrifice my mother, Nala? My f*****g mother!”

“We have to do something. Either that or the whole kingdom gets swallowed by the shadows since the barrier is already getting weaker and weaker!” She snapped.

“Well there should be another way, Nala. You should suggest something different, not my cousin or mother, dammit!”

She blinked at me once, twice, and a glint appeared in her eyes again before it vanished. “What other choice do we have? Donald and Mama are our only option now. The more time we waste, the angrier we’re going to make them and the more the price increases.”

I laughed again. I can’t f*****g believe this. “To hell with the price but I’m not sacrificing my mother!”

“Should we then sacrifice a baby? Maybe the baby Phillison is carrying would suffice. Or perhaps, we find an innocent child and just throw them for the sacrifice!” She glowered. “Is that what you want!?” She thundered.

I clenched and unclenched my fists. Dear Nyala, why are you doing this to me?

“Just think, think of this. Both Mama and Donald would not hesitate giving their lives for a better cause. I want nothing more than to spend forever with you. But if the Mbems would accept me as a pure soul, I’ll be willing to give myself up. After all, you will hurt only for a while and that’s all.”

Wow! She did not just say that! Just wow!

“I’d rather give myself up than sacrifice anyone else.” I said in a low growl.

She scoffed. “They said a pure soul. Are you one?” She crossed her hands to her chest as she asked, and I swallowed hard and fast.

My head was pounding, and for some reason, a sizzling pain rose from my back. The damn burn was acting up when I didn’t even know how I felt about all of this!

“I may not be, but I’m going to try. I won’t sacrifice anyone!” I gritted.

And I knew. I knew that deep within me I meant that. If there was a slight opening the Mbems would accept me for the sacrifice, then I would give myself up. I knew I didn’t want to give up anyone’s life, regardless of what Nala wants me to believe.

That was one thing disturbing. Why was she hell bent on suggesting who we should sacrifice, instead of finding a way to fix this? What had happened to her after we had been separated?

She took a few steps towards the pool and threw another rock, before she turned to face me again. “You think they wanted you? Do you think that is why they have been helping us? Protecting you and me? If they wanted us, they’d have taken us. They had lots of chances to do that. This is why I’m going to offer myself up. If they’ll take me, I’ll give myself up.”

“But this makes no sense!” I was exasperated.

“It makes enough sense to me!” She yelled, throwing her hands around, causing the tie holding her robe to unknot and I found myself staring at her naked b.reast. But for the time, I wasn’t enthralled by them. I was too mad, too sad, too confused to focus on those bouncing babies. “Because I’m certain they don’t want either of us. Even if they do, I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself because that’s selfish!”

I shook my head. “Selfish you say? Are you really saying this, Natasha?” She flinched a bit. “Selfish is me giving up someone’s life, giving up your life to save mine. And I won’t do that!”

“That’s where you are wrong. You are not doing this to save yourself, but to save the entire kingdom.You are the king, you should know moments like this would come when you’ll be forced to make certain decisions. I’m making it easy for you, just sacrifice me” Nala says, her eyes empty as a determined expression crosses her face. “If you can’t sacrifice either Mama or Donald, then sacrifice me!”

“What…”

“After all, all this started because I have their b***d running within my veins. They reacted because of me so if anyone should pay, it should be me.” She looked crossed and…blank at the same time? “Getting sacrificed isn’t the worst thing that can happen to me,” she continued. “I know this. But waking up every morning without you by my side, or listening to your voice as you speak or laugh is going to be a torture. One I do not wish to endure. If someone needs to go, it should be me and no one else. I started this.”

“No you didn’t. You were merely a vessel they needed for something else, nothing more. They need you which is why they kept protecting…”

“All the more reason why I am the best candidate to be sacrificed!”

“Why the f**k can’t I just sacrifice myself? My great grandfather caused this. If anyone needs to pay for his crimes, IT SHOULD BE ME!” I screamed!

How dare she suggest that? How dare she suggest I give her up? She’s my mate, goddammit and I will protect her. I may be hurt at her suggestions but I’m certain she was only looking for a way to save us both.

“No! Because I don’t want you to! Sacrifice Donald or Mama and this will all be over! Or better yet, just give me up! Make that damn decision!”

“I…” the words caught in my throat as a movement from the pool captured my attention. Both Nala and I took two steps back because the water rose in thick waves and splashed around, wetting us both in the process.

Then the foam at the middle of the pool vanished, and then it started to bubble, the sound filling my ears.

“Come here,” I pulled Nala behind me, afraid that something was going to hurt her. As the water continued to bubble, the temperature around the forest changed. When I got here, it was cool and breezy. But right now, it was hot, as though the bubbles from the water were creating the heat.

Soon, I was sweating, despite the fact that I knew water was splashed on us a few minutes ago. The increasing temperature was making me uncomfortable, that and Nala’s heavy breathing from behind me.

“I…I…my body…it…burns…” she stammered, crunching down to the rocky ground.

I circled my hand around her to help her, but the heat leaving her body was too much to handle. And so was the heat on my body.

Then a loud rumble in the water dragged my attention back to the heavy waves. And as I watched on, right before my eyes, wolves in water form appeared to be floating on the surface.

What in the loving name of Nyala!

Then as though I was dreaming, as though I hadn’t had enough surprises for today, the water-like wolves began to speak.

“We demanded for a pure soul not an impure like Donald’s. A soul like his would cause an imbalance in everything . Neither do we want impure souls like you both with all of your past issues.”

Wait, what? Donald? An impure soul? What was that?

“However, together with your wolves, you both can pass as pure souls. But we don’t need either of you, so we will be taking your wolves. In that case, Amari Leonardo Dakarai, and Maina Erin Gladys will be chosen for sacrifice.”

Then the water crumbled and the wolves disappeared. And I don’t think I’ve ever screamed as loud as I did in that moment, at least, not until I had been knocked out from behind and a crippling darkness engulfed me.

That was it.