The Lunar Crest Academy: Marked by The Lycans-Chapter 208: A Blood Pact

Kieran’s POV

Liandrin’s smile lingered, sharp, crooked, unsettling, as if she were staring at a prophecy only she could see. I hung suspended in those invisible chains, unable to move, powerless to do anything but wait for her next move. Lorraine still lay motionless on the floor, pale and frighteningly still.

Liandrin’s gaze flicked back to me, her milky white eye trembling slightly.

"You want to know the prophecy?" she asked, almost mockingly.

No, I didn’t.

Not really.

I only cared about one thing right now. Lorraine.

But if listening to her rambling got me even a step closer to saving her, then I’d listen to a thousand prophecies.

Liandrin spread her arms wide, her ragged hair swaying like ghostly vines around her face. Her voice deepened, echoing off the walls like something ancient had awoken.

"In a kingdom consumed by the hierarchies of power," she began, her tone reverent, "when the highest and the lowest stand together without chains, without pride, without fear.... when two souls from the summit and the dust give themselves wholly, selflessly, to each other..."

Her eyes glowed faintly.

"....only then will their story be completed. And only then shall the whole kingdom die... to be reborn again."

The room grew colder.

Her words hung in the air like a curse.... or a promise.

I stared at her, completely lost. I wanted to tell her she sounded insane. That no prophecy had anything to do with Lorraine nearly dying after crossing the Old Moon. That I didn’t have time for this.

But she was the only one who could help Lorraine. And right now, I needed her cooperation more than I needed my sanity.

So I nodded.

"That’s.... amazing, Liandrin," I said, forcing the words out. "Truly profound."

She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I pushed on. "But if you want us to fulfill your prophecy, then you need to save her. We can’t do anything if she’s dead."

For a beat, she simply stared at me.

Then she burst into another loud, grating cackle, bending slightly as if she might topple over from the force of it.

"Who," she rasped between laughs, "said I wanted you two to fulfill that damn prophecy?"

I blinked. "...What?"

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and snorted.

"I was only surprised because I didn’t think the prophecy was actually real. With how proud you royal Lycans are, I never imagined any of you would fall in love with a lowly feral"

My jaw clenched at the word.

Lowly feral.

She had the nerve to look at Lorraine and call her that.

But I swallowed my anger. Getting offended wouldn’t help Lorraine. Not now.

This woman... she was wasting time. Time Lorraine didn’t have.

"Fine," I muttered tightly. "Just help me heal her. Please. Heal her!"

My voice cracked, raw, desperate.

Liandrin’s grin stretched wider, slow and sinister.

"And what," she asked, tilting her head, "is in it for me if I heal your dear feral lover?"

"I’ll do anything you ask," I said immediately.

Her brows rose. "Anything?"

"Anything," I repeated, unblinking, unflinching. There wasn’t even hesitation. Whatever she wanted, whatever price she demanded, I didn’t care.

Liandrin stepped close again, her breath ghosting across my skin, smelling faintly of smoke and old herbs.

"You look sincere," she mused, "but life has taught me to never trust your kind. Royal Lycans lie as easily as they breathe."

Her lips curled.

"So we’re going to create a pact. A blood pact."

She paused to savor the words.

"You swear to me," she continued, "that you will do anything I want... and I will save your feral lover."

I looked down at Lorraine.

Still.

Cold.

Unmoving.

There was nothing to decide.

My choice was already made.

"Let’s do it," I said.

Liandrin’s eyes gleamed with excitement, almost childlike, but twisted. She circled me again before raising one long, sharp, yellowed nail. The nail gleamed faintly, like it was coated in some kind of enchantment.

"This will hurt," she warned. "But at least you’re strong. You won’t faint like the others."

The others.

I didn’t want to know what she meant.

She grabbed my arm with surprising strength and dragged her nail across my skin. Pain shot through me, hot and searing, as the nail cut deep enough for blood to spill freely.

Then she slashed her own arm, unflinching, as dark, almost black, blood welled up.

She pressed her wound to mine.

The instant our blood mixed, the air cracked.

I felt something ancient coil around my veins, something cold and binding. It felt like a brand inside my body, like a chain being forged in my bloodstream.

Liandrin began to chant.

The language was unfamiliar, harsh, rhythmic, almost painful to hear. My blood responded, glowing faintly beneath my skin. The chains holding me tightened once, then dissolved completely, dropping me to my knees. But the new chain, this blood pact, stayed. I could feel it circling my heart.

"Repeat after me," she commanded.

Her voice vibrated with magic.

"I swear to do anything Liandrin asks of me."

My throat tightened, but I forced the words out.

"I swear to do anything Liandrin asks of me."

"In exchange," she continued, "she will save the life of Lorraine."

"In exchange, she will save the life of Lorraine," I repeated.

A pulse of heat surged through my arm, racing through my veins like fire.

Liandrin stared at me, her lips lifting.

"You do know what happens if you break a blood pact, right?"

I nodded once. "My own blood will betray me. It will start pumping erratically out of my orifices until I drop dead."

Her smile widened.

"Good. You’re well informed."

She cackled, loud and delighted, spinning once like a manic spirit.

"This might just turn out to be the best day of my life."

Then she turned toward Lorraine’s body, lying helpless on the floor.

Liandrin crouched, her shadow falling over her like a shroud. She brushed a hand over Lorraine’s cold cheek, examining her intently.

"Well then...." she murmured with a smirk, cracking her knuckles.

"Let’s get you healed, girl, so the proper fun can begin."