* This story has steamy scenes that are not suitable for minors.*
Serra Lore’s life is supposed to be ideal and perfect. She graduated top of the class in the Mage Academy. She married the handsome Gideon Dunkerson, the young Lycan King. And now, she is his Luna.
However, on their first wedding anniversary, everything turned upside down. She discovered that her in-laws were just using her. Her husband is cheating on her with a beautiful woman. To make matters worse, she sacrificed her almost passable face and become hideous, in order to protect everyone in the Kingdom.
Now that her daydream has turned into a nightmare, how will she regain the confidence she once had? And to get much needed revenge against her husband?
Gideon Dunkerson thought that his life was perfect. He is the Lycan King-powerful, rich and handsome. The only flaw in his life is that, his Luna does not only look ordinary, but also comes from an ordinary family. Her only saving grace is her excellent magic skills that catapulted her to gain the prestige to become his Luna.
However, he did not expect that his respect for her magic, will turn into lust, and then becomes love. He tried to stop himself from completely falling in love with her, but all was in vain. All his plans to hurt her only cause him a series of pain. He is about to confess his love for her when tragedy struck. She chooses to protect everyone and vanishes from his life.
Her disappearance spirals him into depression and grief, and soon, he is traveling all around the world to search for his Lost Luna. However, when a new competition is held to find a new Luna, Serra reappears. And this time, he vows not to let go of her hand ever again, even if, every time she looks at him, it is with distaste and hatred.
The Lycan King’s Hideous Mage Chapter 1 Prologue – I’ve become Hideous
I open my eyes in a dimly lit room. The thatched roof shows signs of wear and tear. There are wooden cardboard in between the gaps. I can smell blood, bandage, and that unmistakable tartness of alcohol and a wound that’s trying to heal. I scrunch my nose. Even my face is aching.
I touch the bed and blanket that I am lying on. Rough, no silks and velvets. Even the pillow is so hard that I am sure I will have a stiff neck if I sleep too long. I prop myself up by my arm. All my muscles are sore and aching. Understandably, I have depleted my magic until it shaves off part of my lifespan. And all for what? For a Kingdom that refuses to accept me? For a husband who can’t love me and even had the gall to cheat on me? And to my in-laws who used me until I am of no use to them anymore!
I am foolish and a fucked-up pushover!
I sit up as I feel my blood boil in anger but I groan as pain registers in my battered body. I doubt my body will still allow me to use my magic at its best. I doubt Sacrarium will still accept a depleted mage who has fallen from grace!
My magic activates, and the wind around me rises. I cough as dust rises around me. The door to the room opens, and a muscular, handsome man comes in.
I snort. Even at the castle, I am surrounded by attractive men, but none ever looked at me with desire! And so I glare at him. I know this man. Caius Liddicoat, a vampire prince of a rival Kingdom. Is he the reason I smell blood?
“Miss Serra, I know you’ve always been an amazing woman, but I will advise you against using magic when you are still half alive.”
I glare at his always impassive face, cold and emotionless like most vampires. He doesn’t look or sound upset or angry, just dead severe and matter-of-fact–as though this is some routine business transaction – like buying vegetables or bread or water. As if he cannot see that my life has been destroyed beyond repair!
I pull back my lips and purse my thin mouth into a tight line before responding flatly, “What do you want?”
“What do I want?”
“Don’t play coy with me!” I scream at him. “Why did you save me?! For what ends?!”
He forces a smile – a gentle looking one and I hated that gentle smile, especially the ones who come from those who want to kill me! It makes me feel helpless. Weak. Alone. And very much scared!
“We have our reasons,” he says as he sits beside my bed. “I also have my reasons.”
“Care to share what those reasons are?!”
I take a deep breath as my chest feels constricted. My body aches, and my muscles are sore. The pain radiates through every part of my being. I need something to numb it all. Something to stop this agony and burning pain in both my mind, heart and body.
Caius’ eyes fake sympathy when he looks at me. “Well, before we talk about reasons, how about you look at the mirror first?”
I frown as he places the framed glass in front of me. “What is this? Are you going to rub on me that I am not pretty enough for my husband?!”
He gestures for me to take a look again. “Come on, Miss Serra.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but I still take a long look in the mirror. A few seconds pass as I try to recognize the face that’s looking back at me. Then I gasp and cover my mouth with shock and fear.
“My goddess…!”
I drop the mirror on the bed and with trembling fingers, I touch my face. There are random ridges on it instead of the pale, somewhat-smooth face. There is a massive scar from my cheeks that trails down my neck. My mouth is lopsided, my eyes drooping, eyebrows lacking, and my nose has become too small for my face!
I balk. “What… hap…pened to my… face…” My voice is trembling. I shift my attention to the Prince. “Did you use magic… to… to alter my appearance?!”
“You are still a mage, despite being a weak one in the meantime. So now, I ask you instead, can you feel magic in it?” he asks.
There is none. No traces of magic around me, other than what I just conjured up earlier, and yet, here I am! Not just a weak mage, but a hideous one!
“How?” I whisper out loud. “How can this happen?! Was this your plan all along? To humiliate me? To make fun of me?! Do you enjoy laughing at me?! Especially now that I’ve been reduced to this state?!”
“I tease you a lot, Miss Serra. But it’s never my intention to hurt you.”
I catch his shirt and scream at his face. “What am I going to do now?!” I shout at him.
I don’t care about decorum anymore! All my frustration and anger come forth as tears run down my cheeks.
“I hate you! I hate everyone!”
He gently touches my face again and strokes the scar on my cheek. His touch hurts more than the burn on my chest from the acid magic that almost killed me.
“I will help you,” he says simply. “The Liddicoat Kingdom needs you. I will install you on the throne as the Lycan Queen of Dunkerson Kingdom. Not just a simple Luna. But the Queen herself. Once you are on the throne, you will help me prevent war between our kingdoms. You will be my informant.”
“Why should I believe anything coming from your mouth?!”
He takes my hand and says, “Because, Miss Serra, you have no choice but to trust me. You have no one. No husband. No in-laws. No power in your Kingdom. And your family? I doubt they will be able to recognize you.”
I sniffle softly. Here I am, a wounded mage who can barely use magic anymore. A hideous mage who has fallen from grace and living off Caius’ charity and pity.
“And besides, Miss Serra. Don’t you want to take revenge against your husband? The Lycan King Gideon Dunkerson?”
And then, I remember. Lycan King Gideon of Dunkerson Kingdom. A charming, attractive man who made me believe that he actually loved me. Only to find out that he has a paramour on the side! Who would have thought that a Lycan King could betray his Luna like that? He replaced me just because he found someone much prettier!
I hate him! I hate his mother and relatives! And I hate all his women and his advisers! This hate burning inside me… It burns deep in my soul where nothing is left but ashes!
Caius has sadness and sympathy in his eyes. “I don’t need your fake sympathy, Caius! I will recuperate, strengthen my magic again, and then, I will take revenge! I will shame them! Do everything in my power to steal the power from their hands! That same power that they love so much that they can even destroy an ordinary mage’s life!”
He sighs as he gets up from the bed. “Well, preparation will be in order then.”
I meet his eyes and say, “Give me a year. And I will be strong enough to return to the Dunkerson Kingdom,” I promise.
The Lycan King’s Hideous Mage Chapter 2 Preparations
*** Three years after ***
I am wearing my blue robe with gold embroidery over it. I roll the sleeves back. My hair hangs loosely around my shoulders; it is shorter now since it’s harder to train with long hair. A thin golden chain hangs by my neck with a tiny crystal hanging on it.
It was a celebratory gift from Caius as we started our plans. Caius promised that if all goes well, not just a Luna, but I will be the Lycan Queen of Dunkerson Kingdom. Truthfully, Caius said that we needed another year to prepare our plan, but I told him I would rather die trying, than live another day waiting for vengeance for the humiliation done to me! Besides, instead of one year, it has become three years already!
And so, I roughly bite on the meat and swallow in anger. We are within the Dunkerson Kingdom. The subject of my vengeance is close!
Suddenly, Caius chuckles beside me. I glare at him, but he only teases me. “You are eating like a peasant. Maybe that’s the reason you were cheated on?”
I smack his hand away when he tries to reach for my food. We are currently in one of the restaurants. “Oh really? Don’t tell me you’re giving out insults again just because you treat me to a meal this time?” I ask.
Caius beams. With the glamour around him, no one would know that he is a descendant of the original vampires. I remember when I first met him. He looked so beautiful with his blond curls and white-gold eyes. He is elegant and regal, even without his crown or robes. It is so hard not to stare at him. Besides, I’ve always been appreciative of beauty, and unfortunately, Caius has a few features that are considered attractive.
He gives me a sidelong glance. “Your glamour is working perfectly.”
I grimace. “Of course it will work. For the past few years, I have mastered using glamour. Even when I am unconscious, it will never break.” He laughs, and I give him an annoyed look. “I’m serious. Do you doubt my skills?”
“Well then, maybe my glamour ain’t very good. When I am unconscious, it will revert.”
I roll my eyes in exasperation. “Did someone ever tell you that your skills are any good?” I ask.
“Well, none yet,” he starts. “But complimenting myself ain’t that bad.”
His grin grows wider as he chews on the juicy pork on his fork, his sharp fangs visible.
“Enough with the gloating,” I say, my voice tinged with anxiety. “Your fangs are showing,” I warn him.
Then one of the servers approaches us. Caius looks at her with a hungry gaze, and she stammers while asking if we have any additional orders.
“My lady, would you like to go outside with me?” Caius asks.
“Excuse me?” the waitress responds.
“I will pay triple your daily wage. All you need to do is play with me.”
I groan at the same time that the server understood Caius. She blushes and makes a brief nod. Seems like I will be alone in my room tonight.
Caius stands up. He drapes his arms over the woman and says to me, “Register for that magic competition. I will meet you tomorrow morning.”
I nod.
And the next thing I know, I am standing under a tree, feeling a chilly breeze brushing against my skin. I look at the magicians queuing up for the competition. They all look excited, just as I was when I joined four years ago – all done so my husband, the Lycan King Gideon, will notice me. Not knowing that it will be my downfall.
The Lycan King’s Hideous Mage Chapter 3 Return to Dunkerson
A couple of minutes pass before a voice calls out, “Next! Who’s next?!”
“It is Hera of the Liddicoat Kingdom,” I answer.
“You plan to become a citizen here?” A young man asks with suspicion in his eyes. “Tired of all the vampires there?”
“Yes,” I answer. “And maybe,” I add.
“What kind of spell do you use?”
“Mostly elemental spells. Potions.”
“How about combat?”
“Not much.”
“What do you mean by ‘not much’? You’re not even carrying any magical weapons.” The guy rolls his eyes and takes a note on his sheet of paper. “I will let you join, but are you really sure? It will be a crazy competition,” he warns. “You know how popular the Lycan king is. Most female mages want to be the new Luna.”
I nod, perfectly knowing how popular Gideon is. He is so popular, in fact, that he will cheat on a wife who’s done nothing but to love and serve him.
“That’s why there is a competition, right? To decide who deserves him.”
The man behind the table snickers, “Well, that is, if he will ever be at home for the new Luna.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
Gideon is a lazy man. He enjoys staying at home and drowning himself in all kinds of luxury and pleasure. The only thing he really ever loved-that is productive-is combat. He said it keeps him fit.
The man leans forward and says with a sly grin, “Well, you are from Liddicoat, so you still don’t know, but the Lycan king has been traveling for the past two years to search for his Lost Luna. You know, that plain-looking woman with massive magic and insane, god-like skills.”
“What woman?” I ask, pretending not to know.
“Luna Serra Lore-Dunkerson. Although, she’s Mage Serra now if she’s still alive. You might have difficulty earning the Lycan king’s love if he is still searching for his Lost Luna.”
“Oh,” I mutter. Thankfully, my glamour is of a different woman.
The other man on the table nudges him. “Stop that. You know how crazy the Lycan king gets when that mage becomes the topic.” He shifts his attention to me and warns, “He doesn’t believe that she’s dead so she’s looking for her. So, you be careful about discussing that too. Mage Serra is currently a hero in this kingdom. The Lycan king insisted on that.”
My frown deepens. Caius never told me about it. Besides, he is supposed to tell me everything about the Dunkerson kingdom! He left out this massive information from me!
And so, once I confirm that I am registered, I make my way toward the inn. There are a couple of inns in the town, but I know exactly where he is. The tiny crystal he gives me is a pair. He has one as well. It’s so we can communicate with each other anytime, including finding each other wherever we are.
I enter the inn and climb up the stairs. When I reach Caius’ room, I grab the doorknob and push it open. My lips turn up at the sight. Caius lies naked on top of the bed. He looks like some kind of ancient warrior god, both very handsome and muscular. And between his legs is the female server in the restaurant, her head bobbing up and down as she sucks on him.
The naked woman looks at me and shrieks. Caius shifts his attention and looks at me. He sighs as he watches the woman hide her naked self. She frantically puts on clothes while pulling a blanket around her body.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Ask your lover to leave the room,” I say. “We need to talk.”
“Can you please wait?” He points at his erect manhood and adds, “I am still enjoying myself.”
“No.”
Caius groans. He runs his fingers through his blonde hair and shifts his attention to the young woman. “Lydia, I am sorry, but you need to leave. I will find you tonight, then we can continue.”
The woman named Lydia nods, and she moves toward the door. Once it’s closed again, I activate my magic and create a sound barrier. That way, none of our conversations will get out of the room.
On the other hand, Caius gets up from the bed and takes his clothes. “What is this about, Serra?” he asks, annoyed. “You know exactly what I am to do when I invited that woman. I’ve told you multiple times to find lovers while we are traveling. That way you won’t disturb my fun times.”
I snort. “You forgot to mention that Gideon’s traveling to look for his Lost Luna,” I say, ignoring his complaints. “He has been searching for me.”
Caius audibly groans as he turns his back on me and wears his clothes. “Why is it important? You think he’s fallen in love with you while you were gone? Just because he is searching everywhere for you? You never thought that maybe, he just plans to properly kill you this time? Or maybe, he lost his mage pet so he wants it back? Or maybe he realizes that he is insufficient without his mage with the insane magic?”
I bristle in anger, “You promised you would tell me everything happening in this kingdom!”
He turns towards me and sits on the foot of his bed. “Look at you now. This is the reason I don’t want to tell you. Now that you know that he is looking for you, what will you do? Return to his loving arms?”
I glare at him. “So, you intentionally lied to me,” I accuse him.
“What do you expect me to say?” He rubs his forehead. “His traveling and searching for you means nothing.”
“It means that it will be easier to win him over once we reveal that I am his Lost Luna!”
“And then what?” he asks, crossing his legs. “Make you lax and believe he will really fall in love with you?”
“That is not-“
“Really, Serra? Just hearing about it, you come running here, even if you know exactly what I am doing with that young woman. You are already panicking at the thought that maybe… there is a chance that he actually loves you.” Caius shakes his head and sighs. “If I told you, it would endanger our plans. That man will only love himself. Don’t make yourself believe otherwise. Or you will end up like last time.”
“You really are an asshole,” I mutter under my breath as my anger rises again.
He shrugs his shoulders. “I am just being honest with you. Besides, I am your only friend in this world, Serra. Even if, until now, you don’t believe that.”
“You are just like him!” I shout at him and run towards the door. I deactivate the sound barrier and slam the door in his face.