Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 97: A failed attempt

Chapter 97: A failed attempt

Restless from the day’s events, Vivian tossed and turned in the bed. At times, she angrily flipped the covers off herself and swung her legs off to the side of the bed. With her bickering thoughts and Ronan’s absence, it was difficult to find peace in sleep or sleep at all.

Why was Ronan gone for so long? What was he discussing with Lady Morgana and the other two Coven Masters?

"I can’t be upset with him," Vivian sighed, steepling ger fingers together on her lap with her head hung low. "What should I do? No matter which route I go, there are still risks. I need to choose the less riskier option...but I don’t even know how to differentiate that."

With her thoughts in a muddled mess, Vivian berated herself for a long time. She stared blankly into space, emptying her mind for a change. It was less noisier in her head when she wasn’t thinking at all.

Standing up from the bed, she approached the glass doors leading outside to the balcony area. As chilly as it was in this region since it was much closer to the North, Vivian only slipped on a silk gown and clutched it around her body.

Outside on the balcony, the gelid night breeze was rather refreshing. She inhaled a deep breath, scenting the gardenias in the air from Lady Morgana’s nurtured flowerbeds down below. She glanced over the balcony’s banister, her teeth chattering when a sudden icy gust of air wound around her.

"It’s really cold here, but it feels nice," Vivian commented out loud. Here, in this moment, she was by herself with no dark thoughts knocking at her mind. She was free-willed, just the night and her alone. "I hope he comes back soon...I want to sleep."

Even the burning symbols and pain in her body seemed dissipate under the cool atmosphere of the night.

However, she was suddenly alerted by the round of rustling bushes below and Vivian arched half her body over the banister to scan the area. It wasn’t unusual for movement around the gardens since Wicakn guards would be on patrol by routine, however, none of them were in sight at the moment.

Vivian found the whole affair strange, squinting her eyes to get a better view. She gasped in surprise when she saw a tall figure stumble backwards out of the bushes, falling on his rear with a thud and a pained grunt. Leaves scattered around him and he brushed his hand through his blonde curls to clear out the twigs.

"Soran?" Vivian said questioningly, recognising the Wickan instantly. It was dark outside and if not for the abundant moonlight, she would have mistook him for a trespasser or an intruder. "What are you doing down there?" She yelled out, steadying herself by gripping onto the banister.

Standing up and finding his bearings, Soran dusted the dirt off his garments before turning around. With his shoulders slumping, he sighed heavily and shrugged.

"Ah, Miss Moonborn," he greeted with a smile, bowing his head. "I was merely on patrol and found one very strange cat wandering where she shouldn’t have." He sighed dramatically again, shaking his head. "Alas, she is too fast for me. Bit me, jumped at me and ran off."

Vivian’s strained gaze flashed with confusion and she wondered if it was the same black cat from earlier that had scratched her. Her eyes trailed over to Soran’s arm, squinting further to notice that he’d been bitten quite severely since his arm was practically oozing with blood.

"Goodness, you’re hurt," Vivian gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stood up straight again. "Why don’t you come up here? Let me help you dress the wound."

Looking apologetic, Soran shook his head humbly.

"Nay, Missborn," he refused politely. "This is a minor wound, I will head over to the infirmary to have taken care of. It is late, you should not trouble yourself with my matters."

Vivian frowned. Why would he think that it was trouble at all? For rescuing her from the Mirror World, the least she could have done to repay the debt was tend to his wound. Although she was no master Wickan herself, at the least she knew how to tend to injuries and wounds.

"I insist," Vivian pressed on with a smile. "Please don’t refuse me. Let me help you clean the wound and bandage it at the least. It would be a small token of my gratitude."

Soran chuckled light-heartedly and nodded.

"If you insist, then who am I to refuse, Miss Moonborn?" Soran said, wincing a moment later when the wound had begun to sting. "I will be up in a moment. Just let me fetch the herbal ointment from my chambers."

Vivian nodded. She headed back inside her chambers, closing the glass doors behind her.

Exploring through the closets earlier when they first arrived, she’d come across a first-aid kit and thus retrieved it from one of the drawers.

It wasn’t long before she heard a knock on the door, immediately answering it to find Soran standing there with a vial of ointment in one hand and blood dripping on his other arm. She welcomed him inside quickly and gestured for him to sit on the cushioned bench in front of the dresser table.

Vivian opened the kit and retrieved a bottle of antiseptic cleansing liquid. She dipped a clean white cloth into it and began wiping away the blood from Soran’s wounded arm.

The Wickan hissed in pain since the antiseptic stung and burned his torn flesh. It wasn’t merely a bite since it seemed that cat might have tried to rip off his flesh itself with its canines.

"Why did it bite you this hard?" Vivian questioned, meticulously working to disinfect the wound and wipe away any remnants of blood. "Did you do something to anger the cat?"

Feigning a hurt look, Soran placed a hand over his chest.

"I would never do something to harm or upset an animal," the Wickan said defensively but in a calm manner. "She is just much too feisty for anyone to handle."

"I see," Vivian replied, lathering the ointment over his wounded arm, making him grit his teeth. "I do not think I am fond of cats."

Silence passed between them in the next moment as Vivian carefully bandaged his arm with precision. When she was done, she stepped back with a smile.

"There you go," Vivian said and he nodded gratefully, rolling down the long sleeve of his coat over the bandage while she repacked the first-aid kid’s contents into its box.

"Miss Moonborn," Soran began, earning her attention again. "You’ve been informed about the procedure of the Triune Circle, haven’t you? It’s not a flawless ritual. There have been...mishaps." His jaw clenched and he looked away.

Vivian looked at him directly, her brows knitting together. "According to Lady Morgana and the others, it’s the most plausible and safest option."

"The safest doesn’t mean safe," Soran replied warningly, standing up and taking a step closer. "Binding the Umbrafyre Curse to your body—it’s a gamble. Even with Lady Morgana, Lord Eldric, and Lord Orion, the chances of something going wrong are higher than they admit. One misstep, one moment of imbalance, and the curse could backlash."

Vivian hesitated, her hands stilling. The dark thoughts from earlier came crashing down on her mind once more and she began to doubt whether proceeding with the Triune Circle was truly her safest option.

"What other choice do I have, Soran? If I don’t do this, it will destroy me."

’Bloody stubborn shifter,’ Soran scoffed mentally. Naturally, he understood that attempting to convince her would not be an easy stroll in the garden as one might think.

Soran smiled with understanding, his voice softening. "I know you do not trust me yet, Miss Moonborn, but I have no intention of lying or deceiving you. I have chosen to tell you the reality of this binding ritual out of concern."

Vivian gazed directly into his icy blue eyes for any hint of deception and when found only sincerity, her expression relaxed.

"What if the ritual doesn’t just bind the curse but strengthens it?" Soran continued, shaking his head with evident worry. "What if it makes it a permanent part of you? They’re trying to control something ancient and dark, something even they can barely understand."

Vivian understood Soran’s worried all too well. However, if she backed down now, wouldn’t that make her an indecisive coward? For how much longer would she continue to remain weak-willed and unsteady in her life?

There was her answer.

There was no ’less riskier’ option. Either way, she would still face the dark clutches of Wickan magic and the consequences that came afterwards.

Perhaps, the Goddess Lunaria would take pity on Vivian and grant her blessings.

Vivian met Soran’s gaze steadily, her eyes flashing with determination. "Maybe you’re right. But I’ve made my decision. I trust in Ronan who will always be with me, and I trust myself. If this is what it takes to survive, then I’ll face it."

Soran’s jaw tightened, but he quickly masked it with a faint smile.

From the determined look in Vivian’s eyes alone, he knew very well that there was no chance of convincing her otherwise. Tampering with her memories and thoughts would be far too risky now that Orion was present at Sabre Coven.

If Soran exercised such magic on Vivian again, the Starlight Grove Coven Master would detect it immediately.

"As you wish," Soran said with an understanding nod. "I hope you’re prepared for the consequences, Miss Moonborn."