The Mind-Reading Mate: Why Is the Lycan King So Obsessed With Me?!

Primrose bit the inside of her cheek, feeling the weight of Naveer's intimidating presence, but as the Queen of Noctvaris, she reminded herself there was no need to feel lesser than any other beast.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back. "I do have something to discuss with you, Lady Naveer." This time, her smile wasn't born of friendliness, but rather a deliberate attempt to spark Naveer's curiosity. "It may prove useful for your research in the future, and if you refuse me now, you might never get the chance to see a case like this again."

Naveer narrowed her eyes slightly, curiosity flickering despite her cold tone. "A case I might never see again?" she repeated, folding her arms. "Your Majesty, if this is about magic or illness, I doubt there's anything I haven't seen."

[I've traveled to countless places over the years,] Naveer thought to herself. [I've witnessed things most people couldn't even imagine. She probably just doesn't know because her knowledge is limited.]

Perhaps Primrose's knowledge was limited compared to her, but she also knew one truth that very few people had the courage to reach for immortality, especially a human like Lorelle.

Naveer's research was not only focused on beasts but also on humans' souls. That was why Primrose was certain this would thrill her. To hear of a human who dared to seek immortality, despite a body far more fragile than any beast, was the kind of case that would spark her curiosity like nothing else.

Primrose leaned closer, lowering her voice so only Naveer could hear. "Have you ever heard of a case where someone tried to obtain immortality, Lady Naveer?"

Naveer's sharp eyes flicked toward her, narrowing just slightly. Outwardly, she kept her composure, but inside, her mind stirred restlessly.

[Immortality?] she thought, the word echoing in her head. [Of course, I've studied fragments, myths, half-truths from crumbling scrolls and forgotten libraries. But a real case?]

Her lips pressed into a faint line as she tried to dismiss the sudden thrum of excitement in her chest. [No. Such things are impossible. There has never been a single record of anyone surviving after attempting that kind of forbidden ritual.]

For those who succeeded—like Raven—they did everything they could to hide the truth, to bury the fact that their immortality had been gained through dark magic. Cases like that were rare enough, and Primrose had never heard of anyone else like Raven since.

And yet, Lorelle was different. She was living proof that something had gone terribly wrong. She had reached for immortality and failed, but death hadn't claimed her either.

Instead, she lingered in a cruel in-between, neither fully alive nor gone, her soul trapped in suffering. It was a case unlike anything Naveer had ever encountered before.

"I have heard of it," Naveer admitted at last. She narrowed her eyes, visibly intrigued by what Primrose wanted to share. "Is that what you've summoned me here for, Your Majesty?"

"Kind of." Primrose smiled. "Would you like to have tea with me, Lady Naveer?"

Lady Naveer, who only moments ago had been eager to leave the palace as quickly as possible, now found herself unable to resist. She nodded her head gracefully. "I would love to, Your Majesty."

• • •

Primrose didn't let Naveer meet Lorelle right away. Instead, she arranged for her to see Leofric first. That was also why he hadn't been able to join the soldiers at the training grounds.

Leofric had insisted on it. He wanted to make absolutely certain that this eccentric woman wasn't planning to pull any strange tricks on his Lorelle. His protectiveness was almost amusing, especially when Primrose remembered how he himself had once done something far worse to her, all in the name of "training her ability."

"Lady Naveer, this is Sir Leofric." Primrose began introducing them as Leofric entered the royal living room. "Sir Leofric, this is Lady Naveer."

Naveer wore a smile, but it was a mocking one rather than a friendly one. "Oh, I've met him before, Your Majesty," she said smoothly, only to let the smile vanish in an instant. "A man who destroyed all of my specimens."

Leofric smiled without a hint of guilt. "They weren't only your specimens, Lady Naveer," he said. "Your specimens—your damned dogs—nearly trampled an entire human village near the border. You would have placed His Majesty in a dangerous position if I hadn't killed them."

Primrose fell silent as she stood between them. Her eyes moved from Leofric to Naveer and back again. She hadn't known they had crossed paths before, nor had she heard anything about these so-called 'specimens.'

Still, she realized at last that the rumors about Naveer experimenting on dogs, rabbits, and mice had been true.

No wonder Leofric was so intent on keeping a close watch over her.

"Darling, that's what kings of beasts are for, isn't it?" Naveer said, her voice carrying a hint of scorn. "If a king and his royal knight cannot even guarantee the safety of their kingdom, then what purpose do they serve?"

"Lady Naveer," Primrose spoke at last. This time, there was no smile on her face, no warmth in her tone. "I invited you here because I value your knowledge and skill. But do not mistake my courtesy for weakness. Speak of the king and his knights with respect, or I will not tolerate your presence in this palace."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Naveer's eyes lingered on Primrose, surprised by the sudden firmness in her voice.

[Well,] she thought, her gaze narrowing slightly. [The Queen of Noctvaris isn't as gentle as people claim. Those eyes … I feel like she could kill me just by looking at them.]

Naveer wasn't entirely wrong because Primrose truly had the power to kill her with nothing more than a single stare and a few carefully spoken, deadly words.

For the past month, aside from being busy learning her duties as the Queen of Noctvaris, Primrose had also been training under Leofric's guidance to strengthen her mind-control ability.

It wasn't perfect yet, but she was slowly learning how to keep her emotions in check, making it easier to wield her gift without losing control.