NARRATOR"I'm no spy. I can go and be of help," Elliot immediately showed interest.He needed to know exactly what was happening here.Despite Tomas’s protests, he ended up following them through the forest.They moved fast, running with agility.Elliot never lagged behind. This level of speed and endurance couldn’t be sustained by a normal elemental.None of them were normal.*****They crouched behind large rocks at the edge of a cliff.Below, a deep canyon stretched out, with the wide river marking the border between the two Duchies."Elliot, can you hear us?" Aldo tried once more to speak to him telepathically, but nothing—Elliot didn’t even acknowledge it.Aldo frowned.This guy was either playing dumb or truly had no knowledge of his supernatural abilities.Regardless, the sounds of horse hooves, creaking wagon wheels, and water splashing made them refocus on the scene unfolding a few meters ahead."Down there," Tomas whispered as the riders who had reached the shore raised thei

NARRATOR“Quickly, take this boat across the eastern stretch of the river, and you’ll reach the neighboring village. Look for Joaquín at the only inn there. He should be about to leave with his trade caravan. Tell him you come in my name…”Aldo was giving hurried instructions as they untied the knots securing the boat and prepared to push the small vessel down the ramp and into the water.Sheltered inside the old boathouse, Katherine watched them nervously, barely managing to slow her frantic breathing after their reckless sprint.For heaven’s sake, these men didn’t even look like they had just spent half an hour running through the forest like mad dogs, while she felt like she was about to cough up her lungs.And to think she had supernatural blood—if she didn’t…“Push.”With a dull thud and the splash of water, the boat landed at the river’s edge.All that was left was one final shove to send it down the ramp.Katherine moved to help them; between the three of them, it would be quic

NARRATORShe even gave him a once-over, her gaze stopping blatantly on his crotch.Elliot stared at her in disbelief before bursting into laughter, drawing a few glances their way.Katherine smirked subtly.She had never seen him laugh like that before—he looked so damn sexy without that usual grumpy, superior air.So, the ice man actually had a sense of humor sometimes. Elliot coughed a little, regaining control of himself.She was so unpredictable, like a breath of fresh air in his life, filled with secrets and fears. She had no idea how, day by day, she was slipping further away from the role of Rossella.The real Duchess had been prissy, full of insecurities, rigid—not like this new Duchess, who had him completely captivated with her sensuality and spirit.He wanted to tell her he was dying to make love to her like never before, but the shadow of what had happened yesterday still loomed over him.What if he lost control with her again? What if he hurt her… and was discovered?He o

KATHERINE"It was about an hour ago. The Duke carried you in his arms. Imagine my shock—I was scared, thinking you were hurt or something. What exactly happened?" she questioned me, looking worried."Wait, first tell me about the child. Is she okay? Did anything happen to her while I was gone? The butler…?""No, no. Lavinia is fine. She’s practicing with her piano teacher in the library. She’s been quite well-behaved—she’s not even asking about that awful governess anymore," Nana reassured me, and I let out a sigh of relief.I threw off the covers and let my bare feet dangle off the bed.It seemed Nana had removed my old, ragged clothes because now I was in pajamas."Well… where should I start?" I sighed and began telling her about the little adventure the Duke and I had just been through."Hmm, the Duke is a tough bone to crack. You almost had him, but he rejected you at the last moment. Looks like he favors you a little more, but that’s not enough," she said with a disappointed grim

ELLIOT"Mercy, please! Mr. Vittorio… it’s… it’s the Duke! PLEASE, HAVE MERCY, YOUR GRACE!"One of the prisoners started screaming desperately as we passed, his voice carrying through the small iron-barred window on the heavy steel door.His cries triggered a chain reaction—a chorus of pleading voices. And yet, down here, there were barely ten prisoners left waiting for death."SHUT UP, YOU DAMN DOGS, OR I’LL KILL YOU ALL RIGHT NOW!" Vittorio bellowed, enraged.The sound of muffled sobs filled the air. I simply kept walking toward the door at the end of the corridor. The snap of a whip greeted me the moment Vittorio unlocked and pushed open the door.I stepped inside, my eyes adjusting instantly to the dim candlelight flickering against the stone walls.Strapped to a wooden X-shaped frame was the man who had once been my most trusted aide. His head hung low, his clothes reduced to shreds, barely clinging to his battered body. Open wounds bled freely across his skin.I hadn’t even seen