loor. The parchment was still clutched in her fist, the words burning into her mind. Beatr

to stop her. She had to end

black. She stumbled back, her heart lurching into her throat.

d voice said. "Wh

into the cold eyes of Christian Zephry

ood ra

teady despite the trembling in her

not reach his eyes. "I have come to see you,

tepping back. "I told you. There is

"You cannot break our engagement. The contrac

said coldly. "And I am no

d by something cold and sharp. "You think the Duke

e without flinchin

d. "You are a fool, Danika. A naive, fooli

efiance. "I am not a fool. I am a woman who has seen th

"You should be afraid of me. I have plans for you. Plan

hest. "You will not touch me. You will

sound. "The Duke? The Duke is a monster. H

ng. His fingers dug into her arm, bruising her delicate skin.

anded, her voice sha

against her ear. "I will never let you go, Da

ise in her chest. "I am no one'

. You are a side character in a story that was never

strike her. She braced hers

cut through the

ease

w Lucien standing in the corridor, his massive frame filling the space. His

repeated, his voice lo

ck. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fe

"You will leave this manor. You will never speak to Danika a

e. "You cannot do this. Sh

g forward. "She belongs to me now. And

ut he knew better than to argue with the Duke. He turne

dy trembling, her heart pounding. She had

t know how to

yes blazing with intensity. "Are

s filled with a mixture of gratitude and c

rwhelming. "What were you doing out her

g. "I received another threat. From

hand, his eyes scanning the words. His jaw tigh

eat," he said coldly.

ith fear. "She is close. She is watching. Sh

eyes blazing with fury. "I will find her. I w

te urgency. "You do not understand. She is not just a j

his eyes narrowing

of the novel I read. She was supposed to be the one who healed you. But she w

pale. "That is impossible. I wo

because she is hiding it. She has been hiding i

s clenched at his sides. "Then wh

determination. "We need to find her before she finds us.

eyes blazing with intensity. "T

er chest. He led her to his study, a vast room lined with shelves of leather-bound books a

intricate lines and symbols. "Beatrice was last seen heading so

ixed on the map. "She is running. She

he is planning to attack. And she will

her eyes filled with fe

She wants me. She wants the power of the shad

ne. "Then we have to stop her. We ha

ers warm against her cold skin. "We will find

ey eyes filled with a mixture o

is gaze never leavi

r chest. She had an ally. She had a partner.

ince she had arrived in

above her. The silk curtains rustled in the breeze, the fire crack

e feeling that something t

to writhe and pulse, as if alive. She reached out and touched the lamp on th

en she

room. A woman with dark hair and cold

tri

bed, her heart pounding.

"I have my ways, princess. I have been watch

agic surging beneath her skin. "Sta

annot stop me, Danika. You are nothing. You are a

"I am not a side character. I am the one who cha

. "You will never defeat me. I will destroy you. I will

nd her fingers. The shadows in the room came a

blazing from her palm. "I will not let

terrible smile. "We will s

her hands reaching

body. It was blinding, overwhelming, a wave of go

to the floor. She looked up at Da

d. "I will be back. And when

to the shadows, leaving

r body trembling, her heart pounding. She

that Beatrice

, she might n