The Reborn Duke's Hated Bride

p firm on her arm. She stumbled beside him, her bare feet slapping ag

ves of leather-bound books and ancient scrolls. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across

ing out at the moonlit garden. His back was to her,

, his voice flat and emotionless. "To

ed. "Training? What

"You will learn to control your power. You will le

ing. "You want me to heal you? Aft

he only one who can. The light in your blood is the opposite of

illed with confusion. "I do not know how t

brooking no argument. "I will teach you.

chin lifted in defia

. You have no choice. You are my prison

your slave. I am not anyone's property. I am a woman

his body. "You will do as I say," he repeated, his voice l

r grey eyes blazing with

fury and fascination. She was so small, so fragile, so ea

r met anyon

o fists. "We will begin tomorrow," he

s boots echoing on the stone floor. He p

letter. The threat. I have sent my men to inve

eyes wide with surpris

not helping you. I am protecting my investment. You are

m, the door sla

g, her mind racing. He was helping her. He was pro

he moonlit garden. The shadows danced in the

hat the danger was not over. The person who was hunting her w

iliar warmth of the light magic pulsing beneath her skin. Sh

ded to

e tensed, her heart racing. She cro

hadows. Her face was hidden beneath a hood,

er voice low and melodious. "

her body tensed for f

ty. Her skin was pale as moonlight, her eyes the color of deep w

she said softly. "And

man, her heart pounding

graceful. She crossed to the fire and held out her

is not just a curse. It is a prison. And the only way t

run down her spine.

. You are the only one who can quiet the shadow. But the shadow will not give up its hold ea

s wide with disbelief. "I do not understan

aid softly. "They are opposites. They are enemies. They are locked

ing the warmth of the light magic pulsing benea

earn to balance them. You must learn to hold both the light and the shadow within

steady despite the trembling

e. "You should be. But you are brave

u. I will teach you. But you must be careful. The Duke is more dangerous than he appears. He is not

eyes filled with determination.

er. "I will return when you need me. Trust your instincts

pped into the corridor, dis

g, her mind racing. She had just been given a warn

at the ceiling, her mind churning with questions. Who was Priestess Amara? How

His scarred body. The shadow that writ

d been broken by tragedy and suffering. H

hing that had not been there before. A spark of hope.

She had brought him peace. A

ile. It could turn to hatred in an instant. I

. She had to be smart

e darkness of the room pressed in on her, and

. A whisper. Soft and

nik

heart pounding

he fire had burned low, castin

ing. She was imagining things. She

heard it ag

ser. She could feel the breat

pping against the cold stone floor. She spun

she said, her voice sh

A woman with dark hair and cold eye

tri

chest. Beatrice. The original heroine. The woman who w

er face was twisted with jealousy an

th venom. "You stole everything from me. My

de with shock. "I do not know what you are tal

ou were supposed to be nothing. A side character. A footnote. But you surv

for flight. "I am not trying to take

e? You are not surviving. You are thriving. You are

chest. "You do not own him. You do not ow

is my destiny. And I will do w

pushed you off that bridge," she whispered. "I killed

. "It was you. You were

it was me. I have been watching you. I have been waitin

her fingers. The shadows in the room seemed to co

her, warm and golden. She raised

o the shadows, her cold laught

embling, her heart pounding. She had just fa

d killed her. Beatrice was

uld not stop un

of the light magic pulsing beneath her skin. She would not l

e. She would fig

er what