corridor like thunder. He burst through the door, his
is voice sharp with urgency.
t still clutched in her fist. She met his gaze without flinch
. "Beatrice. She was in my chamber
rom her, his eyes scanning the words. His jaw ti
writing," he said cold
se. She is watching. She is waiti
eyes blazing with fury. "I will find her. I w
rate urgency. "That is not why I called you here. I called you
his eyes narrowi
"I know who Beatrice is. I know why she
chest, his expression cold an
"Beatrice is not just a jealous woman. She is a vessel. She carries som
f something like fear crossing his
ture of shadow, just like the one that haunts you. And she wants to claim yo
ling at his sides. "That is impossible. I would know
ecause she is hiding it. She is masking her true nat
nched at his sides. "How do you know t
e. She could make up a story. But she knew that he w
session in my past life. Beatrice was the heroine, but she was also the villain. She w
u are telling me that you know the future
ed to happen. But the story has changed. I have chang
verwhelming. "Then why should I trust yo
save you. The light in my blood is the only thing that can quiet the shado
arching hers. And then he sai
rse. I will help you defeat Beatrice. And in return, you will protect m
t, his eyes unreadable. And th
rmination. "Then we both die. Beatrice will destroy you.
sking for his trust, his protection, his promise. But she was also offerin
he shadow. Freedom from the nightmares
ison for fifteen years. And no
asked, his voice flat
es steady. "I want to live. I wa
ing. "And what makes you think I will keep my pr
ster," she said softly. "You are a man who has been broken by tragedy
sound. "You think you know me
understand you. But I want to. I wa
d then he said, "You are a fool. A naive, foo
of his body. "I am not a fool. I am a woman who has seen
up to meet his gaze. "You should be afraid of me. I have done
nd I do not care. I see the man beneath the mo
her, his hands clasped behind his back. The fire crackled i
your deal. I will protect you. I will keep you s
f wash over her. "Thank you,
eyes cold and assessing.
her heart pounding.
ée in public. You will smile and curtsy and play the part. But in private, you
ey eyes filled with defi
ile. "Then the deal is off. And yo
. She had no choice. She had to ac
softly. "I accept
od. Then it is settled. You will move into the chambers adjoining mine. Yo
run down her sp
You need to learn to control your power. You need to
her heart poundin
cold skin. "You will not regret this, Danika. I will protect yo
with a mixture of fear and hope. "Together,
d alone in the room, her body trembling, her heart pounding. She had made a
d his protection. She h
g sky. The sun was setting, painting the horizon in shad
as a
e tensed, her heart racing. She cro
ce pale with fear. "My lady," she whisper
her grey eyes filled with concern.
nt. "This was found in the garden," she wh
ands and unfolded it. The words swam befor
has been waiting for yo
ld. The same handwrit
with her. Beatrice
s wide with fear. "She is close.
face pale. "What are yo
s blazing with determination. "I am going to find her.
pping against the cold stone floor. She did not know where
knew o
let Beatrice
t let anyone
e. She would fig
er what
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