KayElle

Lady Seraphina Evernight never imagined her wedding day would feel like a death sentence. Forced to marry the ruthless Duke Adrian Valemont, the very man suspected of destroying her family, she vows to uncover the truth and make him pay. But the deeper she digs into Adrian’s past, the more she realizes that her father’s downfall was no simple betrayal—secrets buried in blood and deceit may shatter everything she thought she knew.

Yet Adrian is not the monster she expected. Behind his cold eyes lies a man battling demons of his own, and the more she seeks revenge, the more she finds herself tangled in a web of court intrigue, deadly whispers, and a desire she never anticipated.

In a marriage built on vengeance, can love ever take root? Or will their vows be written in thorns and ruin?

VOW OF THORNS

Chapter 12: More Whispers in the Dark

Seraphina's breath hitched, her pulse quickening as Laurent's words echoed through the dimly lit drawing-room. A wave of fear washed over her, but she pushed it back, refusing to be paralyzed by the secrets that clung to the walls of Valemont Manor.

A history of vanished wives. A curse that haunted the Valemont name. And now, she, Adrian's new Duchess, was entangled in it.

Seraphina's fingers clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. She would not be a victim. She would not succumb to the same fate as those who came before her.

"If you know so much," she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance, "tell me—who is behind it?"

Laurent's gaze held hers, his expression unreadable. "That," he said, his voice a low, dangerous purr, "is a question only your husband can answer."

Seraphina's heart pounded. Adrian. The man she had married, the man who held her fate in his hands. Was he the one behind the curse? Was he the one responsible for the disappearance of the other wives?

She swallowed hard, pushing back the fear that threatened to consume her. "Adrian would rather guard his secrets than tell me the truth," she said, her voice laced with a bitter resentment.

Laurent's lips curled into a sly smile. "Then you must be clever, my lady," he advised, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "Find his weakness. Make him trust you. The Valemonts do not give away their secrets easily, but I believe you are capable of persuasion."

Seraphina stiffened. She hated the implication, the suggestion that she should use her body, her femininity, to manipulate her husband. But she could not deny the truth in Laurent's words. Adrian was the key to unraveling the mysteries of this house, to uncovering the truth behind the curse.

And if she had to walk a dangerous line between loyalty and deception to achieve her goals, then so be it.

But as Seraphina contemplated Laurent's advice, a sense of unease settled over her. There was something in his eyes, a glint of calculation that belied his seemingly helpful demeanor. Was he truly concerned for her well-being, or was he simply using her to further his own agenda?

The question lingered in her mind, unanswered. But as the door creaked open and Adrian's imposing figure filled the doorway, Seraphina knew that she had to tread carefully. She was caught in a web of intrigue, surrounded by players with hidden motives, and one wrong move could have devastating consequences.

Adrian's expression was unreadable, but the tension in the air was undeniable.

Laurent stepped back, inclining his head smoothly. "Your Grace," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "It seems I have overstayed my welcome."

Adrian's silver eyes flicked between them, cold and assessing. "You are quite fond of lurking in my home, Laurent."

Laurent smirked. "I do enjoy good company."

Without another word, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

Silence stretched between Seraphina and Adrian, heavy and suffocating.

Then, with slow deliberation, Adrian closed the distance between them. "Tell me," he said, his voice quiet but edged with steel. "What did he say to you?"

Seraphina met his gaze, refusing to be the first to look away.

A muscle in his jaw twitched. "No."

She exhaled a humorless laugh. "Then why should I tell you?"

Adrian took another step closer. She could feel the heat of him now, the tension simmering in the space between them.

"Because, Seraphina," he murmured, "you are playing a dangerous game. And I do not take kindly to my wife conspiring behind my back."

But if Adrian refused to let her in, then she would do what she must. Even if it meant betraying him before he betrayed her first.