Violet_167

Isabella Beaumont figured she was making a smart, if desperate, trade: her freedom in exchange for marrying the dreaded Duke Alaric Thorne. 
Sure, the guy had a reputation darker than a moonless night, whispered about in every corner of the kingdom, but it was just a contract, right? A way to escape a brutal past that had literally left its mark on her face. 
She wasn’t expecting warmth, and definitely not passion. But then Alaric, this formidable, feared man, starts acting… protective. His unexpected kindness will make her want to throw away her protective mask and actually fall for the man who was supposed to be just her ticket to freedom. 
Just as Isabella starts believing she might actually deserve happiness, everything begins falling apart around them.
With the villains on the loose, old wounds being ripped open, and everyone’s true colors showing, is this sudden, fierce love strong enough to survive the storm? Or will the darkness from their pasts and the deadly games shatter everything they’re starting to build?

The Masked Duchess

"You overestimate your authority, Captain," I said coldly as I reached the bottom of the staircase. Captain Orion had always been self-righteous, even when we were children.


His eyes narrowed. "Murder is still murder, Duke Thorne. Even for you."


"Murder?" I raised an eyebrow. "I was merely ridding the kingdom of vermin."


Orion's face flushed. "That 'vermin' was a Baron, and you—"


"Who was manhandling my wife," I cut in smoothly. "Perhaps your men failed to notice that detail when they were frantically scribbling their reports."


Confusion flickered across Orion's face. His eyes darted to Alistair, then back to me. "Your wife? You don't have a wife."


I held up my hand, displaying the makeshift wire ring I still wore. "I do now."


"Isabella Beaumont?" Orion's voice was incredulous. "The cursed girl? The Baron's scarred daughter?"


Chapter 39 - Justification and a Royal Summons