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

The stone church loomed over us, silent and judging, as Alaric helped me from the carriage. My hand trembled slightly in his, though whether from nervousness or anticipation, I couldn't tell. The weathered wooden doors creaked open before we could knock, revealing a disheveled priest with sleep-heavy eyes.


"Your Grace," he said, his voice tight with obvious wariness. "This is... unexpected."


"Father Michael," Alaric replied with a curt nod. "May we come in?"


The priest hesitated, his gaze darting between us before landing on my scarred face. I resisted the urge to cover it.


"Of course," he finally said, stepping aside. "Though I must ask your purpose at this late hour."


As we stepped into the dimly lit church, Alaric's hand found the small of my back, steadying me. "We require your services for a wedding."


Father Michael's eyebrows shot up. "A wedding? You?" He let out a disbelieving laugh. "The last time you darkened my door, Your Grace, you killed a man on these very steps."


Chapter 37 - Vows of Wire and Whispers