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

I wrung my hands nervously as I followed Alaric down the grand staircase. His words still echoed in my mind: "No one touches what's mine." The possessiveness in his voice had sent shivers down my spine—both thrilling and terrifying.


"Alaric," I whispered, grabbing his arm before we reached the bottom. "Please don't be too harsh. I don't want the entire household to fear me."


He paused, his penetrating gaze softening slightly as he looked at me. "Fear can be useful, Isabella. It keeps people from forgetting their place."


"Trust me," he said, covering my hand with his. "I know these people. I know what they respect."


I bit my lip behind my mask but nodded. This was his household, after all. He'd managed it far longer than I had.


Chapter 59 - A Lesson in Loyalty