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 could feel everyone's tension as Alaric's question hung in the air. His eyes hadn't left my cheek, where Juliette's handprint had surely left a mark. 


Before Alistair could speak, I stepped forward. "Actually, I can explain what happened."


Alaric's gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, though the dangerous edge remained. "Please do."


I took a deep breath. "Juliette has been Lady Rowena's spy since I arrived. This morning, I confronted her about it. She denied everything at first, but when I pressed her, she became enraged." I touched my cheek absently. "She called me horrible names, said I wasn't fit to be your duchess, and then she slapped me."


"I didn't want to handle it alone, but I felt I had to." My voice grew stronger. "So I ordered her taken to the dungeon. I thought it appropriate since she struck a duchess."


Chapter 58 - A Duchess's Defense, A Duke's Delight