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 crash of the vase echoed through the room as I seized my moment. I lunged forward, tackling Lord Gideon with every ounce of strength I possessed. The impact sent us both crashing to the floor, his body hitting the hardwood with a satisfying thud. Before he could gather his wits, I pinned his arms, my knee pressing into his chest.


"Guards!" Lord Gideon screamed, his face contorted with rage. "Shoot them! Protect the collection!"


His hidden servants fumbled for their weapons, but they were too slow. I twisted Lord Gideon's arm behind his back in one fluid motion, the bone-cracking sound making him howl in pain as his pistol skittered across the floor.


Chapter 90 - A Collector's Fall, A Sister's Rescue