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

"Alaric, you can't—" The words died on my lips as Alaric moved with lightning speed, pulling a small obsidian dagger from within his coat. The blade gleamed unnaturally in the starlight, etched with symbols I couldn't read.


"I can, and I will." His voice was steel, brooking no argument. "This was my grandmother's ritual blade. It can sever what needs to be severed."


Before I could lunge forward, Alaric stepped into the center of our stone circle. The remaining candles flared unnaturally bright, their flames stretching skyward in blue-white tongues.


"What are you doing?" I screamed, but an invisible barrier stopped me at the edge of the circle. I pushed against it with all my strength, feeling it yield slightly before pushing back. "Alaric, stop this! We'll find another way!"


His eyes met mine, filled with such tender determination that my protests died in my throat.


Chapter 128 - Severing the Shadow, Forging the Light