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343. MY PACK
KATHERINEI stretched lazily in bed. My thighs protested a little, and my still-drowsy mind recalled the reason for the discomfort.I could still feel the delicious tingling from those vigorous thrusts.Of course, my legs ached—I had ridden the Duke like a cowgirl on a mechanical bull, and what a bull I had gotten.I smiled a little, staring at the ceiling above me.I really was shameless.Still, I had to make sure I had the opportunity to seduce Elliot properly because he wasn’t a fool. And if I ended up pregnant "out of thin air," he might think I had cheated on him with someone else.When I sat up on the mattress, I suddenly felt a sharp pang in my chest.I placed my hand over my heart, which was pounding furiously.Something had changed.I felt stronger, somehow… more powerful… I don’t know… It was the sensation of that magical energy coursing through my veins.Was this because I had cast my first spell? That had to be it… or maybe it was because I had made love to Elliot?I wasn’
344. PREPARING FOR BATTLE
ELLIOTThey left a moment later. There is no doubt in my mind that Lavinia is Katherine’s daughter.Rossella never treated her that way; in fact, she seemed to hate the little girl."Katherine," I murmured under my breath, savoring her name. I longed to call her that openly.I need to find the right moment, but first...Knock, knock, knock.The sound of knocking pulls me from my thoughts."Come in," I say as I move around my desk, hearing Vittorio step inside just as I take my seat."Your Lordship, I’ve brought the morning reports," he says, handing me the documents.Sometimes I still struggle to believe Wallace betrayed me."He hasn’t confessed anything yet?" I ask, my face twisting with anger."No, sir. No matter the torture, he still insists he didn’t do it. His daughter... I’ve already sent for her to be brought to the capital," he explains, but my eyes remain fixed on the report about the south."So my spy has contacted the support? Everything went as planned?"He confirms that i
345. INSINUATIONS
KATHERINEThe carriage moved through the bustling streets.I couldn’t stop looking through the sheer curtain at the people passing by, watching the lively sway of the night markets.The air was thick with festivity. It was my first time visiting these lands, outside of Everhart’s Duchy and the territories of other nobles.Suddenly, we came to a halt, perhaps because something was blocking the carriage’s path.My attention fell on a pair of lovers standing in front of a trinket stall.The man looked like a farm laborer, his skin tanned by the sun, but his face bore the foolish expression of a man hopelessly in love as he gazed at the petite woman beside him.He picked up a few pendants, trying them on her.The woman looked embarrassed, and then he whispered something in her ear, leaning in so close that it made her smile and blush like a tomato.I sighed wistfully.I had always been a hopeless romantic—so much so that a few sweet words and tender gestures were all it took for me to fal
346. ZAFIRO
NARRATORFrom the second floor of the grand and glamorous Coral Mansion, a woman watched furtively from behind the heavy crimson curtain.Brenda’s pupils shifted color the moment she spotted Elliot stepping out of the carriage.Immediately, the night breeze carried to her those masculine, seductive pheromones exuding from that powerful, virile male—she loved it.But her excitement quickly faded when she saw him extend his hand to support a brown-haired woman accompanying him.Brenda examined her closely, like a female assessing her rival.She vaguely remembered seeing her before—that pitiful creature who pretended to have a class she didn’t possess.But tonight… she wasn’t sure… something about that woman seemed different. She projected an aura of confidence, an indomitable self-assurance.She wore a flowing, stunning blue gown.The corset cinched her waist into a delicate silhouette.The square neckline couldn’t hide the sensual fullness of her breasts. Did that idiot always have suc
347. THE TRUE AND THE FALSE
KATHERINEMurmurs suddenly arose near me. I felt Elliot’s arm grow slightly tense.I tried not to jump to conclusions, but as that beautiful voice drew closer, the woman sang a ballad filled with passion, as if meant for a forbidden lover, and her gray eyes casually searched through the crowd—until they locked onto a man.Intensely, without much pretense, that striking singer, the so-called Zafiro, seemed to be dedicating her love song to Elliot.“...Oh, Brenda is bold. Look at her, not even respecting the man's wife being right there...”“...Pft, honestly, that’s an open secret. I don’t even know why the Duke brought her…”“...To humiliate her, obviously…”Some whispered words reached me from behind.I lifted my chin and glanced at Elliot from the corner of my eye, assessing his reaction.He sipped from his glass, not looking at Brenda, who now seemed completely assured of herself. She was his mistress.He had brought me to this party where his lover was—who, on top of it all, was no
348. I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF TO YOU
NARRATOR"Duchess, what a shame. Deborah, why did you mention the pendant?" Katherine watched as Brenda feigned surprise, even embarrassment.This had been her plan from the very start.Her sister must be rolling in her grave because right now, Katherine was cursing her in every possible way.How could a woman stoop so low for a man?"Duchess, I’m so sorry, I only mentioned the pendant to my friend because, well, you… you believed it was a gift from the Duke for your anniversary, and, well, it turned out it wasn’t…" the shameless woman said with a guilty smile. "He had it made for someone else."There was no need to specify who that someone was; it was obvious. The woman wearing the real one around her neck was not the rightful wife."It seems she liked it so much she had a fake one made. I imagine that with the noble’s pension the Duke gives her, she wouldn’t be able to afford something that valuable," one of the women behind Brenda murmured maliciously.Katherine clenched her fists
349. VISUAL TRICKERY
NARRATORThe Duke heard hurried footsteps in the hallway.The door opened and closed. Elliot was waiting."Elliot, I thought you’d never call for me," Brenda immediately walked toward him, her she-wolf stirring restlessly at the pheromones of that powerful male.Despite the Duke’s strange ways, he had never revealed his inner wolf to her, nor did he allow her wolf to get close—but they always tried.Even during sex, when he lost some of his self-control, he remained remarkably guarded.Brenda didn’t know much about her own kind either. She had been an orphan taken in by noble elementals who couldn’t have children.She had been a pretty girl, learned to sing, to be obedient, to manipulate hearts.She had learned to hide her true nature until her first heat, when the powerful man standing before her had discovered her. From that day on, Brenda had truly coveted him, deep within her soul.With Elliot, she could be herself—no masks, no lies."Don’t get so close. I don’t know what the hell
350. AMAGED EVENT
NARRATORKatherine composed herself at lightning speed, dabbing her face with a handkerchief—thankfully, she hadn’t broken down sobbing like Magdalena.She tried to slip away, but in the end, some guests caught her and brought her back to the hall for one of the evening’s main games.*****Elliot had settled his business with Brenda, putting her in her place.What the hell was that nonsense about love and feelings?He wasn’t an idiot. Elliot knew very well that what truly drove that she-wolf was her interest in his wealth and title.With disgust, he wiped the traces of her lipstick from his mouth, along with her irritating scent that still clung to his nose.He didn’t want Kath to suspect anything—or worse, misunderstand.He considered placing more spies around Brenda, just in case. He didn’t trust her in the slightest."Baroness Hildaly, good, I’ve found you," he strode toward the woman, who was ordering a drink. "Where is my Duchess?"Elliot scanned the small catering lounge.At the
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