Mundo de ficçãoIniciar sessão
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389. HOSTAGE FOR HOSTAGE
KATHERINEThe ground rumbled beneath his steps, the dark treetops looming close above us.I looked up at his beastly features. He sniffed the air and changed direction.His furry ears twitched, catching every whisper of the night. So powerful… It was unbelievable that Elliot was this creature.A high-pitched scream tore through the forest, sending shivers down my spine."That’s Lavinia, it’s our daughter!" I screamed, my heart lodged in my throat, twisting desperately to see ahead. The trees cleared, revealing a sight that froze the blood in my veins.A rickety suspension bridge, crudely built with vines and wood, stretched between two distant edges. Beneath it lay a deep gorge.Below, the swamp’s murky green waters appeared still, but dark shadows slithered just beneath the surface.It was infested with alligators. And now, on that unstable bridge, that damn witch held my daughter by the arm, forcing her forward toward this side.A bone-chilling roar made the woman stop in her tracks
390. AT THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS
KATHERINE"Come closer with Alexia, but leave that monster behind, or there’s no deal!"I looked at Elliot; he didn’t seem willing to let me go."I need to do this. Don’t worry, I can handle it, I can," I told him, trying to calm him down.He wasn’t happy at all. He shifted restlessly, growling."Besides, you can’t step onto the bridge. You’re too heavy; it wouldn’t hold," I pointed out another logical reason.I wasn’t exactly sure how his transformation worked.In the end, after much persuasion, I placed my feet on that rickety, swaying bridge. It was narrow. I held the woman in front of me, keeping a tight grip on her.She kept struggling to break free, but I wouldn’t let her. My Lavinia’s life depended on it."Stop resisting. If you cooperate, this will be over soon." I shook her slightly, gripping her tied-up arms tighter, enduring her stench along with the swamp gases rising like the smell of rotten eggs.I moved forward, nearly dragging her. She nearly slipped through one of the
391. SAFE REFUGE
KATHERINEIn a matter of seconds, Elliot had his arms wrapped around us, pressing us protectively against his broad chest."Kath, we don’t have time to lose. They’re going to cut the bridge. Lavinia will be fine, trust me, my love, trust me. Don’t be afraid of that lycan—he’s my wolf, and he loves you with all his being. We both do," he confessed urgently, caressing my tear-streaked cheek.The bridge was still vibrating. It seemed those wretched women hadn’t reached the other side yet.There was no time for romance—only survival.I nodded, trusting him with our lives. I did everything he told me. I was no longer afraid of the beast behind the man."No matter if you choke me, don’t let go of my back for anything in the world!" he roared, his voice already shifting."Yes, yes! Just hold onto Lavinia tight, please!" I begged, climbing onto him, my legs wrapped around his waist, my hands nearly strangling him by the neck.I felt his body shifting beneath me—growing, doubling in strength,
392. THE MAIDEN AND THE BEAST
KATHERINEI lifted my head, looking around with curiosity. The stone path was barely visible under the thick blanket of dead leaves covering the ground.The old mansion looked more like a decrepit house, with the tall statues on the rooftops stained black and covered in bird droppings.I imagined that after my dear father died, Rossella never set foot here again."Elliot, you can put me down now," I asked in a soft voice.My fingers itched to stroke the furry, comical ear twitching in front of my eyes, but I still had some reservations about this incredible transformation.With a low growl, he moved a little farther into the overgrown front garden, the flower beds choked with wild plants that reached my waist, mosquitoes buzzing in the thick undergrowth.The croaking of frogs echoed from the stagnant green water of a nearby fountain.Elliot crouched down, and I stretched my feet until they touched the steps of the main staircase."Shhh," I hushed, limping slightly as my wounds finally
393. TYING LOOSE ENDS
DUKE THESIO“Sir, I saw everything from the shadows. Luckily, I hadn’t entered the camp yet. They came like a plague and wiped out our men! The Duke of Everhart led the charge…”I listened to my soldier’s report, pacing like a caged beast inside my study.He hadn’t even had time to warn Arthur about the retreat.Truth be told, deep down, I was relieved they had killed him rather than taken him hostage as a witness.Now, he could serve as my scapegoat.I would deny everything. It was better to be seen as an incompetent Duke than to be linked to witchcraft and my plans to ruin Elliot.“Damn it!” BAM!I kicked the chair in fury.So much money invested in raw materials and bribes, and what I stole from Elliot barely compensated for it—it had all gone into feeding my soldiers.I feared the Regent’s men would pay me a visit at any moment.Knock, knock, knock.I froze at the sound at the door.“Shut up,” I signaled to the soldier and motioned for him to open it.“Yes?”“Someone is asking for
394. TAMING THE WILD BEAST
DUKE THESIOBack on the first floor, I walked toward the lounge.I pushed the door open and found her standing there, gazing at the garden through the window.My eyes drifted to the tight dress she was wearing—bold, just like everything about her.The sexy curves of her hips and ass had me imagining all sorts of pleasurable madness under my bedsheets."Darling, have I taken too long?" I shut the door and approached her with a firm stride.She turned around, flashing me a flirtatious smile."No, Your Lordship, it was just a short wait."I took her by the shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheeks.As always, my lips lingered close to the corners of her mouth, right on the verge of claiming those luscious lips.Brenda would usually turn her head away—tonight, she let me have my way."Did they treat you well? What brings you here so suddenly? Come, sit…""No, wait, Thesio." She held onto my hand, refusing to sit."I'm not a woman who beats around the bush. I'm here today to give you an a
395. MY LAVINIA'S FATHER
KATHERINE"Done." Clap, clap, clap.I dusted off my hands, admiring my work. It wasn’t spotless, but it was livable and decent enough.I glanced toward the hallway, where my good boy waited like a student before his teacher."Come, bring the girl, love," I called, watching as he rose onto his powerful hind legs, carefully carrying the child.Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, his words from the bridge echoed in my mind.As I watched him step through the narrow doorway with slight difficulty, I moved to help, my hands brushing gently against his strong forearms.Elliot had said this creature loved me, just like he did… Were they separate beings? Or the same? And he loved me? Just like that? So suddenly?Love, to me, was a serious word. Our eyes met—his wolfish, penetrating ones—and for some ridiculous reason, I felt nervous.My heart skipped a beat."Ahem." I coughed, feigning composure. "Let’s lay her on the bed. I found some clean sheets in the closet. Did you come here often?"
396. DUKE LITTLE MAID
KATHERINEWith exaggerated gestures, I understood once again that he wanted to throw the rug inside the fabric cover onto the floor, and the water was to remove the dust from the cold tiles."I'll do it," he growled when I tried to help. "Alright, alright, wild one, fine..."Watching that massive beast clumsily passing a wet rag over the space in front of the fireplace almost made me burst out laughing in his face.A giggle escaped me as I saw him scrubbing diligently, completely focused, like a seasoned maid.He lifted his head then, looking at me, clearly offended."I..." I barely managed to stifle my laughter. "You missed a spot there." I pointed to the spot where his knees rested, like a proper lady of the house... and he actually listened!Hahaha, the Duke Virgin... no, no, the Duke Little Beast Scrubbing the Floors, hahaha... My cheeks hurt from holding it in.This one, I’ll save for the future, along with the pig roundup. The heat from the fire quickly evaporated the water.I d
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