Daniel finally released his sister, stepping backward to look her in the eye. He narrowed his eyes to her, uttering a cold warning, not to her but to the Duke. Again, she felt like nothing more than a ball being passed around from one man to another. It was like her father’s shadow looming over all of them once more.
“I—I am here,” she managed to stammer.
“You better keep that vow, Wolfcrest. I won’t be alone in this. The rest of our siblings will be asking you about these rumors. I hope you are prepared to reassure them that Briarwood or any of your numerous enemies cannot touch our sister.”
Daphne’s heart hardened, then. It didn’t look like either man in her life was willing to listen to her. She pressed her lips tightly together, steeling herself for the next chapters of her life.
They drove home in their carriage in silence. Daphne felt suffocated in what she now thought of as a luxurious prison. It was her first instinct when she first found out she was marrying the Duke of Wolfcrest.
Neither half of the pair was willing to shed their pride to let the other person in. In her mind, Daphne screamed. She thoughtabout all the things she wanted to tell her husband, but she was left with the Wolf instead. When they were at the Obsidian Card, he was more open. More candid. She was surprised at how he was willing to engage in conversation, and even in seduction, where he worked and lurked as the secret owner.
We established that Briarwood was pathetic!
He is down now. Humiliated.
“Don’t listen to my brother. You are a Duke. You have been living in this world of your creation throughout your adult life, and you have managed to pull yourself out of every danger,” she finally said.
Daphne didn’t want to say anything, but she was the first to fold. She was the one with no fortitude at that very moment. Her heart was clenching in her chest, and she had no choice but to say something.
“In every other circumstance, I would agree with you,” Adrian said, his voice low and edged with restrained fury. “I would have put your brother in his place for daring to confront me. But not this time. Because I know I was in the wrong. I should never have listened to your persuasion. You could have died tonight, Daphne. One wrong move, one falling ember… and I’d have lost you.” His jaw flexed as if the thought alone was unbearable. “Briarwood may be a fool, but even fools can light a match. And men with coin can buy killers to finish what they cannot.”
He exhaled roughly, running a hand through his hair before meeting her gaze again.
“My world is not a place for innocence. It is full of corruption and blood, and I swore I would keep you untouched by it. That was my vow the moment I made you my wife: to protect you, even from myself, if I must. That is the essence of our marriage… and the only part of me you must never doubt.”
“What if Daniel did not remind you of your vow? Would you be more willing to put me in trouble?” she asked, knowing that this particular question was unfair. Still, she wanted to know what Adrian had to say. “My brother is being protective for the wrong reasons. He will always be burdened by our childhood. He still feels guilty about going on his Grand Tour across the Continent while we were left behind with our cruel father. He is projecting his feeling of helplessness.”
“No, Daphne. You know better than that. I have not been swayed by your brother’s guilt, but by mine. I saw you near the fire. I was the one who was there, in that place I should not have brought you. My world! I was too thrilled about the prospect of you getting to know me better by visiting that place. Being in the heart of the Obsidian Card. This… my reaction now… is no longer about Briarwood. Someone else might attempt to harm you. Someone who might succeed. I can’t always protect you, especially if you are in the middle of the chaos.”
“Can you then abandon this world? Will you do it? This way, you don’t have to hide yourself from me. You don’t need the moneyfrom your gambling hells, do you? Frankly, I have no idea. But, please, Adrian, leave the shadows and walk in the light with me.”
His head snapped up at that. She was almost frightened when she saw the raw pain in his eyes.
“Do you think it’s that simple, Daphne? The gambling hells are not there to provide me with wealth. They mean something more. It shows me how I succeeded in my revenge. It’s my way of keeping the people who were responsible for my mother’s and sister’s deaths in line. Do you think they died for nothing? I will not do anything that will dishonor them!”
She was staggered by the vehemence behind his argument. She knew that initially he had bought the Obsidian Card so he might exact his revenge, but she could think of no reason why he felt compelled to linger there. Surely, his mother and sister would not want him to continue pursuing this path after so long. They would wish for him to find joy—really and truly.
“Very well, Your Grace. I understand.”
She did not wait for him to respond. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed upstairs.
Of course, she did not understand. She walked up to her bedchamber.
The door between them remained unlocked, but she closed it and heard the latch click before she went to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Daphne,” the Duke of Wolfcrest muttered, even though he knew she could no longer hear him.
Adrian had said something he could not take back. He felt it the very moment she stormed out of the room and away from him. He felt it even more when he saw the closed door between their bed chambers. Even though he wanted to talk to her, cajole her into seeing the situation his way, he didn’t dare turn the knob.
What if it was locked?
Daphne said she understood what he needed, but that could not be right. What did she mean? Why did she storm away in such a manner and retire early? Why is the door closed?
He stared at the door, willing it to open, but it did not budge. Adrian released a weary sigh.
Whatever the case might be, he didn’t feel it was right to demand her duties be fulfilled when she was angry. With other women, the emotions had never mattered. With her, it was everything.
