Page 38 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

Hell.

I gnashed my teeth, my head becoming light. My joints seemed about to shatter. Before I could stand up, he jumped on me and straddled me, blocking my movements with his immense strength. A noise rumbled out of my squashed chest.

He closed his hand around my neck, making me feel the strength of his fingers. “Why are you fighting me?” His blond curls flapped around his face, adding another layer of wildness to his countenance. And bloody hell, his hat was still on his head. He hadn’t found the fight challenging at all. “I made you.”

I gasped for air, trying to ignore the pain that pounded everywhere. “And I’ll destroy you.” I forced the words through my teeth.

He stared at me with genuine confusion. “I promised you that I would watch over you, but I was forced to change my plan after I met Rothbart. That’s why I didn’t return to you after your transformation. Is that why you’re angry?”

“I don’t care what you promised me. You’re a monster, and you made me one, too.”

His grip eased for a reason I didn’t give a damn about. The moment of hesitation was all I needed.

I shoved him, meaning to toss him away from me and catch him off guard, but he didn’t flinch or budge.

“Stop.” He pressed his knee against my chest. My ribs seemed about to snap. “I don’t want to kill you. I’m here to kill Rothbart and his men.”

I used all my strength to free myself, but he seemed to be made of steel. So I grabbed his arm and bit him hard.

He cried out. Anger twisted his lips in a snarl. He bit my neck and sucked until pain and blood loss weakened me. When he lifted his head, blood trickled from his mouth.

I panted on the ground, pressing a hand over my neck where a chunk of flesh was missing. He loomed over me, impossibly wide and tall. His dark silhouette came in and out of focus as I struggled to keep my eyes open. He inched closer. I braced myself for the final blow.

“You don’t understand.” His voice sounded less cavernous. “Lord Rothbart found Isabelle.”

“Who the hell is Isabelle?”

He roared. “Odette! Your sister.”

That stunned me more than his blows. “What? No. I don’t understand.”

“Odette and my wife, Isabelle, are the same woman. Isabelle died centuries ago, but she returns time and again⁠—”

“This is madness!” I meant to shout, but my voice came out low.

“No.” He curled up his upper lip. “Isabelle and I are both cursed. She gets a new life every time she dies, and she was reborn as your sister. You shouldn’t fight me. You should fight with me.” He stood up and brushed grass blades from his suit. “I will not stop chasing him until he’s dead because he killed Odette.”

Rothbart killed my sister? How did Bethlen know that?

I tried to talk, but only a gargle came out.

“Embrace who you are. Stop hiding. You’re a vampire.” He was gone before I drew the next breath, leaving me bleeding and alone with my shock.

13

IN THE SHADOWS

Irene

The bond between Alex and me remained too quiet as I waited for him in front of the carriage. He had to be miles away.

He’d run off at such a speed it’d been impossible for me to follow him. But I had no intention of going home alone. The deal with Cara was already testing his patience and control. His sire had added kerosene to the fire, and I didn’t completely trust him. If he lost control, he might do something reckless, like bite someone.

I paced around the carriage, paying attention to the flutter in my chest. The tension in the bond left me tired, and fatigue was weighing me down.

“My lady, we should leave.” The coachman’s aura was boiling with worry. He was a not-so-powerful wizard, and his aura didn’t show all the wonderful colours of Darius’s. “His Grace was clear. He’ll be disappointed to know I haven’t followed his orders.”

“Five more minutes. If the duke gets angry, I’ll talk to him.”