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They were getting further away from the centre of the castle, and an unease grew within Valerie. They had been walking down the outer arm for quite some time, and she knew they hadn’t come across anyone for a while.

He was also pushing her forward so fast. she wasn’t able to truly search.

“Thank you, Baron Daerk. I believe I have seen all I wish to.” She tried to give him a smile before she turned around.

Without warning, Valerie was pushed against the wall with her back to him. She quickly turned around and pushed against his chest.

“Excuse me, but I do believe you are too close.”

He grabbed both her hands and pinned them next to her head. Then he leaned forward until his chest rubbed against hers. “You are quite lovely. I have been captivated by you since you entered the palace.”

Then, to her horror, he slammed his mouth against hers. He squeezed her hands tightly, forcing her fingers to remain straight while crushing her knuckles.

Valerie fought him. Her struggle was met with a tongue being forced inside her mouth and a hardening shaft thrust against her.

He only pulled back when she bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Get off me, Lord Daerk. Not only do you have a wife, but I am here for King Bradwick. If he were to hear of such actions between us, we could be seen as traitorous.” She yanked her arms again but continued to keep a level head, to keep her calm composure. “Now, Idemandthat you unhand me.”

Valerie now understood why he’d pulled them close to the end of the palace, where it was scarce of people. No one was going to come across them to save her.He was intending to trap me.

The smirk that crossed his features was unsettling. It made his handsome face turn bitter.

“I believe you are no stranger to risk.” He leaned forward to kiss at her jaw and throat, and her skin crawled. “You will accept me, my lady, just as you accepted Lord Geryon.”

Her eyelids fluttered in shock. “Pardon?”

He continued to bump his hips against her, like it would spur her on when it did nothing but make her grow colder.

“You could only imagine my surprise at what I discovered two nights ago. A female companion and I had ventured to a deeper part of the palace, an area with a few vacant rooms where we could... be alone and unseen.” His tongue darted out to lick across her throat, and Valerie tried to get his mouth to cease by pressing her ear to her shoulder, hoping to deter him. “Of course, my companion left before me, so we would not be discovered together. So, once I tied her dress and sent her on her way, I waited until I thought it was safe. Just as I opened the door to leave, I heard odd noises like the ones I just shared in.”

The more he spoke, the more a sense of dread crept along her spine.

“Not wanting to be questioned about why I was where I was, I waited for it to end. Then, I peeked through the crack in the door to see you and Lord Geryon, walking familiarly with each other.”

He brought his mouth back to hers and she froze. Valerie tried to think of a way out of this.

Against her lips, he said, “If you were willing to take that unsociable brute, then you will take me as well.”

“No,” she told him, turning her head to the side.

“I wonder how King Bradwick would feel if I told him of what I saw and heard? I do not think he will appreciate learning one of his ladies was taken like a bitch by his guard dog.” The words were curt, dripping with menace.

He is threatening me. If I do not do what he wants, then he will tell the king.She stopped fighting and eyed his body.I do not have a choice.

“Do what you will.” She let a rush of calmness wash over her.

“I promise I will be better than him.” There was a chortle of excitement before he released one of her hands so he could free his shaft.

He began to pull up her skirt. There would be no preparation for her. This bastard intended to make this short by slamming inside her without even a gentle caress to make her wet or wanting for it.

Now that her hand was free, Valerie quickly darted it to his sword belt to grab a dagger. She pressed the tip to the underside of his jaw.

“Move and I will jam this into your jugular,” she threatened. “We are alone, and it will take everyone a long time to notice you are dead.”

He froze, his eyes widening. When he started to back away, she pressed the tip more firmly into his jaw, to the point blood began to well.

“I told you not to move. Do you not believe I will kill you? You would not be the first.”