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He stopped retreating and froze completely, realising she was serious. How quickly she’d turned the tables was pitiful.

He should be ashamed of himself.Not just because of that, but because he truly intended to take her against her will, just because she had allowed someone else to touch her.Disgusting pig.

“You will understand, Lord Daerk, that I am not some feeble, helpless woman.” She nodded her head to his pants. “Now, put your unimpressive penis away before I cut it off.”

When he went to release her other hand, she made a jarring movement that caused his head to tilt up and back, so she didn’t cut him further.

“Slowly.”

He released the tight squeeze of her hand at a snail’s pace and lowered his hands. She threaded one of her own through his short hair to keep him in place while he put himself away.

He buttoned his trousers with both hands.

“You will keep what you witnessed the other night to yourself, or I will tell King Bradwick you raped me. If you share my secrets, then I will share lies.” She gave a glare, one filled with determination to maim and hurt. She pulled his head closer and pressed the blade deeper, until that ball of blood became a slow stream down the sharp edge of it. “I wonder how Lord Geryon will respond to you blackmailing him.”

“I did no such thing!” He wore a face of deep-seated regret.

He’d appeared so confident before.Just how many women have you been vile to? Your poor wife.She had an unfaithful demon for a husband.

“Did you not? In threatening me, did you not also threaten him? If you told King Bradwick of the truth, it would harm us both.” She tapped his neck with the blade when she knew he wouldn’t dare move away. “I think I will tell him, regardless; he will be so pleased to hear of this.”

“Please, no,” he whined, and she gripped his hair tighter.

“Do not make demands of me when you had no intention of retreating when I told you no. Feel lucky I will not tell the king of your transgression, for it is far worse than what Lord Geryon and I participated in. At least both parties had beenwilling.”

Valerie pushed at his chest to get him away from her. She took his sword from its sheath at the same time, so he couldn’t attempt to use it against her. She pointed it at him as well.

“You will find your sword here tonight when I am no longer at risk of being cut by it. The dagger I will be keeping as a gift, in case another idiot like you tries to commit a heinous act against me.” She nodded her head forward at his wide-eyed stare. “Now go, before I change my mind about bleeding you dry.”

There was no apology, no words uttered before Baron Daerk fled.For a war official, he is rather cowardly.

Valerie leaned the sword against the wall for him to find later. Then, she cut the dagger into the skirt of her beautiful dress, twisting into the layers beneath it to hold it in place.

She could feel the cold blade pressing against the material of her undergarment shift, and she hoped it was enough to stop her from getting cut.

I was almost taken against my will.Valerie placed her head in her hands, taking the time while she was truly alone to process it.If he had not had a dagger in his weapons belt, I would not have been able to escape.

She wouldn’t have been able to draw his sword, not with how close he was. With how much pushing against him hadn’t aided her, she knew he was stronger than her. Usually, she would use magic in a situation like this, but she currently was unable to.

I am too reliant on my magic.

Like Geryon had told her, there were predators afoot, and someone lost was an easy target. She thought he was speaking of them in a playful manner.

I am not safe on this floor.No longer knowing where she was, Valerie turned the way she saw the bastard come from. She kept her hand close to where her new dagger sat, ready to use it again if he showed up.

I do not think Kaeylyn is in the palace any longer.She would search the top level just in case, but she knew she needed to enact the next phase of her plan.I need to figure out a way to get the king to reveal where she has been taken.

She was hoping she could get him to tell her on accident.

Otherwise, I will have to use other measures.Ones she did not want to take.

Valerie wanted nothing more than to retire to her room, losing her enthusiasm for her task.

Geryon growled quietly as he walked towards Bradwick’s chambers on the third floor.To say such things to me!He wasn’t pleased with his conversation with Cecily.To rub her actions so callously in my face.

He was a male who was very interested in this woman. There was a deep gash of jealousy he hadn’t expected.I thought I would not care if she were to bed Bradwick.Instead, he was offended.

I was not done playing with her.There were four days left of the gala. He thought he would have more time with her.