Page 17 of The Duke of Fire (The Dukes of Desire #1)

“Is that what this is?” she shot back. “A test?”

“Everything is a test, Miss Warton,” he said smoothly. “You just do not always know when you are taking one.”

The carriage jostled slightly as they turned down another gravel road, and for a moment, Amelia stared into the duke’s face, lit by a sliver of moonlight through the curtained window. There was something about him tonight—unreadable, yes, but also… feral. Untamed.

A shiver slid down her spine. Whether it was anticipation or dread, she was not sure.

She closed her eyes briefly, trying to calm her breathing. It had been a long day of managing Octavia’s endless demands, and this… secret outing was testing the limits of her composure. She let her eyelids close for a moment.

Eventually, a bump woke her from her nap.

She startled until she remembered where she was.

They were turning onto a long, gravel drive.

The house that the carriage was approaching loomed over them, looking like something from a gothic novel.

It was a centuries-old, sprawling mansion three stories high.

The windows were draped, so it was impossible to see inside.

As they emerged from the carriage, Amelia could not help but breathe out, “A ball? But I thought we were attending a hunt?”

“Do you trust me? All your questions will be answered. Here, let me help put your mask on,” the duke offered, stepping behind her to secure the pretty piece.His fingers brushed the soft skin at the back of her neck, and she shivered.

He did not really answer her question, leading her to believe that he would not be offering any information to her.

So, she focused on the dimly lit entrance.

A mysterious amber glow made her feel even more uneasy.

She did not like going into situations she was not certain of, but she would have to trust him.

A butler opened the door even without them having to knock. He seemed younger than Amelia expected. In a deep voice, he greeted them. “Welcome to The Arrangement .”

The man opened the door wider for them to enter. Amelia realized that the violin arrangements were darker than the ones she was used to. She suspected that this arrangement—this hunt—was a lot more different from the balls she was used to.

The house was dimly lit. It seemed that the candles were relegated to the sides, creating atmosphere rather than illumination. Sofas, settees, and even beds were arranged in the ballroom, already signaling the fact that tonight was not about dancing.

What is this place?

Amelia’s eyes widened to see some couples kissing passionately on the sofas. Some were locked in tighter embraces, moans escaping their lips as if they were not afraid that everyone else would hear—because they were not. They anticipated it.

As they went further into the house, Amelia found herself shrinking closer to the duke. Fear and excitement mingled within her as she realized that the couplings were becoming even more intimate as they ventured deeper into the house.

The masks made sense. A woman wearing a crimson dress and a matching mask laughed as a man in a black mask pressed her against the wall. They were still fully clothed, but the man’s hips thrust into hers. Another pair disappeared behind the velvet curtains, the fabric swaying faintly with movement.

But what shocked Amelia more than anything else… was that not all the participants were couples. There were threesomes. Foursomes. Silently watching. Some merely lounged and observed with champagne in hand, their masks concealing not only their faces, but their expressions.

The duke put an arm around her, squeezing her hip closer to his side. Amelia should be pushing him away, but she felt comforted. Despite how his actions were to the contrary, he had never made her feel unsafe.

“Nobody will dare come close to you as long as you stay by my side,” he whispered.

Even as he said those words, a thrill ran through her.

She had never been exposed to such flagrant displays of lust. At that very moment, she also wondered what it would be like to experience desire at least for once in her life.

She had never dared to attempt anything with a man.

But now… Now, her body felt far too aware of itself.

Her mind betrayed her with images that had the duke’s hands trailing her skin, his mouth pressing low and slow against her neck, his voice murmuring promises meant only for her.

She squeezed her thighs together, as if that could silence the pulse building between them.

“Y-you brought me into a den of libertines,” she hissed. “W-what is this place? This is not a ball, Your Grace.”

“No. I never said it was,” he replied, not looking bothered.

“Yes, you said we were going to a hunt.” Amelia hated that her voice had risen in pitch.

But nobody would care. Not really. The moans were getting louder, and even the quieter lovers were too preoccupied to notice them. Some masked figures from dark corners seemed to be staring at her and the duke, but she could not be too certain with half their faces covered.

“We are. I brought you to a hunt,” he confirmed, looking at her with narrowed eyes.

“What are they hunting?” she asked, her heart pounding as she realized even before he answered.

“Each other.”