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Chapter Nineteen

Author: Ifeanyi Onuorah
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Torn between fear and relief, Portia scrambled to see her niece's face beneath the tumbling crown of honey-colored locks. Eloisa's small mouth was perfectly pursed into a rosebud, and her cheeks were softly suffused with pink. Under the ruffled bodice of her nightgown, her breast rose and fell smoothly, and her throat was unblemished. She seemed alive, and she looked uninjured.

When Portia realized Valentine must have come from the one room neither she nor Adrian had looked in, she wanted to slap herself. The area had filthy stains all over the floor and empty chains hanging from the wall that could be pulled or bent to disclose a hidden room or corridor.

Her finger gently touched the crossbow's trigger. As long as she was using Eloisa as a human shield, she knew she had no chance of obtaining a clear shot at Valentine's heart.

Although the vampire's pale, slender arms showed no signs of exertion, Ellie was as strong as a small pony. She could certainly carry the child for hours witho
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    Julian tightened his grip on the chair's arms, his entire body going into rigidity.The blanket spilled to the tick when Portia shrugged and lifted one beautiful shoulder. "Oh, I've really tried not to love you. After you went off the first time, I despised you intensely for about a week. Ever since I learned about Valentine, I've even been somewhat successful in loathing you. But I'm afraid old habits persist, especially those that are entrenched in a young girl's soft heart. I made the decision that I wasn't going to give up so easy when Valentine claimed claim to you tonight. I was prepared to fight for you if she was.She slid off the bed and to her feet by uncurling her long, slender legs from beneath her. The candlelight danced over the translucent folds of the chemise as she floated towards him like a vision from one of his sweetest and darkest nightmares, bringing to life a rosy hint of breast and an alluring web of shadow between her shapely thighs.He stood up on his own, mo

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    When Portia opened her eyes, she was greeted by a beautiful choir of cherubs. They were playing the strings of golden lyres while sitting on fluffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky.She mumbled, "Oh, dear Lord." "I'm gone,"With one hand, she covered her mouth. It might not be the best idea to begin blaspheming at this moment.The dimples on the cherubs' beautiful cheeks became deeper as they grinned down at her. Her body was most likely lying in a tangle of twisted and broken limbs in the midst of some weed-choked courtyard at Chillingsworth Manor, yet her spirit might be residing on its own cloud in this radiant little bit of paradise. She sighed wistfully, thinking that at least Julian wasn't vulnerable to the bleak finality of death. He probably got to his feet after sending her tumbling to her death, dusted off his coat, and went back to London for a new bottle of port and another round of brag.She snatched her gaze away from the cherubs because she was suddenly irritated by

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    Valentine descended the steps like an angel, her silvery-blond hair piled high on her head and the train of her snow-white gown flowing behind her. Julian exhaled, "Bloody hell," as she did so.Well, we did want to track her down, didn't we? Weakly whispering, Portia.Not if we're outnumbered and in her territory, I say. He counted the stairs to the entrance as he cast a glimpse behind them. I must get you out of here, you idiot."The other dancers were split apart by Valentine's royal presence like an icy ice floe. Portia had made an effort to block out the woman's stunning beauty, but as she glided towards them with her jewel-encrusted slippers barely touching the marble floor, Portia felt herself contracting into a small, ungainly troll.Valentine came to a stop in front of them, her feline eyes flitting back and forth between the chain and collar. She asked, her disapproving eyes sweeping over Portia, "And what's this, mon cher?" "A peace sacrifice? Have the kitten's charms alread

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