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The Price of Power
Last Updated:
2025-03-26 06:31:36
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The Duchess's Desire The Edge of Desire
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows against the walls of the Duke’s private study, where the air was thick with an unspoken tension. Victoria stood by the large, arched window, her eyes gazing out into the sprawling gardens of the Duke’s estate. The storm from earlier that evening had passed, but the lingering humidity in the air only added to the heat building between them.She was alone in the room with the Duke now, and the closeness was palpable. His presence behind her felt like a constant pull, as if the very air between them vibrated with an undeniable magnetism. It was a force that she tried to ignore but failed at every turn. The way he watched her. The way his gaze seemed to strip her of every last bit of control.“I never thought I’d see you like this,” the Duke’s voice broke through her thoughts, smooth yet intense, as he stepped closer, just behind her.Victoria swallowed hard, the pulse in her throat pounding as she kept her eyes trained on the distant horizon.
Last Updated : 2025-03-26The Duchess's Desire The Price of Desire
The knock on the door echoed throughout the Duke's private study, pulling both Victoria and the Duke back into the harsh reality that had been momentarily forgotten. The moment was fragile, too delicate to last, but for a brief instant, everything had seemed possible. Now, as the door swung open, reality came rushing back.The Duke straightened his posture, though his eyes never left Victoria’s. His jaw tightened in silent frustration, but there was something else there too—something that hinted at how he wasn’t quite ready to let her go. Not yet.Victoria was still reeling from the kiss, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath shallow. She felt as though her skin was still tingling from where his hands had touched her, the heat of his presence lingering like a shadow around her. But she didn’t know how to deal with the sudden shift—how to navigate the uncertainty that had flooded in with the interruption.The door creaked open, revealing a servant standing in the doorway, her exp
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Unseen Betrayal
The heavy scent of the roses in the Duke’s private garden surrounded Victoria as she paced the stone pathway. Her thoughts were swirling like the breeze that danced through the trees, brushing against her skin as if trying to calm her. But there was no escaping the storm inside her chest. Isabella’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, each repetition tightening the knot of uncertainty deep within her gut.The Duke belongs to me.The phrase rang through her head, louder than anything she had ever heard before. She had wanted the Duke. She had let herself believe that there was something—something real—between them. But now, faced with the cold reality of Isabella’s claim, she wasn’t sure where she stood anymore. The thought of losing him to someone so calculating, someone who knew him better than she ever would, made her feel powerless.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, and she shook her head, trying to push the intrusive thoughts away. She couldn’t let Isabella win. Not l
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Danger Approaches
Victoria barely had time to react before the Duke spun around, his eyes narrowing with a sense of urgency. The sound of the crash echoed in the stillness of the hallway, followed by frantic footsteps that grew louder with each passing second. Her pulse quickened as the Duke’s hand gripped her wrist, pulling her toward a nearby room.“Stay close to me,” he said, his voice low, edged with a tension that she had never heard before.Victoria’s mind raced. What was happening? The peaceful atmosphere of the Duke’s estate had been shattered, and now everything felt off-balance. She could hear muffled voices and shouting, the sounds of chaos coming closer. It was almost as though the very walls of the manor were closing in on them.“Is it Isabella?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as they hurried through the hallway, the Duke’s hand tight on her wrist.The Duke didn’t answer right away, his face tense as he led her down another corridor, away from the sounds of the chaos outside.
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Shattered Mask
Victoria’s heart hammered in her chest as the Duke entered the room, his presence commanding the space with an almost tangible weight. His jaw was clenched, his posture rigid with rage. The air between the three of them crackled with tension. Isabella, standing at the far end of the room, froze as if unsure whether to fight or flee.For a split second, Victoria found herself caught between the two figures before her. On one side, the Duke—her captor, her lover, and now, her protector. On the other, Isabella—once a trusted confidante, now an undeniable threat.Isabella’s lips curled into a mocking smile, though it faltered under the Duke’s intense gaze. “You don’t control me, Duke. You never have.”Victoria’s eyes flickered between the two of them. She could sense the underlying history between them, something darker than mere rivalry. Whatever Isabella was planning, she knew it wasn’t going to end well.The Duke’s lips tightened. “And you’ll learn that the hard way.”Victoria could se
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Unraveling Threads
The air felt thick with tension as the sound of footsteps grew louder outside the door. Victoria’s pulse quickened, her breath shallow and frantic. The Duke’s eyes flicked toward the servant, then back to her, his grip tightening on the weapon at his side."Stay quiet," he murmured in a low voice, his command firm. He took a step toward the door, his body blocking her view of the hallway outside. Victoria’s stomach twisted, a feeling of foreboding crawling up her spine. She felt like she was suffocating in this room, the walls closing in with every passing second.The servant stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide with fear. “Your Grace, the police… they’re demanding to speak to Lady Victoria.”Victoria’s mind raced. The police? Her body stiffened. She hadn't done anything illegal, but with everything that had transpired—the secrets, the lies, James’s death, Isabella’s manipulations—she couldn’t be sure of anything anymore. The situation had spiraled so far out of control that it felt
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Web Tightens
Victoria’s heart raced as Isabella’s cold fingers gripped her arm. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She had no idea how long Isabella had been in the shadows, manipulating everything, but the truth was undeniable now: Isabella had been pulling the strings all along.The room was chaos. Masked men stormed the manor, their movements swift and coordinated. The Duke, though powerful and deadly in his own right, was outnumbered and overpowered. Victoria’s mind spun as she tried to process what was happening. Everything was spiraling out of control.“Isabella,” Victoria breathed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and shock. “What are you doing here?”Isabella’s lips curled into a cruel smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “I’m doing what you failed to do, Victoria,” she replied, her tone dripping with venom. “I’m finishing what you started.”Victoria’s stomach twisted. The truth was impossible to ignore now. Isabella had always been a step ahead, playing both sides, co
Last Updated : 2025-04-11The Duchess's Desire The Unraveling
Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest as she was dragged through the dimly lit hallways of the manor. Her mind was a blur of conflicting emotions—fear, anger, confusion—but above all, a desperate need for control. The masked men, silent and forceful, had taken her without a word, their hold on her unyielding. They didn’t seem to care that she was struggling, that she was screaming for help, or that she was desperate to escape. Every step they took only deepened the feeling of helplessness gnawing at her soul.Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the Duke. What had happened to him? Was he still fighting Isabella, or had he been overpowered? She had to get back to him. She had to be there for him—if he still needed her.They reached a door at the end of the corridor, a heavy wooden structure adorned with intricate carvings. One of the men pulled it open, and with little ceremony, they shoved her inside. The moment she stumbled into the room, the door slammed shut behind her, and the l
Last Updated : 2025-04-11
Latest chapter
The Duchess's Desire Shadows behind the flame
"You’re unusually quiet tonight," the Duke said, his voice brushing against the silence like velvet against skin.Victoria stood by the tall window, arms folded, eyes lost in the smoky distance beyond the estate walls. The candlelight behind her flickered and danced on her ivory skin."Am I?" she replied flatly. "I suppose silence is safer now."The Duke took a step closer, his boots echoing on the marble floor. "Safer from me?"She turned around slowly, lips curled faintly. "Safer from everyone."Their gazes locked. There was heat there, thick enough to smother."Don’t pretend this hasn’t changed you," he said. "I’ve seen the way your hands tremble when no one’s watching. I’ve seen you drift away. You’re losing yourself to this war."Victoria exhaled, her voice bitter. "I already lost myself the moment James was thrown onto that porch like refuse. And you—” she paused, looking away, “You’re just another blade in the back I never saw coming."He flinched. "You still think I was involv
The Duchess's Desire Tangled Desires
The rain pattered gently on the manor roof, casting a somber rhythm across the candlelit drawing room where Victoria sat curled on a velvet chaise, her fingers trembling around a porcelain cup. The fire crackled, offering no comfort."He's late," she whispered."He's careful," came a new voice.Startled, Victoria turned. A stranger stood in the doorway, soaked from the storm, a scar etched across his jaw, and eyes like cold slate. He pulled off his gloves slowly, not breaking eye contact."Who are you?" Victoria asked, standing abruptly."Name's Lucien St. James. The Duke’s new business partner. Or at least, I was invited under that pretense.""The Duke mentioned no such thing.""He wouldn’t. But here I am."Before she could press further, the door behind Lucien opened again. The Duke entered, pausing at the sight of them."I see you've met," he said, closing the door behind him.Victoria narrowed her eyes. "What's going on?"Lucien smiled dryly. "Ask your Duke."The Duke strode in, r
The Duchess's Desire A New Threat
The soft murmurs of conversation drifted through the heavy curtains as the morning sun peeked through the narrow cracks in the window. Victoria had barely slept, her mind racing with the aftermath of the choice she had made. The echoes of Elena’s words still reverberated in her mind, but it was something else that tugged at her—a feeling, a presence, lurking just beyond her reach.She sat by the window, the cool morning breeze brushing against her skin, but her mind was elsewhere. The Duke’s stern expression haunted her. He had been right to question her decision, but now it was too late. She had made her choice.The door to the room creaked open, and Victoria’s thoughts were broken by the sound. She turned slowly, her eyes meeting those of a new face—an unfamiliar man dressed in dark clothing, his posture rigid, his expression calculating."Lady Victoria," he said, bowing slightly. His voice was deep, but there was an unsettling sharpness to it, like he was assessing every inch of he
The Duchess's Desire The Deal
The door creaked open, and the tension in the room thickened. Victoria’s eyes darted to Elena, who wore a slight smile, as if the arrival of whoever was outside was no surprise.Victoria’s pulse quickened. The footsteps were heavy, deliberate—someone important, someone dangerous. And the way Elena stood there, completely at ease, told Victoria that whatever was coming wasn’t something she could stop.The door swung fully open, revealing a man Victoria had never seen before. His broad shoulders and cold, calculating eyes told her everything she needed to know: he wasn’t here to make friends."Ah, there you are," Elena said smoothly, her voice calm, almost playful. "You’ve made it just in time."The man stepped into the room, his gaze immediately locking with Victoria’s. She could feel the weight of his stare, cold, assessing, like he was mentally stripping her bare."This is Viktor," Elena said, her tone casual. "He’s my... associate. He’s here to help us take care of things."Victoria
The Duchess's Desire The Unseen Hand
The door slammed shut with a resounding thud, startling Victoria and the Duke. They both turned, their bodies tense, as a woman entered the room, her presence undeniable. There, standing in the threshold, was Isabella’s sister, Elena Deveaurux.Victoria’s breath hitched as she took in the sight of her. Elena was everything Isabella wasn’t: composed, calm, with a quiet power that emanated from her like a shroud. Her dark eyes flickered over the room, assessing the situation with a sharpness that made Victoria uneasy. She was dressed in a simple black dress, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. But the coldness in her gaze was unmistakable."Elena," Isabella said, her voice laced with surprise but also something more—something that could almost be described as reluctance. "What are you doing here?"Elena didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she let her gaze linger on Victoria, studying her with a careful look. Then, she spoke, her voice low and measured. "I came to
The Duchess's Desire Shifting Alliances
Victoria stood by the window, her hands gripping the cold ledge as she gazed out at the sprawling estate. The wind outside had begun to pick up, rustling the trees in the distance, as though echoing the storm inside her mind. Every passing day seemed to pull her further into a web of deceit, betrayal, and calculated moves. Every move, every decision felt like it could lead her closer to her end or to the redemption she longed for.She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. The Duke entered the room, his face grim, the tension in his posture palpable. She could tell something was wrong. The faint echo of the door closing behind him seemed to seal them in, alone with whatever new chaos was about to unfold."Victoria," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight she hadn’t expected. "We have a problem."Her stomach twisted with anticipation. A problem. She was used to that word by now, but she didn’t expect him to say it with such concern. "What is it?" she asked, trying to keep her v
The Duchess's Desire A Game of Shadows
Victoria stood before the window, staring out at the darkness that had settled over the estate. The soft glow of candlelight flickered in the corners of the room, casting shadows that seemed to stretch like fingers across the walls. Her mind was heavy, weighed down by the constant tension that had been building over the past few days. Lord Thomas’s threats still echoed in her ears, the words haunting her even when she tried to shut them out. "You’ll regret this, Victoria," he had said, his voice laced with venom. "You’ll regret ever crossing me."She had tried to push the fear aside, but it clung to her like a second skin, impossible to shake. What did he mean by his final card? What did he have left to play?The Duke’s presence in the room brought a welcome distraction. His footsteps were soft, measured, but his energy was a stark contrast to the quiet dread that enveloped her. She turned, meeting his gaze as he entered. His eyes, usually so calm and steady, were shadowed with someth
The Duchess's Desire The Devil's Bargain
Victoria's heart raced in her chest, every instinct screaming at her to flee, to run from the man who had once been her husband. Lord Thomas stood before them, his eyes dark and full of malice, his posture stiff with anger. For a brief, fleeting moment, she wondered if she had truly underestimated him."Lord Thomas," she said again, her voice trembling only slightly, though she wasn’t sure whether it was from fear or the cold fury that boiled in her veins. She stepped forward, trying to make sense of the situation. "What is it you want now?"Lord Thomas gave a humorless chuckle, the sound devoid of any warmth. He turned to face her completely, his eyes piercing through her as if searching for something she couldn’t even name. His smile, twisted and sinister, sent a shiver down her spine. "I want what’s mine, Victoria," he spat, his voice venomous.The Duke, who had stepped beside her, his jaw clenched tightly, moved slightly in front of her, as if shielding her from Lord Thomas’s gaze
The Duchess's Desire The tides of betrayal
Victoria's breath caught in her throat as Lord Thomas’s words hung in the air, heavy with the threat they carried. She could see the anger simmering in his eyes, the barely contained fury that made the tension in the room unbearable. Her gaze flicked to the Duke, searching for any hint of what he might be thinking, but his expression remained inscrutable, like a stone wall."I don’t know what you think you’ve discovered, Thomas," the Duke said, his voice calm, but there was an edge to it that Victoria had never heard before. "But if this is about my dealings with Victoria, you’re mistaken. Whatever it is you think is happening, you're wrong."Lord Thomas let out a soft, humorless laugh, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer to the Duke. "I don’t think, Duke. I know." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Victoria before locking with the Duke’s. "You’ve been playing a dangerous game. And it’s time to end it."Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to process the situation
