Elara's POV
We rode through the night like death was chasing us.
Because it was.
I clung to the saddle, my entire body aching from hours on horseback. The duke had put me on a horse the moment we fled the inn, and we hadn't stopped since. Behind us, torches from the Emperor's riders flickered in the distance, always following, never quite catching up.
But never falling behind either.
"How much farther?" I gasped, my throat raw from the cold air.
"We're here." The duke's voice cut through the wind.
I looked up and my breath caught.
Shadowmere Castle rose from the darkness like something from a nightmare. Massive black stone walls climbed toward the sky, surrounded by jagged mountains covered in snow. Towers pierced the clouds. Even from a distance, I felt the weight of it—ancient, imposing, designed to keep the world out.
Or keep something in.
We thundered across a bridge, and heavy gates swung open. Guards in black armor lined the walls, bows drawn, ready to defend. The moment we passed through, the gates slammed shut with a boom that echoed like thunder.
Safe. For now.
I nearly fell off the horse. My legs had gone numb hours ago. Strong hands caught me before I hit the ground—the duke, his touch still impossibly warm even through his gloves.
"Easy," he said. "You did well."
"I can barely feel my legs."
"You'll adjust." He steadied me, then turned to Captain Roan who'd ridden beside us the whole way. "Status?"
"The Emperor's men stopped at the border of your territory, my lord. They won't cross. Not yet." Roan's expression was grim. "But they're setting up camp. They plan to wait us out."
"Let them wait." The duke's voice was cold. "This castle has survived sieges before."
He guided me toward the entrance. Servants appeared from nowhere, all wearing black, all bowing deeply. But none of them looked at me. They kept their eyes down, like I was something dangerous.
"My lord," an older woman stepped forward. She had kind eyes and gray hair pulled back in a bun. "Your chamber is prepared. And the lady's quarters are ready as well."
"Thank you, Mira." The duke's voice softened slightly when he spoke to her. "This is Lady Elara. She'll need your assistance."
Mira finally looked at me, and I saw something unexpected in her expression. Not fear. Not pity.
Curiosity.
"Of course, my lord." She curtsied to me. "My lady, if you'll follow me?"
The duke's hand tightened on my arm for just a second. "Mira is trustworthy. You can speak freely with her."
Then he released me and walked away, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
I watched him go, this stranger who'd saved my life, made a deal with me, revealed his curse—and still wore that silver mask.
"My lady?" Mira's gentle voice pulled me back. "You must be exhausted. Let me show you to your chambers."
I followed her through corridors that seemed to go on forever. Everything was dark stone and flickering torches. Cold. Imposing. Exactly what a cursed duke's castle should look like.
"Here we are." Mira opened a door to reveal a large bedroom. A fire crackled in the fireplace. A massive bed with dark curtains dominated one wall. And—thank God—a actual bathtub in the corner, already filled with steaming water.
"I thought you might want to wash the road dust off," Mira said with a small smile.
I almost cried from relief. "You're an angel."
She laughed softly. "Hardly, my lady. But I try to be kind." She moved to help me out of my travel-stained dress. "The duke doesn't bring many people here. In fact, you're the first bride who's actually made it to the castle alive."
I froze. "What?"
"Oh!" Her eyes widened. "I didn't mean—I'm sorry, that came out wrong. The others... well, they supposedly died on the journey. But the duke always returned alone." She lowered her voice. "Between you and me, I never believed the stories. The duke isn't what people say."
I thought about the way he'd fought the assassins. How he'd protected me even though killing hurt him. How his curse burned with every death.
"No," I agreed quietly. "He's not."
Mira helped me into the bath, and I nearly groaned from how good the hot water felt. For a few minutes, I just soaked, letting the warmth seep into my frozen muscles.
"Mira?" I asked. "Can I trust you?"
She paused while folding my dirty dress. "The duke trusts me. That's all I can say."
"He told me about the curse. About how his touch hurts people."
Mira nodded slowly. "I've seen it. Once, a servant girl tried to comfort him after a particularly hard battle. She touched his hand. She screamed for an hour before the pain stopped." Her expression turned sad. "He hasn't let anyone touch him since. Until you, apparently."
"Why doesn't it hurt me?"
"I don't know, my lady. But I've served the duke for five years. I've never seen him allow anyone to touch him. Never seen him remove his gloves. The fact that he does with you..." She met my eyes. "That means something. Something important."
After my bath, Mira dressed me in a simple but warm gown and braided my damp hair. Then she hesitated.
"My lady, there's something you should know. The duke's chamber is at the end of the east corridor. But there are other rooms you might want to see. Rooms that might answer questions you have."
"What rooms?"
"The previous brides' chambers. The duke never lets anyone enter them. But..." She pulled a key from her pocket. "I think you should see for yourself what's inside."
My heart raced. "Won't I get in trouble?"
"The duke told me you could be trusted. That means you have the right to know the truth." She pressed the key into my palm. "Third door on the left in the west wing. I'll stand guard while you look."
The room was exactly as Mira described. I unlocked the door with shaking hands and stepped inside.
It was like walking into a museum of lives paused mid-breath.
Trunks sat neatly in the corner, packed and ready to travel. Dresses hung in the wardrobe—different sizes, different styles, like each woman had left in a hurry. And on the desk...
Letters.
My hands trembled as I picked up the first one.
"My dearest Duke Kael,
I am safe in Valdoria now, just as you promised. The gold you provided has given me a new start. My family believes I'm dead, which breaks my heart, but I understand why it must be this way. Thank you for saving me from a fate worse than death.
Forever grateful,Lady Celeste (Bride Three)"
I grabbed another letter.
"To the Reaper of Shadowmere,
I'm writing from Thessaly, where I've opened a small shop with the coins you gave me. People here don't know I was supposed to be a political pawn. They just see a merchant woman making her way. You gave me a life I never could have had. Thank you.
May the gods protect you,Bride Five (I prefer not to use my real name for safety)"
There were seven letters total. Seven women who were supposed to be dead.
All alive. All free. All grateful.
The duke hadn't lied. He really had saved them.
But these letters raised new questions. Why go through such elaborate fakes? Why risk his reputation? And most importantly—
"Find what you were looking for?"
I spun around. The duke stood in the doorway, still wearing his mask, his arms crossed.
My heart hammered. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snoop, Mira said—"
"I know what Mira said. I told her to show you." He stepped into the room. "You needed proof that I wasn't lying about the brides."
"Why save them?" I held up the letters. "You could have just refused to marry them. Or sent them back."
"Refusing the Emperor's brides is treason. Sending them back means their families get executed for failing to control their daughters." His voice was flat, emotionless. "Staging their deaths was the only way to free them without consequences."
"But your reputation—"
"Is exactly what I need it to be. A monster. Feared. Avoided." He moved closer. "Fear keeps people away. Distance keeps them safe from my curse. If everyone thinks I'm a killer, no one tries to get close enough to get hurt."
I looked at the letters again. "These women cared about you. They're grateful."
"They're alive. That's all that matters."
"What about me?" The question burst out before I could stop it. "Are you going to fake my death too? Send me away with gold and a new identity?"
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he reached up and—slowly, deliberately—removed one glove.
"No," he said softly. "You're different."
"Because your curse doesn't hurt me."
"Because you're the first person in ten years who's looked at me like I'm human." He held out his bare hand. "Because when you touch me, the curse weakens instead of strengthens. Because you're from another world with knowledge that could change everything."
I stared at his outstretched hand. "What are you asking?"
"Stay. Help me break this curse. Help me find out why you were brought here." His ice-blue eyes met mine. "In return, I'll protect you from the Emperor, from your father, from anyone who tries to hurt you. And when it's over—when we have answers—I'll help you decide if you want to go home or build a new life here."
"That's a dangerous promise."
"I'm a dangerous man." He stepped closer. "But I think you already knew that."
My hand moved before my brain could catch up. I placed my palm against his.
The moment we touched, warmth flooded through me. And on his chest—visible through his partially open shirt—the curse mark glowed faintly, then faded. Just a little. But enough to see.
"It's working," I breathed. "Your curse is actually weakening."
"I know." His fingers curled around mine. "That's why you're not leaving. That's why the Emperor wants you dead." His voice dropped. "You're the key to breaking me free. And that terrifies everyone who wants to keep me trapped."
Before I could respond, a bell rang—sharp and urgent.
The duke's entire body went rigid.
"What is that?" I asked.
"The alarm." He released my hand and strode to the window. I followed.
Below, in the courtyard, guards scrambled. And beyond the castle walls, I saw them.
Torches. Hundreds of them. The Emperor's army had arrived, and they weren't camping anymore.
They were surrounding the castle.
The duke turned to me, his expression hidden behind the mask but his voice deadly serious.
"The siege has begun."