Page 69 of A Tale of Two Dukes

Time stops. Nothing more exists. This is my life now. Warm, languid, soothing. It’s a far cry from the waking nightmare that plagued me. Far more delicious than the frigid water that threatened to consume me. I almost welcome this nothingness.

Until everything goes black.

CHAPTER 28

William

My heart stutters as I force my horse into a fast gallop. Something is wrong. I feel it deep in my bones. Something even worse than my mate being kidnapped, that is. Having her ripped from me is bad enough, but whatever is happening to her makes my blood run cold.

Though I keep reaching out to the bond, I’m met with an odd resistance. My mate is still very much alive, and yet unable to be reached. It’s as if there’s a wall there, a veil I’m unable to breach.

What can render a bond useless that doesn’t involve death? As much as I want to pry, to force the bond to open back up, I choose to leave things alone. For now. It could very well be a side effect from the opium, but in case it’s something more serious, I don’t want to make matters worse.

Eventually, something will have to change, allowing her to open back up to me. I just have to wait for the chance. They can’t keep her drugged forever. Panic grips my insides as I lean forward and squeeze my calves, urging my stallion to bring me to her side as quickly as he can.

“Take me to her,” I whisper in his ear. “Bring me to my mate.”

As if he understands me, he tosses his head, neighing in agreement, before darting forward. In that moment, we are one, man and horse, but it’s still not fast enough. Not with my mate in the clutches of a madman.

With any luck, I’ll be able to rescue her before anything nefarious happens, before he forces himself onto her, but I don’t hold out much hope. There’s something wrong with Hugh, something that frightens me like nothing else does.

I should have been more careful, more on guard when it came to Catherine. How could I ignore the lust and hatred that blazed in his eyes when I played with her in front of everyone else? How could I have dismissed every interaction I saw through the bond? There’s an obsession there, one that goes beyond mere desire.

What was I thinking taking her to the pleasure gardens? She should have remained safely ensconced in my house until I knew all threats were defeated. But then, I got complacent, cocky even.

Yes, I was worried a visible mark would enrage Hugh and possibly make him want to kill her to harm me, but even then, I thought I’d be able to hear something, feel something. What’s the point of being able to sense every shift in her mood if I can’t use it to find her now? It was hubris to think my claiming mark would keep her safe from all harm.

I was wrong, and it’s an error I’ll spend the rest of my life paying for.

Sweat dots my brow as I race down side streets, keeping my focus on Catherine. Earlier, I could have sworn I felt her crying out for me, but that was more of a phantom sensation than anything I can base on facts. I don’t want to miss any chance of communicating with her, even as Hugh’s house looms before me.

Though I know I should reconvene with the others, I just don’t feel as if I have the time to waste while they talk amongst themselves. Knowing where Hugh lives, it seems foolish not to at least check things out first. Besides, with the fury that slithers through my veins, it won’t take me long to dispatch of the foul demon, even if it’s with only my two hands.

His house stands on the outskirts of London, bleak, worn down, and in stark contrast to the bright cheery colors all around. The perfect house for a perfect villain. Tying my stallion to a nearby post, I creep around, looking for any signs of life.

Everything is still, as if the very grounds hold their breath. As much as I want to storm in and take my mate, I have to be smart about this. Scenting the air, I look for any clues, but find nothing. Could it be they never made it to the house?

I go along the side, my nose scrunching as I take in a familiar scent. What the devil is Whiteport doing here? Last I knew, he was meeting with the others. Following the trail, I happen upon a side door, one that has certainly seen better days.

As I move to grab the handle, it flies open, revealing the aforementioned duke. Pulling back, I spear him with a glare, the hairs on the back of my neck raising. “You better have a damned good explanation.”

Brushing my concerns aside, he closes the door behind him. “You’re not the only one with contacts. While you were busying yourself, I made good use of mine, tracking the blackguard down to his lair. He does fairly well for someone who wasn’t supposed to exist.”

No hint of deceit wafts from him as he tells me this, and in truth, I have enough to worry about without lumping my closest friends into the mix. With a sigh, I slam my fist into a nearby tree, anger clouding my vision.

“I suppose no sign of her?” I grumble, fear for my mate gripping my heart.

“Not even a whiff. What I did find, however, is far more telling and a bit chilling.”

Pulling documents from his coat, he hands them to me so I can skim them. They do indeed make my blood run cold. “Where did you find this?”

“His study. For one so prone to treason, he certainly does poorly at hiding the evidence.”

“Or he knew we’d be prying into his affairs and left them for us to find. But what is he playing at?” Once more, I glance at the papers, noting the detail in which he planned to execute the Crown Prince.

These are the same crimes his brother hanged for. Could it be this one was the mastermind, and the deceased was the puppet? Either way, there’s no saving Hugh now. None of this helps the more pressing matter, however.

“Do the servants know anything?”