Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
She grabbed his arm, digging in her nails. “He beats me, Damien. He drinks and blames me for our lack of children. He forces me to do the cruelest of things in the bedchamber.”
How convenient. Now she wanted to cast her husband as the villain to justify her plan. “Why have you never mentioned this before?”
“What could you do? He is miles away. You are here.”
Willa was lying. She had to be. “You claim to be a powerful witch, so then why have you not used your gifts to stop him?”
“I have my reasons.”
He stared, the moonlight pouring over her fine cheekbones and heart-shaped lips.
“If he dies, the estate will go to a fourth cousin. I would lose everything, and at the moment, I am the only source of income for my family here. I was biding my time to find a way to avoid leaving us all in the street. Now I have the solution: you.”
Damien felt torn. Perhaps she was telling the truth; however, her words smelled of more scheming. Had this been her plan all along? Lure him in with her beauty and then have him play a role in taking over her husband’s fortune? Willa knew Damien’s secret, so perhaps she intended to hold it over his head. A man she can control. He did not want to believe she was capable of such treachery, but the facts spoke for themselves. She wanted to kill her husband for his money. How much more treacherous can one get?
Not wanting to argue further, he said, “I need time to think it over, Willa.”
“I leave in two days. You must send word before then.”
She grabbed her dress and slid it over her head. She tightened the laces up the front.
“Allow me to help you with that.”
“No. I can manage on my own.” She slid on her slippers. “Two days, Damien. And do not break my heart.”
He nodded and watched her walk away. It was the last time he would ever see her beautiful face intact.
Several months later, he received a letter. The desperation and bleakness of her situation poured off the pages. She claimed to be pregnant with his child. She pleaded with Damien to come and help her. The beatings were becoming increasingly more brutal. Her husband suspected the baby was not his.
Another scheme meant to bring him to her? Or the truth?
Damien decided at the very least, he had to see her. He packed his supplies, saddled his horse, and arrived three weeks later.
The estate was grand and opulent, filled with art and fine furniture. The gardens seemed to go on forever.
Damien rang the bell, asking for Willa, but the butler informed him the master was out and the mistress was not receiving guests. He stormed inside and found her lying in her bed. Her face was unrecognizable, swollen and black and blue. She was barely breathing.
Damien felt his beast rile and his heart sink. She had been telling the truth.
“Willa?” He took her cold, battered hand. “What did he do to you?”
“You came.” She coughed with a sputter.
Damien did not know who to be more furious with, himself or the monster who did this. “I am going to take you away from here.”
She slid her hand over her stomach. “He poisoned me with something, and I could not fight back. He took my power, Damien. He took my baby, too.”
Damien pulled down the blankets to lift her. Blood was everywhere. “Get the physician!” he yelled to the servants.
“They will not bring him,” she muttered. “The servants fear my husband, and he’s ordered them to let me die.”
“Then I will take you to one.”
“It is too late.” She closed her eyes, wheezing. “Why did you not write me?”
“I—I do not know. I was a coward, and I did not understand your situation.”
“I loved you, but you did not trust me, and now our baby is dead. You are just as guilty as he, if not more.” Her breathing became erratic and choppy. “Damien Greystone, from this moment on, you will walk the earth, tormented by this day forever, never knowing the blessing of love again. That world will be closed to you. Anything you care for will die as a reminder of what you did to me.”
She closed her eyes and let out one final breath.
After that, everything was a blur. The beast came out to deal with the servants who had done nothing while Willa was poisoned, beaten, and bleeding. A few hours later, the duke returned, and Damien dealt with him, too.
The swift revenge had felt wrong, because her husband deserved to suffer, but Damien killed him anyway. He buried Willa in the garden under a beautiful cherry blossom tree.
Weeks later, Damien returned home and told his father what had happened, thinking nothing about the curse until his father died three days later. After that came his cousins, his uncles, his aunts, his best friend, and everyone else he cared for, including minor acquaintances he was fond of. The town claimed it to be a plague, but Damien knew; the witch had her revenge, and he deserved the pain he would endure for centuries to come.