---- 320.


    DANGER IN THE DARK KATHERINE I tried to crawl back to the safety of the forest with onest desperate breath.


    "Aahh!" I screamed at the sharp sting when the sole of his shoe pressed against my hands, bound tightly with rope.


    I felt the tiny bones in my fingers creak, on the verge of breaking.


    "HELP! ELLIOT! SOMEONE...


    HELP!" "Shut the hell up, damn it! You re getting on my nerves!" "Just finish her off already! The boss said" "Shut up and dont tell me what to do! Come here, talk now or die, bitch!" He grabbed my bound hands, yanking me like a rag doll.


    Ipanted heavily, my vision blurred with tears.


    I tried to fight, though my strength was fading fast.


    The icy de of a dagger pressed against my throat.


    "Tell me right now, who told you we were stealing? Are you working for someone else, trying to screw up our business? Speak!" "Go to hell...


    you bastard," I spat in his face, hanging on my knees.


    Blood and saliva sttered across his murderous expression.


    "I''m so sorry, my love, I''m so sorry," I sobbed in my mind.


    Iknew he was going to kill me to silence me, whether I gave him the answer he wanted or not.


    ---- Besides, I didnt work for anyone.


    I didnt even understand what was happening...


    "You brought this on yourself, you filthy little Duchess." I felt him tighten his grip on the dagger''s handle.


    A firm hold, ready to make a clean, swift cut.


    I closed my eyes, resigned, only regretting that I was leaving my daughter alone.


    In that moment of death, with darkness as my witness and the scarce moonlight peeking through the stormy clouds, the sound of galloping hooves filled my ears.


    Was I dreaming? I must be.


    "Its the Duke!" "Damnit!" My eyes flew open as the pressure on my throat eased.


    Isaw him as if in slow motion, emerging from the midnight mist, between the twisted trees of the foresta white steed carrying an untamed man.


    Itsted just a second, just a blink, before the de was about to slice my throat.


    The swift horse passed right behind my attacker.


    Hot blood sttered like a fountain across my face, my neck, my clothes.


    Tlooked up in horror and saw half of theborers face slide down, his head split in two, his brain spilling into the open air.


    His eyes still held the terrified expression from the moment the Dukes sword ended his life.


    The corpse copsed before me with a dull thud.