---- 418.


    SUSPICIOUS ALLIANCE NARRATOR Katherine carefully unwrapped it, revealing more as she went.


    She spread it out over the mattress in front of her.


    "It looks like a location, maybe somewhere in the realm," the Duchess examined the finely painted markings and illustrations on the ancient parchment.


    The irregr, worn edges gave the impression that it had been torn from a muchrger map.


    "I dont recognize this ce...


    Then again, its not like Ive been out much." I do," Elliot said suddenly, reaching over and shifting the piece on the pale sheets.


    "Ive been here.


    Its the mountain pass between the Duchy of Thesio and mine, a grim and dangerous ce." Elliot recognized it from certain details.


    Elliot, look, it seems to mark a path within those mountains," Katherine traced her finger along a red line snaking through the drawing, though it was iplete.


    That ce is too dangerous.


    I dont know why, but there are some of His Majestys specters roaming around.


    I barely escaped one," Elliot frowned.


    "Then why is it marked here? Where does this map lead?" Katherines questions hung in the air.


    ---- They didnt know, but the answers were likely hidden within that small journal the Duchess had to decipher.


    Thest thing they could have imagined was that a dangerous vampire was right behind the secrets their witch ancestors had buried.


    see ONE MONTH LATER.


    NARRATOR Things were settling in at Everharts ducal castle.


    Everyone was adapting to their roles, refining what didnt work and recing it with something new and reliable.


    Freya had recovered thanks to the willingly given blood from the she-wolves She spent her days embroidering and keeping a close eye on Lavinia, teaching her how to be a properdy.


    Everything seemed calmtoo calmuntil one afternoon...


    Brenda sent me a secret note.


    She wants to meet in private," Elliot confessed to Katherine, handing her the paper over his desk.


    The Duchess examined it, her lips curling in distaste.


    "What does that woman want? Do you think shes about to make her move?" she asked, cing the note back on the table.


    "Yes, I have a feeling shes looking for an alliance," Elliot nodded." ---- She knows that a widow, even if she remains a Duchess and has the next male heir, is still vulnerable." That was the reality.


    The other duchies would soon set their sights on hernd, and internal wars for upation were amon threat.


    "Is she pregnant with the Dukes child?" Katherine mused.


    "That must be the case; otherwise, she wouldnt have dared to kill him." T think we can find out," Elliot said, rising to his feet.


    "You''re going to meet with her?" Katherines words dripped with jealousy.


    Elliot smirked, tempted to tease her, but the dangerous gleam in the witchs eyes made him think twice before joking, "Dont be silly, baby, youreing with me.


    Whatever deal she wants to make, she''ll have to say it in front of my representative." Funny," Katherine scoffed, patting his chest at his yful tone.


    Elliot kissed her deeply, their mutual desire as wild as ever.


    "Do you think its dangerous?" she asked breathlessly against his lips.


    "Baby, your husband is dangerous.


    And besides, havent you been studying that witches journal? The other day, you almost set the whole room on fire," he teased, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose.


    Katherine huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but her fingers still