CHAPTER 4

The man was part of the Night Scorpions, a group formed by the Duke and they are his specially trained assassin. They are in charge of protecting him from the shadow, track down someone or ridding the excess burden from the world. A total of 6 were stationed tonight around the camp hidden away, to make sure nothing was amiss.

The man stopped in-front of the biggest tent and told Claire to wait outside and went in first. He pushed the curtains aside and went in. Noticing the Duke was alone, he bowed and told him everything that happened and finished with informing him Claire was outside.

The duke paused for a few minutes before telling the man to bring her in. He once again bowed and left to bring Claire. 

Duke of Carlister, Killian Salvatore was a monster hidden under the gentlemanly face. He was a man with great power and influence in the King's court. He is also known for his friendship with King Ezlyn. The man never abused his power unnecessarily but he has a very low and thin line between patience and tolerance. 

He is known for his hot-temper and arrogance in the court but outside of it he was known for he gentlemanliness and heartlessness. 

A deadly combination.

A predator living in the midst of his prey.

Killian is quite surprised the sister of Viscount Stokenholme paid him a visit in the middle of the night, a few hours before he plans on attacking the household. He wondered if she knew of his plans. Never once had he met her, at least not after the ghastly night 12 years ago. 

"My Lord, Lady Claire Anne-Marie Stokenholme." As the man introduced her, Claire Bowed down.

"You may all leave us, the guards outside too." The man in the black, the attendants in the tent and the guards outside all disappeared in seconds

"Lord Salvatore, pardon my sudden visit at this time of night but I would like to discuss something with you."

Claire didn't have time to chit-chat. She needed to finish her business and get back to the mansion before sunrise.

"I don't believe we have met before Lady Stokenholme, so I doubt we both have any business to discuss."

"I doubt I would have had any chance to meet you since you are so popularly discussed and eyed by the majority of female population."

The night has been full of risks that night for Claire. From escaping through the hidden tunnel to meeting with one of the scorpions to talking back to the night. Killian gave her a hard stare which made her shrink a bit, not physically. She gulped hardly when she realised he had been looking at her very dangerously and unkindly.

"What kind of discussion should I be looking forward to?" his expression did not give away anything

"You… are stationed in this dark forest, at an ungodly time - when you are supposed to be sleeping – and I suppose you have plans to attack the mansion I live in tomorrow." His expression was cold "The mansion was my mother's and to this day no one but me knows of this and… I don't want any of my siblings to die but" she paused "my step-mother is another story. I haven't a clue why you would attack us tomorrow but I suppose it is because of my father."

Her father wasn't exactly a saint, everybody knew that.

"My family has no connection to Sylvie except for the control she has over everybody in the house, including the servant. I ask of you to not to kill my siblings or servants. They are not to be blamed for my father's action, not even Raymond."

Even with his cold heart he could feel her sincerity but it was not enough for the fire of vengeance in him to calm down. Her unrecognisable look in him was angering him too.

"The children pays for the crime their parents have not paid for. Your sibling, especially your brother Raymond was important to him and it is only fair you all pay for his crime."

"They didn't ask to be born into… this. They can't be punished for something they have no clue about."

He was unmoved by the little rant yet he kept on looking at her to try and figure her out. Some indication that show any recognition yet no matter how much he looked, he was not able to find anything other than a speck of something. He was unsure of what it was.

"If I do this, what do I get in return?"

"Anything you want!" she said hesitantly

"Anything… I want?"

"Anything reasonable you want." She rephrased it, knowing he could twist her words. He still can.

Claire felt chocked standing next to him. She felt like she had been next to him before, seen him before but nothing came up in her mind when she looked through. She has felt him before; the heat, the warmth, the fire.

"What I want will be decided when I come over, until then you can rest easy!"

He was quite surprised to find the eldest daughter from the household he was going to attack in a few hours was negotiating with him, even more surprised that she knew he was going to attack. Although he hated the fact that she did not recognise him, he vowed to make use of her part of the deal. He will think and plan carefully what to do with it. So, at the moment for the next few hours she could go back and rest easy, just like he told her.

As she was guided outside by his men, he looked at her retreating figure and he already knew what he wanted from her. So, he meticulously started planning what to do from the beginning.

Anything reasonable he wanted.