Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 54: Silver platter

Chapter 54: Silver platter

"I will protect you with my life, even if it is from afar. Your path is my path, and your dream is my dream. If you truly refuse to give me a second chance, then I will help you find your happy ending with Hezekiah," he vowed, his voice heavy with sincerity. Belle’s heart betrayed her, skipping a beat at his heartfelt words, but her mind rebelled, fueling her anger. Raising her eyebrows in disbelief, she let out a bitter laugh.

"Do not take me for a fool," she retorted sharply. "Do you think I can’t see through your plan? You think sweet words will sway me, that I will suddenly change my mind? We both know you can’t stand the thought of me being happy with another man. You would rather see me miserable." Her smirk carried the triumph of someone who believed they had exposed a hidden truth, but Quinn’s expression remained unchanged, calm, and unreadable.

"You are right," he admitted, his voice steady. "I can’t stand seeing you happy with another man." He took a deliberate step closer, his presence commanding. "But you know what else I can’t stand?" He paused, his voice low, charged with an icy threat. "Another man hurting you."

Belle’s laughter broke through the tense air, mocking and disbelieving. "Don’t worry," she said with a bitter edge, "you will be the only man to ever hurt me. That position is yours alone."

Quinn’s response was a chilling smile, the kind she despised most. Leaning forward, his gaze darkened, his expression like a storm brewing on the horizon. "As it should be," he murmured, his tone almost menacing. "So try not to get hurt by another man, or I will serve his head to you on a silver platter, even if it’s Hezekiah."

His words, laced with ominous promise, made Belle’s resolve falter. Her palms grew clammy, and her knees felt weak under the weight of his gaze. Fear stirred in her chest, but she refused to show it. "Why do you care?" She demanded, her voice trembling despite her attempt at defiance. His actions were maddeningly contradictory, one moment, she was nothing to him, the next, she was his only priority.

"You are not nothing to me, Belle," he replied, reading her mind and added, "I will kill anyone who dares hurt you."

Her breath caught in her throat. How did he know to answer the question she had in mind? Only vampires and the pure bred had that ability, including the witches but he was neither, so how come? Her eyes widened with suspicion, her voice shaking as she asked, "You... you can read my thoughts?"

Quinn’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. "Don’t compare me to those vile creatures," he sneered. "I don’t know how, but it’s like your thoughts speak to me directly."

Belle instinctively stepped back, her mind racing. "What... what are you?" She stammered, panic seeping into her voice. "How can you do that? How is this possible?"

"I don’t know," he admitted with a shrug, as though the mystery didn’t trouble him in the slightest. "But if anything, it proves we are true mates." His tone shifted, lightening as he added with a flirtatious smirk, "It’s destiny."

Quinn leaned forward, his intent clear, but Belle dodged swiftly, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and frustration. She glared at him, her emotions a whirlwind, her mind desperate for answers, and escape.

"Are you not the least bit worried about how you can read my mind? Something is wrong!" Belle flung her hands up in frustration, her voice edged with panic. She paced as the thought gnawed at her, her eyes narrowing at him accusingly. But Quinn simply shrugged, leaning back with an air of nonchalance.

"My only priority is you," he replied, his voice calm, almost soothing. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Besides, I can no longer read your thoughts."

Her pacing ceased as she dropped her hands and raised her head to meet his gaze. "Did you do something to me? What magic are you using on me?" She demanded, her tone sharp and filled with disdain. The idea of him resorting to magic to invade her mind sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through her.

Quinn smirked, unaffected by her fury. "That’s a vile accusation," he said playfully, his light-heartedness only fueling her anger.

"I hate you so much!" She sneered, her voice trembling. Before he could reach out to her, she turned on her heel and stormed off, her steps quick and purposeful.

Watching her retreating figure, Quinn couldn’t help the smirk that lingered on his face. Her hatred only seemed to fuel his obsession, drawing him deeper into the intoxicating pull she had over him. The more she loathed him, the more he longed to claim her. She consumed his every thought, and he wasn’t afraid to lose himself in her entirely. Vulnerability to her wasn’t a weakness, it was a price he willingly paid.

And as for his earlier ability to hear her thoughts? He suspected it was tied to their bond, something rare and uncharted even among werewolves. Though he’d never heard of mind-reading being possible, he felt no alarm over it. Instead, he saw it as another sign of destiny favoring him, another thread weaving their fates together. But her reaction puzzled him. Why was she so hostile to the idea? Could it be that she feared him knowing the truth of her feelings?

"The moon keeps aiding me," he muttered under his breath, his smirk growing. Destiny, it seemed, had taken his side, even when he didn’t deserve it. Regardless of her hatred, he vowed to protect her, whether she accepted him or not.

"Come out," Quinn said suddenly, his expression hardening as he turned toward the shadows. A figure emerged, stepping into the light with a calm, steady gait.

It was Hezekiah’s personal guard, Steve. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sword strapped to his back, his expression unreadable as he approached Quinn.

"I never taught you to sneak around like a thief," Quinn remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, but Steve remained unbothered, his stoicism unshaken.

"The king has requested that you train Miss Belle," Steve stated flatly. "He wants her to be capable of defending herself."

A faintly amused smile curved Quinn’s lips. "And has he told her about this decision?" He inquired, his tone laced with curiosity. Steve ignored the question entirely and handed Quinn a scroll.

"It is a royal order," the guard replied curtly before turning on his heel and leaving.

Quinn glanced at the scroll in his hand, shaking his head in bemusement. "That stoic soldier... he’s improving," he muttered, unrolling the parchment. He scanned its contents, confirming what he already suspected. Kia had been looking for him for this reason alone, though Quinn hadn’t expected the king to trust him with something so personal. Kia must have known that assigning anyone else would only put Belle in danger.

"Well, someone’s about to hate me even more over the next few weeks," Quinn said with a grin, his excitement palpable. Without another word, he left the garden, anticipation building with each step.

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