The broken Princess Reborn to be His Duchess

Betrayal

Catalina POV:

I was trembling as I made it back to my room. And no matter how much I breathed in and out through my nose, there was no relief for the thundering in my heart. I shut the door behind me, leaning back against it and closing my eyes. I couldn't stop thinking about Spider. About the way his hands made me feel jolts of electricity that had my body yearning for his. I couldn't do this. I couldn't make the same mistake that I did before. I had chosen love before. And my eyes shut as the cold images flitted through my mind like a graceful dancer on her toes. Stuck in my head I had failed to notice that someone was in my room. Someone was standing behind the heavy curtains like a ghost watching me.

I stood up dusting my skirts when he barreled into me, shoving me hard against the wall. The scented oils clattering to the grounds by the mere touch of my dress. Pain sharp and angry spasmed through my head, and when my eyes opened I couldn't believe them. "Alaric?" my voice was soft with shock, "how are you here?" The King said that he was confined to his chambers that he was hill. My eyes glanced at the bandages across his temple, "Catalina," he said my name in a way that he had never done so before, at least not in my past life. It was filled with lust and passion and a hint of possessiveness.

I tried to shove him off me, "what are you doing?" I asked trying to push myself out of his grip, but he leaned closer, pressing his body tightly against mine. He was so close I could taste the warmth of his breath on my lips. "Did you really think you would leave me like this?" He asked, and I felt my temper rise, "get off me!" I shoved him again, and this time he stumbled backwards, his grip loosening enough for me to get to the door. "Where do you think you're going?" He demanded grabbing for my dress and pulling me closer to him. His arm wrapped around my abdomen, he pressed me firmly against him, as his nose pressed into the nook of my neck. I raised my foot in desperation and brought it down hard against his.

He yelped in pain as he stumbled back on to the bed, I took the opportunity to propel myself forward towards the door, grabbing for the handle and pushing myself out and straight into the scent of lavender and mint. "Spider," I breathed and pushed myself quickly away from him, he looked at me anger burning in his eyes as he grabbed my wrist. "Why do you look like this?" He asked, his voice cold, I touched my hair which was slightly disheveled, the back of my dress was torn and the sleeve was falling off my shoulder.

"I-I-" I did not know what to say. Anything I would say would have me locked away in the dungeons. The state of me must be alarming and there could only be one conclusion. I had brought dishonour on my name and my family. I opened my mouth to beg as Alaric stumbled out, eyes fuming, "you think you can leave me!?" He growled, his hands wrapping around my wrist and pulling me into him. In his rage he didn't even notice Spider there or maybe his presence was so insignificant to him.

"Please," I managed, my voice catching in my throat as Alaric pulled my dress further, ripping it lower. Spider unsheathed his sword and had it Alaric's neck before I could even say another word. Alaric's eyes turned on the guard, pure anger, "how dare you!? I will have your head if you don't lower your sword!" My heart was thundering as I tried to cover myself.

Spider removed his helmet and I was met with the most handsome face that I had ever seen. His jaw was chiseled by the Gods, sharp and highlighting his beautiful pink cupid bow lips. His cheek bones were high drawing my attention to his beautiful ocean blue eyes. Alaric dropped his hand from my body and I hurried away from him. Covering myself and crouching to protect what little dignity I had left. "You," breathed out Alaric, "but it can't be—" Spider only pressed his sword deeper against Alaric's throat, beads of blood started to bubble up.

"Please," I said, "Spider, I don't want you to get into trouble, please let him go." Spider's eyes glanced at me with a rage filled fury that made me take a tentative step back, "you want me to let this monster go?" He asked, his voice steely cold. I stared at him, holding my breath. He held my stare for a long time before he removed his sword. "Run along little prince and one word about this and I will gut you like a squealing pig!" Alaric stumbled away without a second look back. I pushed past Spider into my room, my face red from the humiliation that he had just witnessed.

He followed, shutting the door behind me and locking it. "What are you doing?" I asked fear coating my words as I realized the situation before me, "you owe me," he said, and my heart thundered, "what do you want?" I asked trying to keep my voice steady. "I have little but once I am married I can—"

"You think I want your husband's gold?" His eyes were still filled with that horrible rage. "What do you want then?" I asked quietly, "I want a kiss from you," his words should have made me fall on my knees and beg but I felt this strange jolt of electricity in me, this pooling in my core. "I can't give you that." I raised my chin to him and he smirked stepping closer, "and if I take it?" He asked, his hands were on my face now, his thumb brushing my bottom lip, "then you would be no better than Alaric." He let go and his eyes flashed with more rage.

"So do you love him?" He asked, "how can you ask me that?" I snapped, "because all you have wanted to do is protect him! Last night, now!" I took a step towards him angrily, invading his space, "I do not love him!" He grabbed my chin, lowering his handsome face to mine, his dark hair falling across his brow, "then prove it!" I scowled at him and before I could lash him with my words. His lips pressed into mine and his tongue entered my mouth, at first I was shocked but the electricity between our lips had me opening my mouth to him and letting him in, his hands gripped my waist and I let out a soft moan which only made him dig his fingers deeper into my dress.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were no longer filled with rage but a kind of lust filled look mixed with something else. "I want you," he growled under his breath, "I can't." I was breathless and my head was spinning as my heart thundered but not with fear this time. He took a step back, nodding and before he could turn away I grabbed him and kissed him again. "I will run away with you." His eyes widened, "you would leave the title and your husband behind?" He asked, "I will leave the Duke and I will be with you."

The naivety in my words had his eyes softening, "and so all it takes is a man to kiss you and you unfold?" His words shocked me and I took a step back, "what do you mean?" He scoffed and turned around and left.