Chapter 261
261
With a careless flick, Duke threw back the blanket-and froze.
That vivid splash of crimson, blooming against the stark white sheets like winter plum blossoms on snow, made his eyes narrow.
His mind betrayed him instantly, dragging him back into the fevered haze of the night before. The taste of her breath, the desperate way her nails raked down his back, the primal claim in every gasp-Carmen beneath him, the bond between them thrumming until it burned through bone and blood.
The corner of his mouth curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
Reaching for his phone, he dialed her number, already imagining the ways he might tease her, coax her, push at the edges of her composure until she snapped and said his name like a plea.
But the call didn’t go through.
He tried again. And again.
Still nothing.
His smile thinned into a sharp line. A cold laugh rumbled in his chest.
Carmen, you’re bold-using me and then vanishing like the wind? Do you think your mate is someone you can just discard?
His wolf bristled, pacing behind his ribs. She’s ours. She can run, but she can’t hide.
“Mia’s at the Duskgrave estate,” he murmured darkly. “Let’s see where you think you can run now,”
At the same time, life at the Duskgrave estate had been unusually quiet-and blissful-for Riley,
Most days were spent in the sunlit sitting room, embroidery hoop in hand, her thoughts full of the piece she was determined to finish soon.
At first, she would wake early, eager to prepare breakfast for Lucien-especially the
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cilantro-laden broth noodles he favored. But Lucien, ever protective of her, forbade her from rising so early, his voice firm but his gaze full of warmth that melted her resolve every time.
So, Riley had surrendered to his will, allowing herself the luxury of sleeping until the sunlight woke her.
This morning, Lucien had already left for his duties, the Alpha prince’s scent still faint in the air. She sat at the table alone, eating her breakfast when Mia approached with a gentle smile.
Miss Riley, I’ll be taking a day off tomorrow,” Mia announced.
Riley tilted her head. “Where are you going?”
It’s Garmen’s birthday,” Mia said fondly. “It’s been too long since we’ve sat down ogether, just the two of us.”
At the mention of Carmen, Riley’s eyes lit up. “Then let’s celebrate together! We hould have longevity noodles. When she’s done with her classes tonight, let’s go pick her up.”
Mia’s smile warmed. “Alright.” She reached for her phone. “I’ll message her now.”
Carmen was sprawled across her dorm bed, staring at the ceiling.
Moon and stars above-how had she ended up tangling with Duke?
Yes, he was devastatingly handsome, but that didn’t excuse her from losing every shred of self-control. The memory of her drunken self clinging to him, taunting him-it made her want to bury herself in a hole.
Her phone chimed.
It was a message from Riley:
[Carmen, we’ll pick you up after class tonight]
Carmen frowned. Why the sudden escort? Surely they weren’t bringing her to the Duskgrave estate-if she ran into Duke there, she’d die of embarrassment.
[Pick me up for what? Where are we going?) she typed back.
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[To a restaurant. Longevity noodles.] came the reply.
She blinked. [Longevity noodles? Riley, your birthday already passed.]
Across the estate, Riley let out a laugh, showing Mia the message.
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“This girl’s been so buried in her studies she forgot her own birthday,” Riley said.
Mia chuckled. “She takes after you-quiet, disciplined, never giving me trouble. Always focused, always determined.”
Riley nodded. Carmen’s beauty was matched only by her heart, and she had worked hard ever since she’d been admitted to Ashmoor University. Riley only wished she’d never be taken advantage of for her kindness.
[Silly girl, it’s your birthday tomorrow. You forgot?] Riley sent back.
Carmen stared at the screen. Oh. She had forgotten.
Well, spending her birthday with Riley sounded perfect. She typed back: [Alright, see you tonight.]
The thought lifted her mood instantly, pushing away the awkward memories of last night. So she’d slept with her “gay” mate-so what? It wasn’t as though he’d been passive; in fact, Duke had been more relentless than her. Her body still ached from it.
No one took advantage of anyone, she told herself. If anything, I was generous enough not to reject a stir-stick like him.
But even thinking of him sent an odd shiver down her spine-not disgust exactly, but a raw awareness, like the echo of his scent tangled with hers. The mate-bond pulsed faintly under her skin.
Scowling, she sprang off the bed and grabbed her toiletries. She needed a shower. A long one. She would scrub away his scent.
She didn’t notice that her wolf, deep inside, didn’t want it gone at all.
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