His Duchess is a Ghost (Novel) - Chapter 24 (Patreon)

Time seemed to stand still as Alena waited for the Duke's response. Her hands were shaking, clearly from the fury she felt toward the man beneath her.

“Open your mouth and answer me, Duke. Because if you don’t, I will –” She broke off at the sudden, impossibly fast and fluid movement from the duke.

Before she could process what just happened, she found that her dagger was no longer in her grip. Her eyes widened in utter shock upon seeing it in his hand.

“Give my dagger back!” she hissed immediately, struggling and panicking. Never did she think the dagger, her only weapon, could actually be taken away from her so easily like this! And she couldn’t believe that this man could also touch it! Why?

It was true that she had never been told by the red-haired spirit that she was the only one who could hold it, but still, it made no sense. The dagger should have been exclusively hers to wield! She should have been the only one who could even touch it! So how could this be happening? Did this mean that anyone could actually touch and hold it?

In desperation, Alena lunged at the Duke with her free hand, trying to grab the dagger from his hold. But the Duke skillfully kept it out of her reach.

In a burst of frustration, she swung her free hand as forcefully as she could, aiming for his face. And just like that, she struck Kaztiel Donovian's face once again.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of her harsh breathing. Alena's fierce gaze bore into his face, which was now slightly turned away from the force of her punch.

As blood started dripping from his lips, Alena gasped—not at the sight of the blood, but because the Duke had swiftly immobilized her. Now, her hands were trapped behind her, held in place by his one powerful, large hand.

Alena clenched her teeth. "Give my dagger back, Duke," she demanded, her voice filled with barely-contained fury.

“I’ll give it back if you behave, Duchess,” the Duke replied, his voice calm.

“Are you seriously asking me to behave?” She smirked in disbelief.

“Yes, Alena,” he said, using her name in a way that felt too personal, almost too… intimate.

Her smirk vanished, replaced by a scowl. “Call me by my name again, Duke Donovian, and I’ll spit at you,” she warned, her voice icy. “You have been warned. I no longer care if you’re Claveria’s hero. The moment you ordered my death, my respect for you died along with me. Now give. My. Dagger. Back.”

He still didn’t make any visible reaction. But his silence and stillness at that moment seemed a little different. It was like some kind of unknown spell, forcing her to be still… to be quiet, but she fiercely resisted, refusing to be controlled by whatever sorcery he was using on her.

Just as she was gearing up to unleash another barrage of words at him, he spoke. “Tell me, Duchess… do you really think that you can actually manage to kill me just by simply attacking me like this?”

Alena's retort caught in her throat. The question, so calmly posed, unbalanced her.

“Yes, you might wound me, as you have just now. But let me tell you, do not make the mistake of underestimating me. These assaults of yours won’t be enough to end me. They won’t even critically injure me,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Alena bit her lip hard, a mix of frustration and realization dawning upon her. Deep down, she knew the truth in his words. The royal family's relentless attempts to eliminate the Duke had all failed. How many times had he evaded death and thwarted assassins' blades? She knew it would never be easy to touch this man, but it was almost unacceptable for Alena to accept the truth that even as a ghost, she might not be able to defeat him.

“So what?” Alena still managed to make a comeback with defiance in her tone. “Are you trying to intimidate me now?” Her smile was sardonic. “Haven’t I already told you? I fear nothing and no one anymore.”

“I’m not trying to intimidate you,” he responded calmly.

“Then why spout such nonsense?”

“Because I want you to at least elevate your game.”

___

CHAPTER 25>>