Chapter 4

The days following Alexander's abrupt departure from the bookshop were unbearable for Seraphina. His warning echoed in her mind, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the growing pull she felt toward him. Every social engagement, every ball, and every formal tea felt like a tedious parade of men who paled in comparison to the dangerous Duke.

Lord Camden had visited her twice since the masquerade, both times offering pleasant conversation and polite compliments, yet she found herself growing more restless with each passing day. It wasn’t fair to him—Camden was everything a woman of her station should want: charming, wealthy, and eager to marry. But where his presence made her feel comfortable, Alexander’s set her heart racing in ways she couldn’t explain.

One evening, Seraphina sat alone in her room, staring out of the window at the moonlit gardens below. She could hear the distant hum of her parents’ voices from the drawing room, where they were entertaining yet another suitor who had come to seek her favor. But she didn’t care. All she could think about was Alexander—the feel of his hand brushing against her cheek, the intensity in his eyes when he looked at her, and the tortured way he had spoken of his past.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see her maid, Lottie, standing in the doorway with a concerned expression on her face.

“A letter for you, my lady,” Lottie said, holding out a small, folded piece of parchment. “It was delivered just now by a footman.”

Seraphina frowned, rising from her chair and taking the letter. It was unusual to receive correspondence at such a late hour. She opened it quickly, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized the familiar, elegant handwriting.

Meet me at midnight. The old hunting lodge. Come alone.

There was no signature, but she didn’t need one to know who had written it. Alexander.

Her pulse quickened, and she read the words again, her mind racing. Midnight. The hunting lodge. The very thought of it was reckless—scandalous, even. No respectable woman would ever dare meet a man, let alone the infamous Duke of Ravenhall, in secret. Yet the prospect of seeing him again, of finally confronting the feelings she had tried so hard to suppress, was too tempting to resist.

“Thank you, Lottie,” she murmured, slipping the note into the folds of her gown. “That will be all for the evening.”

As soon as the door closed behind her maid, Seraphina sprang into action. She changed into a simpler gown, one that wouldn’t draw attention if she were seen sneaking through the estate. She wrapped a dark cloak around her shoulders and checked the time. Midnight was fast approaching, and the old hunting lodge wasn’t far, just a short ride on horseback.

She crept through the house as quietly as possible, avoiding the main corridors and slipping out of a side door into the cool night air. The stable boy was nowhere to be found—likely asleep—so Seraphina saddled her horse herself, her hands trembling with a mixture of excitement and fear. She knew the risks. If anyone found out what she was about to do, her reputation would be in tatters. But for once, Seraphina didn’t care about the consequences. She had to see Alexander again. She had to know where this dangerous path would lead.

The ride through the dark woods was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft thudding of her horse’s hooves on the ground. The trees loomed over her, casting long shadows in the pale moonlight, but Seraphina pressed on, her destination clear in her mind. The hunting lodge was an old, forgotten building that had once belonged to her family but had long since fallen into disuse. It was the perfect place for a clandestine meeting.

When she arrived, the lodge stood silent and imposing against the backdrop of the trees. She dismounted, her heart pounding as she approached the door. For a moment, she hesitated, her hand hovering over the handle. She could still turn back, still choose the safer path. But the thought of Alexander waiting for her inside pulled her forward.

The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, the air thick with anticipation. The lodge was dark, save for a single candle flickering on a small table near the center of the room. And there, standing in the shadows, was Alexander.

“You came,” he said softly, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and something else—something deeper.

Seraphina closed the door behind her, the tension between them palpable. “I had to. You sent for me.”

He stepped forward, the flickering candlelight casting shadows across his chiseled features. He looked as handsome as ever, but there was a rawness in his expression, a vulnerability that made her heart ache.

“I shouldn’t have,” Alexander murmured, his eyes never leaving hers. “I told myself I would stay away, but I couldn’t. I cannot stop thinking about you, Seraphina.”

Her breath hitched at his words, her own feelings bubbling to the surface. “Then why push me away? Why try to make me hate you?”

“Because I am not the man you believe I am,” he said, his voice filled with anguish. “I am dangerous, Seraphina. If you are seen with me—if anyone knew—your life would be ruined. And I cannot allow that.”

“Let me decide what risks I’m willing to take,” she replied, her voice trembling. “I don’t care about scandal, Alexander. I care about you.”

He shook his head, but she could see the torment in his eyes. “You should not care for me.”

But it was too late. She already did.

Without thinking, Seraphina closed the distance between them. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart beneath his coat. Alexander stiffened at her touch, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he looked down at her, his eyes filled with desire and conflict.

“Seraphina…” he whispered, his voice thick with longing.

“Please,” she whispered back, her voice barely audible. “Stop fighting this.”

For a moment, it seemed as though he might push her away again, but then, with a groan of surrender, Alexander’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him. His lips crashed down on hers, and the world seemed to explode around them.

The kiss was urgent, filled with a hunger that had been building between them for far too long. Seraphina’s hands tangled in his hair, her body pressing against his as if she couldn’t get close enough. His lips were warm and soft, and the taste of him sent a rush of heat through her.

Alexander’s hands roamed down her back, his touch both possessive and tender, as though he couldn’t decide whether to claim her or protect her. Seraphina’s mind spun with the intensity of it all, her senses overwhelmed by the feel of him, the scent of him, the sheer power of their connection.

He broke the kiss suddenly, his breathing ragged, his forehead resting against hers. “This is madness,” he whispered, his voice raw. “I should not have brought you here.”

“I don’t care,” Seraphina replied, her own breath coming in shallow gasps. “I want this. I want you.”

Alexander groaned again, his arms tightening around her. “You don’t understand, Seraphina. If we do this, there is no going back.”

“I don’t want to go back,” she said, her voice firm. “I want you, Alexander. Whatever the consequences.”

For a long, agonizing moment, he said nothing, his gaze locked on hers, as though he were searching for any sign of doubt. But there was none. Seraphina knew what she wanted, and she was willing to face whatever came next.

Finally, with a deep, resigned sigh, Alexander pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Then there is no turning back.”

And with those words, the last barrier between them crumbled. They gave in to the passion that had been simmering for so long, their bodies entwining in the darkened room, lost in a forbidden desire that neither of them could deny any longer.