Chapter 23 Scarlett
SCARLETT
The first thing I see is the overlapping branches above me.
Then I feel it. The rise and fall of my chest, my blood-soaked gown sticking to my skin. I feel along my abdomen, but there is no hole. Nothing but unblemished skin greets my fingers. I gasp, sitting up, and something heavy slips off my side.
A disgruntled groan follows.
I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. Floppy, reddish-brown hair falls heavily over his smooth brow. His tan skin is pink and freckled. It can’t be—how?
“Krane,” I gasp.
His only response is to moan, throwing an arm over his eyes. No longer holes in a pumpkin, his large eyes and full mouth sit proportionate on his face. The sharpness of his jaw is covered by a short beard beginning to grow.
“It’s too early,” he grumbles, before lowering his arm.
I was wrong. He’s not exactly how he was. Krane is taller—the same height he was as the Headless Horseman, and with the same impressive build. His ears are sharper than those of a human man. When he finally blinks his sleepy eyes open at me, I can’t suppress my gasp.
Green flames comprise his irises. They snap and dance around his dark pupil. It is a breathtaking sight. His lips tug into a grin as he stretches out beside me on the grass.
“Well, good morning to you, too.” Rising into a sitting position, he shakes his head. “I had the strangest dream.”
“Krane.”
“Somehow, I had a pumpkin for a head. We shouldn’t sneak wine from your father’s cellar anymore, Scar.”
“Krane,” I snap. “That wasn’t a dream.”
His dark brows lower.
“What are you talking about? Of course it was—”
He pauses. With widening eyes, he looks at me, really looks at me.
He takes me in from head to toe, eyes lingering on the front of my gown—the crimson stain unmistakable in the morning sun.
With a gasp, he looks at his hands. His long fingers end in short nails with freckles along his knuckles.
He takes stock of himself, patting his chest and face.
Raking a hand through his hair, the flames in his eyes blaze.
Removing his coat, he holds up one of the sparkling buttons to get a better look. Shaking his head, he grips the garment in his fingers.
“I’m me again,” he whispers hoarsely.
“Almost. The eyes are a bit strange.” I pause. “As are your sharp fangs and pointed ears.”
“Beats a pumpkin head,” Krane says. “How can this be?”
There is a predatory grace to his movements. The primal edge he had remains. He is human—and yet not.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly.
His eyes drift to the stain on my gown. Reaching towards me, he gently presses a warm palm to my abdomen. With a shuddering breath, he meets my eyes.
“I watched you die, Scarlett. How are you here, too?”
“Maybe we’re in heaven,” I suggest.
Seems like a logical enough answer.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Rising onto his long legs, he reaches down to help me to my feet. “Only one way to find out.”
We make the short journey back towards Crow’s Claw Manor. The sight of a smoldering home collapsing in on itself is all the confirmation we both need. We aren’t in heaven. That horrible house would be in neither one of ours.
I glance up at him, pink spreading along his cheeks.
“When you got shot, I lost it. My power consumed me and eradicated everyone inside the house.” Green flames spark from his palms at the memory. “Well, that’s something.”
I hear his words for what they are. There are no survivors. My parents are both dead, and I don’t have it in me to grieve. We were not a loving family—they would’ve trapped me in a horrible marriage and denied me my one true happiness. May they rot where they lie.
“Where should we go now?” I ask, the wind tugging at my hair.
The sun shines from behind the dense clouds.
The first sunny day in over a month makes goosebumps erupt on my flesh.
Krane plays with his green flames, letting them dance between his fingers.
Twisting his lips, he waves his hand, and my ruined gown is replaced with a pale pink frock.
He does the same to his own clothes, transforming them into a simple satin shirt and pants.
A thick cloak drapes around his shoulders.
“Back to Nightingale Castle?” he suggests.
A mischievous smile curves his lips as he hooks an arm around my waist. I go to him willingly, a long-overdue homecoming. He’s even taller than me now. I have to crane my neck back to meet his gaze. The feel of his heartbeat echoes my own.
“I want to celebrate your return to life the best way I know how.” His lips find my ear. “Want to put my new tongue to use on your sweet cunt.”
A giggle escapes me.
“What an offer. How could any girl possibly refuse such a declaration?”
He kisses along my cheek, his hand drifting down my back.
“We could always fuck in the barn one final time? Give that place a proper send-off.”
“Hmm,” I hum low in my throat as his mouth explores my neck. “I don’t have a particular fondness for combing hay out of my hair later.”
He nips my ear, making me turn slippery between my thighs.
“What if I promise to—”
The sound of thunderous footsteps makes us both pull back.
Dust flies along the loan road as a large carriage flanked by several armed riders approaches.
The king’s crest is emblazoned on the door.
I glance towards Krane; from a distance, he looks human.
Enough that he shouldn’t raise too many questions, but he should still keep his distance from whoever is approaching.
The horses halt a few feet away from us.
A page comes to open the door, but it flies open before he can reach his post.
King Herbert descends the short steps dressed in golden robes that perfectly complement his sparkling crown. He casts a long glance at us before I yank Krane’s arm and we both sink into bows.
“Your majesty,” we say in unison.
Fear grips me. If he has discovered what we’ve done, or who we are, there could be trouble. We need to play this smart. The king turns a watchful eye on us. The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth deepen as he frowns.
“What has occurred here?”
I swallow, glancing towards Krane. He answers before I can.
“A fire, sir. It claimed everyone inside.”
The king takes a step closer, eyes narrowing.
“And who might you be?”
Krane opens his mouth, but no words come out.
Thinking quickly, I fall back on all my training as an earl’s daughter.
My nobility may be the only thing that gets us out of this alive.
Hope threads through me; this is our chance to have the future I wanted for us.
To spit in the face of my father’s legacy and claim it for ourselves.
“Lady Scarlett Crest, your majesty,” I say softly. “This is my husband, Lord Krane Crest.”
I can feel Krane stiffen beside me, a silent understanding passing between us. We have one shot at this, and both of us need to be convincing in our roles. Shouldn’t be too hard, as it’s not even really a lie. I have the scar to prove it.
The king drags a hand through his long, white beard.
“Weren’t you the one sent to marry Earl Bram?”
I swallow, willing my eyes to turn sad.
“Yes, until he was killed. Then I was taken by a horrible creature deep into the woods.” I take Krane’s hand in mine, squeezing it gently.
“That is where Krane found me. Rescued me from that foul creature and brought me back home. My father believed the only way to repay his kindness was to wed him to me and name Krane his heir. We only said our vows last night and were away to consummate our marriage.”
The king considers my words. It is a believable enough story, but the king is no fool. After a moment, he takes another step towards us until he is only a few feet away.
“And do you have proof from your father of such declarations? You will have to forgive me, but I can’t just take your words as true.”
I swallow a curse as my mind comes up short trying to think of anything that would persuade him. Krane drops my hand, and I turn towards him. From his pocket, he produces a piece of parchment stamped with my father’s official seal.
“It is here, your majesty.”
Never have I been more grateful for Krane’s magic than I am right now.
The king takes the offered parchment between his bony fingers. His eyes drift over the seal before he snaps the wax. Unfolding the paper, his eyes take in each line of the page. Wide, brown eyes look up at us.
“Earl Richard Crest has named you his heir and successor. By marrying his daughter, you will take on the Crest name. His money and holdings will now become yours upon his death.” The king tucks the parchment into his robes.
“Well, a bit of bad luck, as your family home now sits in ruin. If you need a place to stay while it’s being rebuilt, Darkwood Castle sits empty.
I was on my way here to name your father Duke of Broken Cliff, but now that title falls to you, Duke Krane. ”
My heart lifts as I look at Krane. It has all worked out in the end.
My lord husband was someone I loved. We would’ve been happy with nothing, but there is satisfaction in knowing the legacy my father sold me off to preserve will now be ours.
Our children will never know their grandfather.
The Crest family will start anew, with its foundation in love, not ambition.
“We won’t let you down, sire.”
Krane bows to the king, and I follow suit.
“See that you don’t.” He gestures towards the large chest attached to the back of his carriage. “I’ll take the gold I had intended for your father to Darkwood Castle. I’m assuming his treasury survived the blaze.”
“Yes, your majesty. He never kept his valuables in the main house,” I confirm.
Krane raises a brow at me as the king merely nods. Turning around, he returns to his carriage.
“Very good. I hope you two enjoy your new marriage. Condolences for your losses.” His eyes turn sharp over his shoulders. “I’d work on looking a bit sadder if I were you. Wouldn’t want anyone thinking this wasn’t an accident.”
Heat sweeps up my cheeks as Krane and I extend another bow towards him. We stay silent as his carriage turns around and hurries down the gravel path. We watch it until it becomes a speck on the horizon. I turn towards Krane, happiness nearly making me buoyant.
“You’re a wonderful liar,” he compliments.
“I was taught by the best.” I go into his arms, allowing him to hold me close. “Duke Krane has a nice ring to it.”
He chuckles, his deep voice making my body come alive.
“As does Duchess Scarlett.”
I nod at him. We will have our parts to play. We would be fools to think we were entirely out of the woods yet, but this is a significant step forward. Part of me is still reeling from everything that’s happened.
“I can’t believe it,” I whisper. “Despite the odds, I’ve somehow gotten almost everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Krane’s brows lower.
“What more could you possibly want?”
I lick my lips before smiling up at him.
“I can think of one thing.”
If he catches my meaning, he doesn’t let on, but nor does he stop me from pulling him after me.
It doesn’t take long for us to reach the old wooden doors of the barn.
The structure is untouched. Unlatching the door, the familiar groan of the hinges greets us.
I turn towards a smiling Krane, whose hands along my back are already leading me into the stables.
“I thought you didn’t want hay in your hair.”
“That was before I found out I’d be fucking a duke,” I sigh, reaching for his shirt and tossing it aside. “One last time. A proper goodbye to this place.”
My hands trail up the contours of his stomach.
The warm muscles tickle my palms, sending a hot need coursing through me.
Krane backs me up, waving a hand and spreading his cloak atop a pile of hay bales.
Together, we quickly shed both of our clothes, our naked skin slides together as sunlight streams down from the ceiling slats.
Krane falls between my open thighs, groaning as my pussy rubs against his cock. The rigids remain, and I’m grateful for his transformation all over again. The familiar scent of hay and dust wraps around us. I kiss the heart on his shoulder and stare up into his flaming eyes.
Love pours from his gaze and into my heart.
We don’t have to be quiet. Not as he devours my pussy with the broadside of his tongue or when he pushes all the way inside me on one thrust. Our bodies slap together, and our moans rise towards the sky.
Our kisses are frantic as if making up for lost time, and then slower, realizing that we have all the time in the world now.
I had been lost without him. A wraith that floated around, longing to join her love beyond the grave.
I had loved him as a poor stable boy, as the Headless Horseman of Broken Cliff, and now as a duke.
No matter what he looked like—no matter where he went—he would always be mine.
Our souls had become one from the moment we met, and we would fight for each other with every breath.
It wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.
To have him now, deep inside of me, reaffirming his love with each hard thrust, makes all the painful days without him disappear.
We had our whole future ahead of us. The shackles of the past had been cast aside.
There was no need for revenge when our future was so bright.
There was only space for love now. The rage was gone.
Only one thing remained for us to have, but that shouldn’t take too long to accomplish.
In fact, it could have already happened, or maybe it’s happening right now.
The thought sends me headlong into my climax, and it spurs Krane to spill himself deep inside me with a groan of my name against my lips.
I smile, knowing my final wish is now even closer than before.
Krane kisses my sweaty brow and holds me close. We will enjoy each other again once we catch our breath. His fingers shift through my hair just like he always does. Our racing heartbeats twin together.
“I love you, Scarlett.”
I smile against his birthmark.
“I love you more.”