"Why have you not wed Sophia since your former wife departed?" Aurora inquired, turning to face Quinn, who sat visibly irritated by the turn of conversation.
"Why do you concern yourself with matters that do not pertain to you?" He retorted coldly, rising to take his leave.
"I am not concerned," Aurora replied with a huff, resuming her meal. "I simply feel pity for you." She shook her head, pondering why he had yet to marry Sophia after the grand display he had made when he first brought her into their circle. It now appeared he had no intention of taking responsibility for any woman. Poor Sophia, how she would regret the day she seduced a married man and shattered Belle's heart.
"The food is tasteless," Quinn muttered abruptly, though no fault lay with the meal. With an air of disdain, he strode out of the dining hall, his frustration evident.
Hezekiah, observing the scene with a knowing smile, merely returned to his food, satisfied by Quinn's reaction. He relished these moments. Quinn, his once-proud friend, needed to learn humility. Yet Hezekiah was not ready to let go of Belle, Belle was his, and no lesson would allow Quinn to claim her.
As the meal concluded, one by one the company left the dining hall, leaving Belle the last to rise. She intended to visit the library and check on the servants still hard at work cleaning.
"Off to the library again, are we?" Quinn's voice came from her left as she turned a corner. Startled, Belle instinctively clapped her hand over his mouth, pushing him back against the wall.
"Must you always follow me? Leave me be and mind your own affairs," she demanded, her voice low but firm, though her quickened breathing betrayed her voice. How could he, the Duke of the North with countless responsibilities, find the time to follow her about as though he had no duties at all?
"If I were to leave you be, how would you survive without me?" He teased, a mischievous smile lighting his features.
Belle rolled her eyes in frustration. "There are countless ways to win a woman's heart, Quinn, but lurking about and pestering her are not among them. You are merely testing my patience, and I warn you, it is not boundless." She stepped back, her words curt.
"Tell me," he said, ignoring her warning.
"Tell you what?" She asked, puzzled by his sudden shift in tone.
"The countless ways to win your heart," he replied, leaning away from the wall. His towering height seemed more imposing than ever, and for a fleeting moment, Belle was distracted by the realization of how tall he truly was. He must have bent to her height during their dark encounter the previous night.
Gathering her composure, she shook her head and stammered, "Why…why should I tell you that? Such things are for you to discover, not for me to disclose." Turning away, she prepared to leave, but before she could take a step, he seized her wrist firmly.
"Meet me at the passageway every night at the same hour," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This is not a request, but a warning."
Belle yanked her wrist free, her eyes blazing. "You may issue orders to your servants, but I am no subject of yours, Quinn. Pray, learn your place." Without waiting for his reply, she turned on her heel and began walking away, her steps echoing through the corridor.
"Why do I feel as though you are jealous and intent on sabotaging my union with the King?" Before she could disappear, she remarked without sparing him a glance, her tone laced with disdain.
"Perhaps we shall discover the truth if I fail to see you at the passage as we agreed," he replied nonchalantly, utterly unbothered by her accusation.
"In your dreams," she retorted, turning on her heel and departing the corridor.
Quinn watched her retreat, his obsession with her growing stronger with every act of defiance. How boring it would have been if she yielded to his every want without resistance. If only she realized how correct her suspicions were, he would never allow her to wed Hezekiah as long as breath remained in his body. She seemed to have forgotten his declaration that she was his and his alone. That freedom she so desperately sought would never be hers. He would break her spirit and have her begging to return to him.
"Time to pay your husband a visit," he muttered to himself before heading in the same direction she had taken.
---
Night fell swiftly, and after dining, Belle returned to her chambers rather than lingering in the library. She had resolved to entrust the task of cleaning to the maids for the evening. If they required more time, she would personally request the King to grant them another day. Hezekiah, being Quinn's closest confidant, was likely the only one capable of keeping him in check.
As her handmaiden attended to her bedtime preparations, Belle's thoughts drifted momentarily to Quinn's earlier warning. Surely, he couldn't have meant it, he was likely testing her resolve. And even if he indeed went to the passageway, he would undoubtedly retreat to his quarters once he realized she would not meet him. The matter was settled, or so she reassured herself.
"Remove the underwear but leave the nightgown, they are too cumbersome," she instructed her handmaiden, who promptly complied. Belle had grown accustomed to wearing only a gown during her time at the Duke's estate and still struggled to adopt the customary layers. She recalled their first night together, when Quinn, frustrated by the many garments, tore through them with impatience. He had told her then she had no need for such attire now that she was his wife. From that day, she never wore undergarments and only wore nightgowns.
"Shall I leave the windows open, my lady?" The maid inquired after finishing her task.
"Yes, the wind is gentle tonight," Belle replied with a soft smile. Once the maid departed, Belle was left alone in the stillness of her room.
She walked to the window and gazed at the full moon, her mind wandering to the fateful day she met Quinn. It irked her how so many things, despite her efforts to avoid them, reminded her of him. That day had been a sad one, she had fled her home in despair, venturing deep into the forest with the intent to end her life. There, she had stumbled upon a werewolf engaged in a fierce struggle with a bear.
At first, she thought it to be merely two wild animals fighting until the werewolf bared its fangs and turned its attention to her. Startled, she tried to flee, only to realize later that the creature had sensed her as its mate and had pursued her for that reason. Thus began the twisted tale that bound her to Quinn.
"Enough of this," she muttered, shaking off the memories, and returned to her bed, ready for sleep.
---
As she drifted into slumber, Belle felt a finger tracing circles upon her stomach. Her eyes fluttered open to find an all-too-familiar presence behind her.
"Finally awake," came his voice, low and taunting.