Page 15 of His Cursed Heart

“So, what Arius told me is not true.” I’m going to kill that motherfucker. “Are you saying that my right hand lied to me that your ex-fiancée’s body disappeared?”

“And if it’s true, would that be considered treason?”

“No, because if I were you, I wouldn’t told me either.” I try to hide my surprise, but I can’t. She will always be a mystery to me, and for everybody else.

And I can’t even be mad over Arius, because he is her most loyal soldier. But I wanted to find out the killer by myself.

The Empress will want to know every detail about my search. And even interfere.

“Congratulation on the engagement, miss Luciano. I’m amazed at what I see.” My eyes move to the figure

behind the masked woman, and I feel the air leaving my lungs.

The brownish skin that shines under the cold lights, the sinful body that would kill every race, is covered by a sleeveless black tight dress with the dirtiest crack on the left leg and a pair of long gloves. The neck area is naked and a silver collar makes her aura divine and my fantasies wilder. Honey brown hair that is tucked under a low bun with a few baby hairs that are let loose

on her cold face. Big lips that are covered in a blood red lipstick, strong cheekbones with perfect eyebrows, and long lashes that hides her eyes.

All of those things are representing Althea Seraphina Luciano.

My future heartless wife.

Her face is frozen and her eyes are ready to dissect everyone that dared to come into her home.

The brown eyes like two coffee beans, that always held an untold nightmare.

“I want to say I’m amazed by your mask but it’s the same as five years ago.” My blood almost stops at her hoarse voice. A voice full of venom and sarcasm.

"What happened to little Althea, alas, I'd say I’ll miss her, but I don't like lying." The Empress’s voice wakes me up from my state of dreaming. “I’ll leave you two love birds alone.” Her laugh is definitely sarcastic.

She is enjoying this way too much.

She leaves without saying anything else, and I stare at the girl in front of me.

Not girl, woman.

I look at her like I’ve never seen a woman before, because this Althea is not the same girl as she was almost three years ago.

“Althea.” I say her name like it’s forbidden.

“Keaton.” Even her voice changed. She looks right into my eyes as she positions herself in front of me. I can see the people looking at us with doubt.

“You look…different.” This is all I can to say, even if my mind has a lot more things to say.

“Thank you for the observation.” I try to stop the smirk that was forming at her sarcastic voice.

Damn, I’m going to enjoy her so much.

“Be careful, uccellino. You’ll be my wife in just three weeks.” And I can’t wait to make her eat her own words.

I move closer to her, and her scent invades my nose and I feel my blood stop.

Vanilla, honey…and cigarettes.

Fuck my life, I’m becoming obsessed.

I open my jacket to search in its inside pocket and I pull out a satin black box that has the ring that’ll show the world she’s mine.

“Was that a threat, Keaton? Do I need to show you how much I’ve changed?” She says as she raised her hand and let me put the black diamonds on her ring finger.

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