Page 69 of Seduced

He merely looked at her, his expression hard, inscrutable, then bowed and walked away. Poppy stared after him, the noise of the room fading around her as her mind filled with strange thoughts.

What on earth is the matter with him?

He had acted so strangely and violently. Almost as if…as if…

She couldn’t even allow herself to think of it:

As if he were jealous.

But that was definitely impossible.

Hades did not get jealous. He was incapable of it.

eighteen

Alexei

He couldn’t breathe.

Alexei ran all the way to the door, and still couldn’t breathe. He leaned his elbows on his knees and bent his head between them, trying not to faint.

The sight of DeVere kneeling at Poppy’s feet and kissing her hand had nearly destroyed him. And he had reacted like a brute, like an absolute animal.

He had gone and done it now. She would never forgive him.

There was no hope; not that there had been any before.

He knew quite well what kind of lady Miss Wyatt was, underneath all her brother’s brutality and dominance. What kind of a lady she would become. Free of his abuse, she wouldblossom into a strong, pure woman, who would create gardens and happiness no matter where she was. She was not wont to regard the man who had kidnapped her kindly, even if she had melted in his arms and held him as if he was the most precious human being to ever walk the earth.

She had made it clear that she resented Alexei. She was probably disgusted by him, if truth be told. She was too gentle to outright show her repulsion, but Alexei knew it was there.

And tonight, he had entered the glittering gaming rooms, only to see her standing there, dressed in a cream gown like a bloody debutante, looking innocent and sweet like an angel.

Damn Rania and her gowns.

And then suddenly he saw DeVere dropping to his knees in front of her and he had gone feral. He had fought all morning to dispel the image of Poppy on the floor with DeVere’s head on her lap, smoothing away the hair from his brow, her arm supporting his neck as he fought for his life—but he couldn’t. It was seared in his mind.

And seeing the viscount kneel in front of her like that…Alexei’s heart had given a painful jolt, and fire had flooded his veins. But he had forced himself to stand still at the door, watching, feeling the blood drain from his body as if he were bleeding internally.

But then.

He saw her back sway, and the thought occurred to him that she was about to swoon. Or if not that, then she was so deeply moved by the man’s devotion that she…she was melting for him, as she had melted for Alexei.

And then everything had turned black.

He did not remember making the decision to walk to her, to grab the man by the armpit and forcefully lift him to his feet, to drag him away from her.

He did not remember giving his lips permission to say:

“Nobody shall touch you except me.”

But now he did remember, and the shame that washed over him was so violent it was drowning him alive.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured to no one in particular. Poppy had been left to the care of his guards, thank heavens. Safe. Away fromhim. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.”

Inside his head, he was a boy again, apologizing for being born.

You are filth, his father’s voice in his head was bursting, making his temples throb and his skull splinter.You should never have been born. You are my disgrace. You bring nothing but shame to this house. Shame!

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