CHAPTER 6 Part 2

The Duke's large hand had seized her wrist, and his other hand pressed firmly on her shoulder. Completely immobilizing her in a blink as if he had anticipated her attack and keeping her under the desk.

But that wasn't what shocked her. What shocked her was the fact that she was again, no longer in her ghost form but in flesh and bones.

Gritting her teeth, she poised to resist when the duke said, "Don’t". He said that one word calmly yet it sounded with the kind of intensity that made even Alena pause, as if her very instincts were wired to heed his command for survival.

"But Milord..." came a shocking deep voice from another man in the room. "Whoever is under your desk is exuding killing intent. I need to—"

"No," the duke interrupted firmly. "I want you to stand outside the door for now, Zilal."

The mention of the name "Zilal," made Alena froze. Zilal, the so called 'Duke Donovian’s shadow,' was a man whose very existence was a closely guarded secret among the elite circles of the kingdom.

Alena recalled the numerous conversations she had inadvertently eavesdropped on in the royal palace. Her father and brothers often spoke in hushed tones about Zilal. The crown prince himself had once confided that the Duke's invulnerability stemmed from this shadowy protector. Her brother had said that Zilal was the duke's living shield, claiming that as long as Zilal was alive, the Duke would remain untouchable.

"Don’t make me repeat myself," the Duke's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his tone firm yet devoid of any visible agitation.

After a tense, prolonged silence enveloped the room, she finally heard the sound of the door opening and then closing.

Just as Alena was about to sigh in relief, the Duke finally directed his gaze downward. Their eyes locked. Alena mustered everything to meet his stare unflinchingly but fiercely.

“I have to warn you, Duchess,” he spoke. “Never attack me like this when that man is around because he could really hurt you before I could stop him.”

A disbelieving, almost sardonic smile crept onto Alena's lips. “So good of you to remind me like this, Duke,” she replied.

The Duke remained silent, his golden eyes simply remained locked onto hers. But there was something in the way he looked at her...

Her thoughts stopped. The full extent of her undignified position finally struck her. She was trapped between the Duke's legs, not just kneeling between his legs but her face was also alarmingly close to his... crotch.