Semua Bab Reborn: The Duke’s Unbothered Villainess: Bab 41 - Bab 48

Not exactly the name I’d seen written on the cover. But I wasn’t about to tell Norma that the real name scrawled there was just ‘Max D. Rivera’ in plain block letters.There were secrets in this book, clearly. Secrets tied to the Rift. And for some reason, I could read them.I ran my finger down the leather-bound edge. The pulse came again.“I’m keeping it,” I told her softly.Norma threw her hands in the air. “Fine! But if lightning strikes twice tonight, I’m sleeping under a table.”“Deal.”As the door closed behind her, I opened the book once more. The candles flickered. Somewhere, distant thunder rolled. And under my fingertips, the pulse of the book synced perfectly with the rhythm of my heart.Would you like me to continue into Abby’s first attempt trying one of the spells inside the grimoire—possibly with Alaric walking in and catching her mid-ritual?The night had settled, rain against the windows in gentle taps. I sat in my study with nothing but candlelight and the silent, s

Alaric glanced sideways at me, his mouth twitching into that frustrating half-smile of his. “Would you have saved me, Abby?” he asked, voice low enough that only I could hear it.“Depends,” I answered smoothly. “Would you have annoyed me into giving up my seat on the door?”That earned a quiet laugh from him. Real and warm. And maybe, just maybe, a flicker of something more in his eyes.The fire cracked again, sending sparks flying up toward the night sky. The meadow stretched out around us—soft grass, distant mountains silhouetted by moonlight, and that subtle scent of rain on the wind.For a long moment, no one spoke. Just the fire, the stars, and the quiet rhythm of knives being sharpened and stew being stirred.Then Norma, because she couldn’t help herself, said very loudly: “Personally, I still think the lady should’ve just zapped that iceberg with lightning and been done with it.”I grinned wide, sparks flickering at my fingertips. “You know what? Same.”An hour later. The fire

She swung her hand wide, and lightning cracked in an arc across the field, lighting up everything in sharp, deadly white. The butterflies disintegrated midair.But the cost was real.Another man—Doran, one of my oldest lieutenants—fell. His leg torn by something bigger than the orcs. A beast I didn’t recognize. Massive. Like a bear, but stitched together from shadow and bone. Its claws were iron.I moved fast, rage and magic swirling up my spine. My blade met the creature’s paw with a crack loud enough to shake the air. Sparks flew where steel met bone.“Damn it—”Abby was already there. “Move!” she shouted.I obeyed instinctively. Stepped back.Her hand lifted, lightning gathering in a spinning ball the size of a boulder, and she threw it with a scream. The blast hit that stitched beast square in the chest, tearing it open in a flood of black smoke and shredded light.The rift pulsed harder now.More creatures. More noise. Blood and rain mixing into mud under our boots.Two casualtie

The next morning came sharp and cold.Mist rolled off the lake like a silver curtain as the knights prepared our caravan. I had just finished tying back my hair when Norma’s voice echoed across camp.“My lady!” she hissed from behind the supply wagon, eyes wide. “Trouble incoming. Fancy trouble.”I barely had time to turn before I saw her.A glittering entourage.Silk banners. Golden wheels. A carriage so polished I could see my own vaguely irritated reflection in the panels. At the front of it, on a pure white horse, was a woman straight out of a royal painting.Tall. Pale. Hair coiled in perfect curls the color of spun gold.Her dress—a layered thing of icy blue silk and white embroidery—was far too clean for someone claiming to be traveling near rift-infested territory. And behind her rode two more women, all sharp smiles and polished arrogance.Her gaze locked on me first.Then shifted to Alaric.Her expression soured instantly.“Of course,” I muttered under my breath, folding my