1 Chapter 1. Who are you?

That night came as a tickling clock to the lonely hearts, dark, surrounded by mist, and without any living being around. It gave a melancholic feeling, still, even with the despair in the wind, the figure of a young woman could be seen in the road.

Riding a black horse, her Shadow, as she liked to call him, Lara rushed to the inn, again, covered from head to toe in black. An elegant dark dress, leather gloves, and boots, then a soft black cape with a hoodie completing her disguise, although she didn't need anything else. No one would ever recognize her. Not when the night covered her path.

Even her beautiful horse mixed with the darkness and the solitude of the faraway town. And not many souls roamed in the streets of the little town of Colvin, just the sound of the wind clashing against the walls and the trees.

However, it was better that way, when a secret deal was about to be completed, and loneliness was expected.

"This is the place," Lara got off her Shadow and looked carefully at the inn.

Several men were hiding and watching her arrive. She could feel their stares piercing the back of her neck. Feeling as darts in her beautiful skin.

The inn was, strangely, in a very conspicuous place. Visible at first sight from any road of the town. Though, it didn't matter, as no soul was on the streets that night.

"Miss Reid," the innkeeper came out just in time to receive her. "Let me guide you to your room."

Lara nodded at him with a knowing expression.

He was a middle-aged man with a big smile and clean elegant dark blue clothes. One could easily see how much he was used to deal with strange and sudden visitors, his manners and not overbearing questions made him the perfect host. They had worked together for a while now, his antics and ways were already familiar with her.

"I hope you had a peaceful travel, Miss Reid."

"Barely good, Dom."

The path to the room was filled with darkness as only a few candles were lit, and it was hard for the eye to distinguish something in the middle of the night.

However, even with the dim light, she walked forward as she already knew the path from heart.

"May I come in?"

Lara knocked on the door and waited. The old innkeeper had already left her.

Not a second passed when a tall man appeared behind the door. The tall and robust structure of the guard covered the whole frame, not letting anyone see who was beyond. She knew him and was used to his distrusting behavior, however, she couldn't care less.

He looked at her with his usual silver mask covering his whole face.

"May I come in?" Lara repeated.

He nodded and moved back, and after signaling her to enter, he went outside and closed the door. Everything was done swiftly even with that gigantic body, not any single move wasted.

Lara heard the man locking the door, but she didn't mind it. She even expected it, after all, the deal was a secret that only the moon was allowed to witness.

However, that would never be enough, the knights guarding every corner of the town proved it. They waited, even within the cold breeze and the threat of rain, the best disguise from prying eyes.

For any beautiful girl, that kind of situation would mean suspicion and fear. However, Lara wasn't scared. She had known these people for so long that she was used to their particular traits. She preferred them that way, though.

"Miss Reid," a voice from the other man inside the room called her. It was always the same, deep, husky, and filled with intention. As if that man was trying to tell her something with just a word.

He was facing the window, his eyes focused outside. Maybe he was the first to notice her arrival. Maybe he waited for her eagerly.

His back showed how tall and muscular he was, even with the fitted black cape covering his body. His hair color was silver and shined with the light from the moon outside. However, even with all the mysterious and dangerous air that surrounded his figure, it was easy to notice that he was a handsome young man. The chiseled jaw, the deep eyes, and impeccable skin could make any lady fall to her knees in awe.

Yet, there was someone who didn't care for good looks nor outstanding aura. The woman before him. And, for the first time in his life, he regretted not having more interesting looks to tempt her.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Lara moved forward without time to waste, then she took out the papers she had already prepared from her bag inside her cape, "I have the contract here, Your Highness, please sign it and we can proceed with the plan."

The man didn't turn around but smirked. He could see her from the reflex on the window. Her marvelous face, her inexpressive eyes, that little mouth and cherry lips, the small nose, even the soft white cheeks that he wanted to touch so much. She looked innocent, but he knew that a scheming but tempting devil was hiding behind that cute face.

That woman was the only one with the guts to make a deal with him with such disrespect and disregard of his status. She had even dared to call him in the middle of the night to sign a contract with him. Not caring to know his answer beforehand, not submitting to his requests like the other small businessmen he was dealing with.

"The conditions and price are stated in the contract. My people will give you the best of our products and they will be delivered to the settled place in less than two weeks. You will be surprised…d…"

The man turned around and looked at her with a raised hand to make her stop talking. Lara didn't have another choice but to keep silent. She knew that the man was someone she couldn't trifle with, not even the Emperor, would dare to show him disrespect or ignore his power.

It would be dangerous.

That man was not only a Grand Duke, Kian du Eylos, but also a Great General of the North. His army was counted by hundreds or even thousands and was feared by every nation in the world. If not for his loyalty to the crown, he would have easily taken the title of King.

"Your Highness?" Lara muttered after the long silence. The man walked from the window but didn't say a word.

"Why…?" he mumbled, then he smirked while stepping forward little by little towards Lara, "why should I sign this crappy contract with an unknown person?"

"I… I am not unknown, my Golden Eagle Company is a well-established company, without any shady business… we had done many deals before, you know us…"

"And you?"

"What?"

"Who are you?"