The Duke's Curse (Legend Book 2)

  The Duke’s Curse

  A Contemporary Adventure Romance Novel

  Legend Book 2

  Kylie Stewart

  Copyright © 2017 by Kylie Stewart

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, titles, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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  What makes a Legend?

  “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is right wise king born of all England.”

  -Thomas Malory

  Legend is based off King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The original story of King Arthur was written by Thomas Malory in 1485 titled: Le Morte D’Arthur. Historians and archeologists have tried to find King Arthur’s resting place or any trace of his seat in Camelot. There is no record the Isle of Avalon ever existed. Others speculate the isle was swallowed by the sea. Myth ties Tintagel Castle, which rests on a peninsula in Cornwall, England, to Arthur’s birthplace and the cave of Merlin.

  Was Arthur one man or several tales of brave warriors in the Dark Ages put together in a grand design?

  This series takes on a life of its own with the modern world we know mixed with technology, magic, religion, and of course – love.

  The quest for King Arthur may never be answered.

  Perhaps he has better served us as an ideal rather than a man.

  He is the once and future king.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to those who feel as though they’ve lost a part of themselves, their faith, or their peace. Keep searching, keep knocking, keep going – you will make it. Be the change you want to see.

  Content

  What makes a Legend?

  Dedication

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Twenty-six

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Books by Kylie C. Stewart

  I have been one acquainted with the night.

  I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.

  I have out walked the furthest city light.

  I have looked down the saddest city lane.

  I have passed by the watchman on his beat

  And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

  I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

  When far away an interrupted cry

  Came over houses from another street,

  But not to call me back or say good-bye;

  And further still at an unearthly height,

  One luminary clock against the sky

  Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

  I have been one acquainted with the night.

  -Robert Frost

  Love is Kind ...

  Prologue

  Alexandria

  His kisses rocked deep into my soul. The way he caressed me, held me, loved me. If time were still, I’d choose to stay here of all places. I was safe with Arthur, even if I had never seen his face. A man I felt I had known my entire life yet knew nothing about overwhelmed me.

  “I love you, Alexandria.” He spoke against my lips. “I love you with all I am.”

  “Who are you, though, Arthur?” I felt tears slip from my eyes. “How can I love you if I have never seen your face in the light?”

  “You have, my Lady, you have so many times.” He kissed me again. I felt him pull away from me, tension clinging in the air.

  “You do realize nothing will ever be the same?”

  “I need to know the truth, Arthur. I need to know.” My hands twisted into the fabric of my skirts.

  There was a pause. “Open your eyes.”

  I did.

  Searching every inch of his face, my mouth parted in awe. It was him. Emerald green eyes shone down, studying my face. Buttery, blond hair fluttered in the light breeze coming from the lake. His face held the familiar shape of Avalon, but there was no scar on his cheek. The way his lips twitched made me question, but this wasn’t the stormy-eyed duke I would awake to. This man’s eyes spoke truth and light. This was a man of honor.

  “Say something. I’m beginning to worry.” A wan smile crossed Arthur’s lips.

  I smiled back broadly. Throwing my arms around his neck, I laughed in pure bliss. Pulling him into another deep kiss, I decided this was the best dream I’d ever had.

  “I knew it was you, Legend.”

  His hands gripped my hips when I said the word Legend. Stepping back, his brows knitted and he rushed to look at his reflection in the water.

  “Oh, my God ...” I watched him touch his face and run his fingers through shaggy hair. When he turned back to me, his face was grim.

  “What’s wrong?” I didn’t understand.

  This was a happy day!

  I could see him!

  I felt an unease settle in my chest.

  Why wasn’t he happy?

  “Alexandria ... when you wake up, nothing will be the same.”

  One

  Avalon

  For the first time in my life, I pulled away from her. I woke to the dawn barely peeking over the rolling hills. Rubbing my face with my hands, I rested them behind my head. That man in the dream, that wasn’t me—he was dead. She believed me to be a figment of her imagination, just as I had planned.

  “You’ve done it now ...” I muttered to no one. Staring at the ring, I wondered if the stone’s properties altered my appearance.

  Or perhaps more ...

  I would have to ask M.

  I expected her to break down, scream at me, but instead, she embraced me, wanted me.

  A part of me cheered. If I could keep her attention and affection in the dark, I could pull her toward me in the light. Just two obstacles loomed. In the day, Lancer was alive. She had him to run to. At night, she had Arthur. Either way, I was still without her.

  When I dressed and prepared
to face her, I heard loud yelling from the informal living room down the hall. I straightened my shoulders and walked as fast as I could to see what Alexandria was going on about. The shouting stopped as soon as I entered the room.

  Lancer was pulling at his hair; M stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest. The thin man motioned for me as if this were my mess to clean up. Well, it was, technically.

  Her glare tore me in two. I met her stare in kind. I wasn’t going to allow her to run over me even if she knew some of the truth.

  “Ms. York, good morning. What in the world has you screaming like a banshee?”

  I didn’t expect her to lunge at me the way she did. All too soon her small body was pushing me back, forcing me to retreat.

  “What the hell happened last night? What did you do to me?” Her finger poked my chest over and over as she spoke. “Where is your stab wound? Did I dream that? Who were those women, and why are they dead?”

  I held my hands up in the air as if she were pointing a gun.

  “How old are you, Avalon? Just what kind of man are you? Or are you one at all?” She narrowed her eyes, studying my body. I arched a brow and rolled my eyes.

  “Have you eaten anything yet?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

  “No, why?” Alexandria’s cheeks puffed defiantly. “I want answers to my questions, Avalon.”

  I struggled to hide a smirk. “I shall answer everything you wish to ask, but first, I need you to eat something. You had a long night.” I motioned to M, and he nodded, exiting the room. Lancer was still silent, staring out a window.

  “No thanks to you.” She snapped.

  “I do believe you stabbed me, Ms. York.” It was my turn to step into her space. I lowered my voice, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Or have you forgotten?”

  The blush across her cheeks gave me all the proof I needed. She hadn’t forgotten anything from last night. Looking over her head, I caught Lancer snarling at me. I dropped my hand and walked away from Alexandria, sucking my teeth.

  “I would like it if you would answer my questions.” She followed me.

  Persistent ...

  “I would rather you have something on your stomach before I start answering anything. You’ll need it.” I sat down on a chair, folding my hands over my lap. Lancer moved to sit on the sofa and motioned for Alexandria to join him.

  “Why? Am I going to be sick?” Her tone was sarcastic.

  “No, but you may pass out again.” That wasn’t a lie. What she was going to learn wasn’t for the faint of hearts.

  With a frown, she sat next to Lancer. M returned to the room with Bennett, my in-home chef, pushing a cart of breakfast goods. For a moment, I thought Alexandria was going to boycott the food, but she willingly reached for a cup of tea and a slice of toast.

  The tension in the room was palpable.

  Once I was sure everyone had settled, I sent Bennett away, and M closed the door. Mentally, I prepared myself for the onslaught of questions she was going to fire at me.

  “All right, I will answer your questions one at a time.” I leaned forward, resting my arms on my knees.

  Alexandria nodded, shifting slightly. “How old are you?” I saw the fear in her eyes. “Those portraits, they were so old, Avalon. They were all of you ...”

  Nodding I exhaled. “Yes, they are all of me.

  “So how old are you?” Her eyes widened.

  No time like the present.

  Rubbing my hands together, I looked her square in the face. “I am one thousand, five hundred and thirty years old as of this year.”

  I wasn’t sure if she was going to pass out or scream. Lancer placed a hand on her back, trying to steady her. Lips parted, she shook her head and glanced over at Lancer.

  “You knew?” Her voice was shaken.

  “Yes ... I learned on my twelfth birthday.” I heard the regret in his voice.

  Alexandria stood, walking over to play her hands along the mantle of the fireplace. She was silent for a good few moments. I could tell it was harder for her to accept than she had initially thought.

  “What are you?” She looked at me, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze.

  That pained me.

  She was afraid of me now.

  “You eat with silver utensils; I’ve seen you in a mirror and in the chapel.”

  Chuckling, I scratched my head. “I am no lycanthrope, nor am I a vampire. You’ve seen me in the sun. I don’t sparkle.”

  “This is no time for jokes. Are you a demon?” Blue eyes dared to meet mine. “An angel?”

  “I am neither, but I can assure you I’ve been blamed for being more of the former rather than the latter.” I kept my gaze as gentle as I could as she absorbed the information. Her fingers stopped playing with the vase on the mantel.

  “Then what are you?”

  “I’m cursed.”

  Alexandria’s brows furrowed. “You’re cursed?” Shaking her head, she walked over to me carefully. “You’re just cursed?”

  I glanced up at her and nodded. “I am simply a human who was cursed.”

  “Cursed to what?” Her hands played with themselves.

  I sighed. “I was cursed to walk the earth for one thousand years alone. I was to be without any ...” I wasn’t sure how to explain my purgatory without love. To have to watch the woman I wanted most live life after life without me. And then once I could reach out to her, I was jilted for centuries more.

  “You had to be alone? Or someone couldn’t fall in love with you?” Alexandria took her seat back next to Lancer. “After one thousand years—did you try? Is that what those three women were about?”

  “I’m not the only one who is cursed.” I watched M along the back of the sofa, nodding at me.

  “Who else is cursed?” Her voice was a bit shaken. Lancer’s face tightened when my eyes met his. I knew this was something he never wanted to tell anyone. Especially not to the woman he cared for.

  Lancer’s hand covered one of hers. He was about to admit his secret when M interrupted.

  “I am, Ms. York.”

  Alexandria turned around. “You too?”

  “Yes. I have been cursed for just as long as Avalon has.” M offered a smile. “It is not so bad when you are among friends.”

  She wasn’t overreacting as I thought she might. Alexandria was being methodical about it all. Every time she was given new information, I watched her file it away. Lancer relaxed, but only for a moment. His green eyes wandered back to mine, begging me to let him keep his secret a little longer.

  “Then who else? Wait—is Morgan? She said you were her little brother?” Alexandria swung herself back around to me.

  “Yes, Morgan is cursed as well. She might as well rejoice, though.” I sneered and rested my elbow on the arm of the chair. “She is a large reason as to why this mess occurred.”

  “So that’s why you hate her.” Alexandria sighed. “Why would she help curse you and herself? When were you cursed?” She settled herself down next to Lancer.

  I decided to answer her second question. That one would stop her for a moment.

  “When I died.”

  I was thankful Alexandria was sitting.

  The ashen look on her usually flushed face wasn’t natural. Her hand tightened on Lancer’s while he rubbed her back.

  “So ... you’re dead?”

  “No, I was dead. I ended my first life and came back into my second cursed.”

  Without warning, she stood, and I could tell an outburst was coming.

  And she was doing so well ...

  “This is insane! You died? You and M and your sister are cursed? What is this? A freaking horror movie?” Alexandria ran fingers through her hair, nervously twirling a strand. “I don’t believe this. I can’t.”

  I went to her.

  Placing firm hands on her shoulders, I spun her to face me. “You have to believe it because you’ve seen it al
l. Everything about my life, you have seen.” It was time to come clean. “I’m over a century old, and when I was able to fall in love again, I did. I admit that, but it wasn’t with different women. It was with the same woman.”

  Alexandria tried to shake me off, but her shock played in my favor. I could sense the fear she harbored toward me. We had come so close and so far in just one night.

  “What do you mean the same woman?” Her jaw clamped shut.

  I swallowed. “There is another who is cursed as well—my wife.”

  Everything in her body tensed. “Your wife? The one who died?” I felt muscles coil beneath my fingers. “The one who cheated? How? Where is she?”

  I gave Lancer a strained glance. He was sitting on the edge of his seat, face pained.

  I had to do this.

  I had no choice.

  “I have her in my hands right now. You ... Alexandria. It’s you.”

  Her face fell in silent horror. All of the color drained from her face, and her jaw dropped.

  “What?” I barely heard her whisper.

  Taking her hands in mine, I softened my voice to ease the blow.

  “You are the reincarnation of my wife. Isabella, Anne, Katherine—they were all reincarnations of my wife.” I tried to convey to her the urgency of my situation, but all I got in return was fear.

  “How? I’m cursed?” She started to shake. “Why haven’t you been able to let go? You should let your wife go. This is m-my life. I’m not them, Avalon. I’m me.”

  “No, no, shh, I know.” I ran a hand through her hair. “I know, Alexandria, I know you are you. That is actually what makes this a lot harder.” I offered her a gentle smile. “I am truly interested in you as Alexandria more so than the soul of my wife.”

  “You’re lying ...”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you. That fact is the truth.” I tried to keep her calm, but my fragile hold was slipping.