7

Ian

From the moment I'd returned back to the capital, David Matthias had been an annoying thorn in my side. He clearly wanted something from me, and instead of just spitting it out so I could turn him down, he was there every time I turned around and it kept me from seeing Mabel.

Or maybe that was actually his damn goal since I wouldn't risk them running into each other.

If he was smarter, I would have thought he was using my connection with her as a way to have an excuse to see her, but he seemed oblivious to that. From the way he spoke, he still thought of me as Gerald's dog and felt I'd been used by my cousin to help Mabel to get at his father.

Honestly, it seemed as if he thought us in the same circumstance like Gerald was more my father and both of us mistreated and underappreciated by our families. He wasn't wrong, but I was my own man and a grand duke.

Plus—and this was a very, very important distinction—I wasn't a fucking moron that Gerald should be embarrassed by as the marquis should David.

So if I cut through David's bluster, it seemed as if he really was trying to be my friend and wanted to plot a coup. Get rid of his father who was leaning more and more towards picking his cousin Raymond as his successor and then he would support me in taking over Gerald.

There were so many issues with what I thought he might be proposing that it wasn't even funny.

The main one being David Mathias was a moron who I wouldn't trust with anything. Not even lighting my cigar. That would require handing him something sharp and the man was such a disaster that I would worry a finger would be lost or clothing would be set on fire.

Truly, he was such a dolt.

So when he showed up once again to try and make me his friend when I wanted to spend time with Mabel, I decided to put an end to this.

Hard.

"When you said we should take a ride, this is not exactly what I had in mind, Ian," he grumbled as we got out of my carriage.

"I would remind you of your manners, Count," I ground out. On top of everything else, the piece of shit was calling me by my first name in public and acting like we were already friends. Next, I was going to have a long conversation with the marquis about his son and plans for his father.

Along with maybe Raymond and ending the insanity of how the Matthias family had historically behaved.

"Oh, sure, sure," David chuckled.

Dismissive little pissant.

I nodded to the guards who scrambled to let me inside. It was hard not to smirk when David flinched. He hadn't come in this back way when he'd spent time in the capital's prison. He'd been so excited about my agreeing to go somewhere with him that he hadn't stopped to question what I'd been willing to do with him.

The man really was a moron.

He figured it out after we walked down the flight of stairs and the first row of cells became visible. People were sitting on the dirty floors or lying down trying to sleep in this hell. Soft moans of pain or misery filled my ears, but there was one other kind of moan that I wanted David to focus on.

"What is the meaning of this?" David hissed as he hurried to catch up to me.

"I thought this was the favor you were asking for?" I said innocently as I lengthened my stride so the shorter man fell behind.

He quickened his pace to catch up, but then almost fell over his feet when a voice familiar to him cried out in pleasure.

"Yes, yes, harder," Angie yelled. "Give me more!"

Angie as in his mistress who was imprisoned there before she was going to be executed in a few days.

"No one wants to hear your annoying voice," a man growled. "Put it to better use."

"Yessssss," she hissed. "Let me suck a real cock again. No more tiny cocks. I just want to be surrounded with real cocks if I am going to die. I am so glad I never have to pretend anymore that I loved that tiny little fucking cock that couldn't last. Give me real cock."

I almost fell over laughing. The best part?

She had no idea he was there.

The guards didn't either. This wasn't planned.

I hadn't set this up. I simply knew this was going on… At her request.

David stormed ahead, and when we came around the corner so we could see her cell she was greedily sucking off a guard while another was fucking her. He spun around and reached for me, but I easily blocked him. "How could you allow the guards to prey on her like this?"

"Prey on her?" I burst out laughing, gesturing to her moaning and touching herself. "It was her idea. The guards checked with their supervisor, and that was how I became aware of the situation. He filed the correct paperwork since it's allowed for death row inmates. He gave the exception of ‘last requests' basically. She offered herself for any guard who wanted her."

"You lie," he snarled and tried for me again. "She loves only me and—"

"And you left her to die to save your own skin and not spend any time in jail," I drawled. I smirked at him when he flinched. "I thought you were buttering me up to ask me the favor of coming to apologize to her for breaking all of your promises to her. Was that not your goal?"

He gave me a look like he maybe overestimated my intelligence.

Idiot.

The guard practically choked Angie with his cock as he finished and she went wild, climaxing as well from the treatment. The other orgasmed in her pussy and then they just dropped her to the ground like a used whore, not caring at all about her or her comfort.

But they looked mortified when they realized I was there, scrambling to cover themselves and address me the right way.

"You are fine, gents," I forgave, not able to control my amusement. "Your superior filed the correct paperwork. As long as no one's cheating on a spouse or lover, you have done nothing wrong."

The one guard raised his hand. "My wife gave me permission for blow jobs, Your Grace." He nodded when I raised an eyebrow at that. "She's pregnant and she likes how I feel guilty and rub her feet every morning when I get off. She said I can have all the blow jobs I want until the prisoner dies and then she will cut off my balls if I get any after."

It was really hard not to laugh at that. "I hope you give the lady foot rubs well after your child is born."

He gave me a dopey grin. "For the rest of her life and—"

"I do not fucking care about his stupid wife and their deal!" David roared looking like he was going to explode.

Right, I'd forgotten about this tosser and the drama I'd brought here. I nodded for the guards to get gone and not be in range of this, and they hurried to do it, other guards switching out just in case there was a problem.

"What the fuck are you doing, Angie?" David demanded, storming over to the cell and hitting the bars.

"Finally being satisfied," she chuckled darkly, lying on the dirty cell floor and not bothering to move or try to cover herself. She smirked at me, licking her lips. "Do anything you want to me, Grand Duke. Please. It would be my ultimate—"

I shivered in disgust. "Do not finish that sentence. I could not stand the images or nightmares it would give me." I held up my hand when she opened her mouth. "Do not test me. I could make your last hours hell and take away your fun or I can give you a nice meal and hot shower."

She wisely shut her mouth and didn't push my buttons. I probably shouldn't have offered that. It felt like betraying Mabel even doing that but honestly, the way this was wounding David was worth it.

As much as Angie had hurt and done too much to Mabel, she was just as much a pawn in all of this as Mabel. If she hadn't been involved with David and been a part of his madness and lies, she would never have gone after Mabel. I could never forgive Angie, and what she'd done was unforgivable, but she'd been preyed on too.

She'd been fourteen when David had brought her into his home and promised her the world and to become a marchioness if she did everything he'd wanted. Then he'd brought in another woman and… She was a horrible person, but she'd had help descending into her madness and ending up where she had.

Plus, I really did have enough of my own demons. I didn't need her adding to my nightmares and issues. I wanted to stick it to David, not have more reasons to drink.

David went off on her, and the bile that came out of his mouth was revolting but expected.

Angie gave me a bored look a few minutes in. "Do I have to keep listening to this useless tiny dick, Your Grace? I do not have many hours left to live, and I spent so many years of my life listening to his garbage. It's all lies and drivel. The only good thing about dying is I will finally be free of him even if he was going to keep me safe."

"No, you do not have to, but you do not have to hold back with him anymore either," I reminded her. "He cannot hurt you, and you cannot get in any more trouble than you already are."

Amusement filled her eyes as she realized what I was doing… When he still didn't. She stood and opened her mouth but then sighed, looking over David. "He's not even worth it." She nodded when I couldn't hide my shock. "He's a moron, Your Grace. I have always known that. He's a fucking idiot."

"I am a moron?" David blasted. "You are just—"

"David, everyone knows you are an idiot," Angie sighed, pushing her hair back. "I never loved you. I played you. You gave me everything I could never have thought to wish for and you promised to protect me. That was what I loved. You are an idiot with a tiny dick, a horrible temper, an inferiority complex, and an ego bigger than four kingdoms.

"And that's why you are not worth wasting my breath on to yell at. I could scream at you that you failed me and how dare you betray me to save your own skin, but I know that would be hypocritical because I never loved you. You do not. You do not even know what hypocritical really means and I can barely read.

"You use it wrong all of the time and I am a commoner who can barely read. But you are so deluded and full of yourself that you think everyone else is wrong. It's like barking at the wind, and I am going to die and I do not want to waste my last moments. So please, just leave. Go find your next idiot to lie to and fuck with that pathetic little dick that will not give her pleasure.

"Though I doubt you'll be able to because from what I hear, your father finally has had it with you, and Raymond will probably inherit." She shook her head. "I really should have taken his offer to disappear with money instead of trusting you. I knew you were stupid, but I really thought you were loyal. I never thought you would let me end up like this."

"To be fair, he did fight for you, but given what you did to a noble, it was never going to happen," I cut in.

"Idiot," she sighed, giving David a furious look. "You promised me that she would never leave that house alive. You say you are a man, but you will always be a scared little boy who listens only to Daddy. Daddy said to get married to her, so you did. Daddy would get mad if you killed her, so you kept her around. I said get rid of her, but you are stupid and ruined everything!"

I swallowed loudly and thanked the goddess that David hadn't listened to her and had given Mabel the divorce papers instead. I couldn't imagine my life without her in it anymore, and if I had missed the chance to meet her… It was better not to think of such things.

"That bitch will get hers," David snapped.

"She already did," I chuckled darkly. "A whole lot of your money as she was owed." I raised an eyebrow when he turned to me. "I am on her side. Never forget that, Matthias. And I agree with the woman. You are a moron. This whole ploy of yours was never going to work. We will never be friends. I am not going to help you overthrow your father, and I am not trying to become king."

Angie blinked between us a moment before she burst out laughing.

Oh good, even the monster realized how stupid the ploy was. She laughed and laughed and ignored when David raged out on her and started spewing more bile. Then he tried to break into her cell to get at her. I shook my head at the guards and let him throw the fit.

What was he going to do? As long as he didn't come after one of us, I didn't care.

When he was finally done, I told them to have fun and let her have a shower before dragging David back outside. The goal was achieved.

And I left him there to find his own way back home.

Pissant.

There was one thing I did learn from their interaction that I did want to handle. It would be a long flight, but luckily my hawk was powerful, and as long as I didn't do it often, I had extra tricks up my sleeve.

Well, feathers.

After I shifted forms, I flew through space or teleported or… I wasn't really sure what I did. Grandfather said it was as if we shifted locations the way we could shift forms. Either way, I was suddenly outside the Matthias estate at the house where Mabel used to live with David.

And I had a very specific target in mind.

Unfortunately, I didn't know what the butler looked like, but the goddess clearly agreed that he needed to be punished because after only a few minutes of watching the house, he came into the kitchen. I listened as he went over some orders and items with the staff and confirmed several things with the head maid.

Yes, this was clearly the guy in charge and David's right hand in the house… And the one who had been integral in making Mabel's life so horrible there.

Not only had he neglected to give Mabel medical treatment and care, but he would make sure salt was added to her cold baths when she had open wounds. He wouldn't let maids help her even if Angie didn't stop them.

In other words, he was a monster who had gotten away with crimes.

And I wasn't going to allow that.

I waited until he was alone and actually stepped outside for something. Luck really was on my side for this. I shifted back and bopped him on the head to easily knock him out. Hefting him over my shoulder, I carried him over to the stable. I found the strongest horse in the back stall and then laid the butler down.

I smirked down at him and stomped on his chest at the right height for him to have been kicked by a horse and crushed his rib cage. I listened as his heart sputtered and died from the force of it before tossing the man as if he had been kicked after he spooked the horse. I felt bad for the poor animal… But it was for the greater good and hopefully it understood that.

In my mind, it did because it kept up with the ruckus. I took out whatever coins I had in my pocket and tossed them at the butler's feet, trying to build a story like he had hidden them out in the stall. It explained why he was out there at night and had spooked the horse because he wasn't there often.

Or enough to let people come up with something like that. The horse kept going and I heard yelling, probably from whoever tended to the stable. I shifted back and flew up to the rafters just in time to see a man come lumbering over hollering for the horse to shut up.

But the horse didn't.

The whole scene unfolded beautifully, and I headed out with my mission accomplished. I flew back to the capital and to Mabel, not surprised when I found her working. I landed where I was covered and changed forms before jumping down to where I needed to be.

"Sorry," I whispered when she yelped.

"Ian!"

"I know, I know," I sighed, running my hand over my head when she gave me the look I deserved. "I cannot be here though, but there was something—I had to tell you."

Her face instantly filled with concern.

I smiled. Of course, that was where her mind went. She was too good for all of us. I walked over to her and took her hands in mine. "I wanted you to hear it from me, but you have to be surprised if the news reaches your ears. I doubt it will though, which is why—"

"Just tell me before I smack you," she grumbled.

I let out a slow breath. "David's butler is dead. He died tonight." I realized my mistake when she flinched.

She pulled her hands away and stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "How could you possibly know that if it happened tonight?"

"Magic."

"Yes, of course, but…"

I swallowed loudly. "He needed to be punished for what he did to you, Mabel. I could not leave it alone." When she didn't say anything, I told her what I'd done with David and Angie, leaving off the sex and dirty parts with the guards.

I also didn't mention that had all happened today as well.

She sat heavily on her stool and waved me off when I came towards her. She rubbed her face and seemed like she was straining to digest it all. "I have been struggling with… I want to attend her execution. I know ladies do not attend, but I need to. I need to. I have been trying to ask you to bring me. I have been so scared to and then you do this."

I moved closer and knelt before her. "I feel like I should apologize, but I am not sure what for."

"No, do not apologize," she whispered as she lifted her hand and ran her fingers through my hair. "Thank you for punishing that man. He was so… He made everything so much worse. He loved my pain."

"Will you tell me?" I asked when she stopped talking.

"It's not pretty," she warned.

"I still want to know."

She stopped teasing my hair. "Will you tell me about the war?" She nodded when I flinched. "Another day. It's harder than it sounds. I also have to focus on my company launch."

"But it's not that you do not trust me?"

"No, not at all," she promised. She took in a deep breath and let it out. "Will you escort me to her execution?"

"Yes, Mabel. I will handle everything."

"Thank you, Ian. Thank you."

Two days later I kept my promise. I picked her up and we quietly rode to the prison. I'd arranged it so Angie would be gagged so she couldn't say anything to upset Mabel with her last words. She seemed the type to try and haunt her as her last evil deed.

Call me crazy, but after spending even the little time with the woman I had, she would want to get that last win in before she died.

I knew I was right when joy filled her eyes when she saw Mabel, then rage that she was gagged. I smirked at her from over Mabel's shoulder. I kissed Mabel's hair which she barely registered… But Angie saw and understood. The woman would die fully knowing that I planned to make Mabel my grand duchess one day.

And Angie had failed to even become the countess of a man she didn't love.

I hoped she suffered for eternity with that knowledge.

"Can we skip the reading of the crimes?" Mabel asked when she realized what was coming.

"Of course, lovely," I whispered, raising the volume of my voice and telling the warden to move ahead. "If you do not want to watch, I will, and you can see after or turn around and…"

"No, I want to see it," Mabel said firmly, ignoring when her voice was wobbled a bit.

Good for her.

She accepted my comfort, letting me move my arm around her and pull her against me. It infuriated Angie, but Mabel didn't notice, too lost in her own thoughts or simply thinking that Angie had been unruly the whole time.

But I knew the truth. Mabel was here being doted on by the second-most powerful man in the kingdom, one of the royals, and no one was even here for Angie in her last moments alive.

Mabel had clearly won.

Clearly.

Except Mabel wasn't petty and would never see it that way. That was fine, I could be petty for her.

Mabel's legs went weak the moment the executioner took Angie's head. I tightened my arm around her so no one would notice but moved my other arm around her as well and she grabbed onto me like a lifeline. She stared at Angie's body another few moments before turning towards me.

I took that as the signal she was done. I nodded to the prison staff and thanked them before getting Mabel out of there. She was strong and made it to the carriage before she fainted from the stress.

When she woke later, she looked younger, lighter. She… It was hard to remember she was only mid-twenties. She looked and seemed so much older at times. She had lived too much and from such a young age.

All I wanted to do was give her more to smile about and let her be young. I hated that she had suffered so much, and if I had to kill all the butlers or people who had hurt her, I would. I didn't care the cost to me later.

I would do it for her.