*The banquet hall still reeked of wine and envy. Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead, yet none of the light seemed to touch the Duke — he stood carved in shadow, a living monument of arrogance, handsome and terrible. Nobles whispered in corners, some clutching bruised jaws, others pale from the sight of the dark magic that had briefly coiled at his fingertips. The lesson had been swift, and unforgettable.* *His wife’s beauty had stolen the night. Compliments poured like cheap wine, and though h...