Chapter 138

Nathan POV

Catherine reached back to the bed, tugging at a wrinkle in the blanket, acting like she’d just been straightening the bedding.

“You startled me, Nathan,” she said, trying to smile and act like I hadn’t just caught her in the act of doing something she shouldn’t.

“I was hoping to have your surprise finished before you came home,” she said.

Like this “surprise” wasn’t a complete disruption of my living space.

I could tell she was hoping I hadn’t noticed that she wasn’t straightening out the blankets on my bed.

But I could also still tell that there was something in her hand.

I looked at the servants in the room, all of them with their hands full of furniture and other household items. And all of them watching me and Catherine, looks of concern on their faces.

Catherine had clearly been ordering them to do a complete overhaul of the room. Maybe even the whole house.

And now they were worried that they were the ones going to get in trouble for it.

It seemed what the servants had said yesterday was true. Catherine really did think she could just take over the house.

But she thought wrong.

“Out!” I ordered, and every single servant put down what they were holding and hurried out of the room.

I slammed the door behind the last of them, then marched over to Catherine.

She still had her hands behind her back.

I grabbed her arm and pulled, ignoring her cry of pain at being jostled like that.

And I forced her to show me what she was holding.

But when her hand finally opened, I stared at it, shock and disgust battling inside me.

It was a charm bag.

“Witchcraft?” I whispered, looking at her. Staring at her like I’d never seen her before.

Catherine, the Princess’ loyal cousin and friend.

My campaign coordinator.

Someone I’d come to think of as my own friend.

And here she was practicing witchcraft right under my nose.

She tried to tug her hand out of my iron grip, but it was useless.

Tears filled her eyes, eyes that looked so much like Claire’s.

“Please, Nathan, it was j-just something to help you sleep at night! I promise!

“You’ve been dealing with so much stress lately. I just wanted to help you any way I could…”

She stared up at me, those big beautiful eyes of her pleading.

But then, suddenly, I received a mindlink.

From Claire.

Nathan, I’m sorry to interrupt like this. And I know you might think I sound crazy here, but I need you to believe me:

Catherine had something to do with the shooting.

Either she knew it was going to happen, or she arranged for it herself.

Please, be careful.

I think she’s dangerous!

I listened to Claire’s message with growing rage.

And disgust. With myself.

Like Sabrina, another woman had tricked me. Manipulated me.

Wormed her way into my own home. And into my bed.

Catherine whimpered, and I realized I still had a hold on her wrist.

And that I was squeezing it painfully.

I dropped her wrist and marched to the door, flinging it open and calling for the butler to bring in my security personnel.

“Security? No, please,” Catherine said. “Nathan, let’s just talk about this.

“I’m not a threat to you! Whatever message you just received, whatever you’ve heard, you have to believe that!”

She buried her face in her hands. “I would never hurt you!”

I strode back over to her so fast she flinched.

“Wouldn’t hurt me? Then what’s this??”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the perfume bottle the servant brought to me.

Realizing what it was, Catherine paled.

“That’s right, I know about the pheromones you’ve been using on me.

“Whatever twisted game you’ve been playing here, Catherine, it’s over.”

I stared down at her in disgust.

“When my security gets here, they’re going to escort you out of Silverfang territory. I don’t care where you go from there, but I warn you:

“If you ever dare to show your face in my territory again, I’ll have you arrested. I swear, I’ll lock you up and throw away the keys.”

Catherine sobbed, grabbing at my hand.

“Nathan, you don’t understand! Look at me.

“Can’t you see? I love you. I love you in a way no one else ever will.”

“Is this how you show love, Catherine? With witchcraft and lies?”

I pulled my hand away from her, disgusted.

“You know who my mate is,” I said coldly. “What made you think you could ever take her place?”

“Your mate!” she cried, laughing wildly. “Some mate Claire is. She barely talks to you!

“She can’t love you, Nathan. Not like I do.”

Her eyes burned with a strange light, one that made me deeply uneasy.

“Would she take a bullet for you? Would she??”

My answer was immediate, and unquestioning.

I knew Claire’s heart, and knew what she would do for me.

She would sacrifice herself in an instant to save me, or our son.

The same as I would do for them.

“Yes,” I said, without a hint of a doubt in my mind. “Claire would do that without a single thought or hesitation.”

Catherine closed the distance between us, that light in her eyes growing brighter.

“But would she do it just to prove how much she loves you??” she whispered, creeping closer to me.

My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

I couldn’t help but take a step back from her. Something about her was frightening.

“Catherine, what on earth are you talking about?”

“I mean it was me!” she screamed.

“I arranged for that assassin! I set the whole thing up. So I could take the bullet!”

With every sentence she beat a fist to her chest, opening her wound. Blood began to seep out from her bandages, staining her shirt, covering her hand, spattering drops of it with every impact.

“I got shot for you, Nathan,” she said, following me as I backed away from her in horror.

“Don’t you see? What I said was true:

“No one on earth can love you the way I do.”

Feeling nauseous as I stared into her wild, crazed eyes, I realized Catherine wasn’t evil.

Not like Sabrina had been, with all her plotting and scheming.

But she was definitely sick.

My security team arrived just as I walked out to the landing, Catherine following me, dripping blood onto the carpet.

They stared at her, wide eyed, in fear and fascination.

“Sir,” the head security agent said, tearing her eyes away from the sight of the crazy expression on Catherine’s face.

“What are your orders?”

A wave of pity washed through me.

“The Duchess is very sick,” I said. “I want you to escort her to the mental hospital in Salt Springs territory.

“They have the best facility in the realm,” I said to Catherine. “You’ll get the help you need there. I’ll make sure of it.”

But Catherine fought the security personnel when they tried to take her arms.

She fought and clawed and tried to bite.

They dragged her away screaming.