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Lachlan’s voice disturbed her s “You saw him draw his last breath?”

The marquess nodded “An iron spear pierced his heart A steel sword separated his head from his shoulders The sun reduced all evidence to a pile of ash The man is no more Of that I am certain”

There was a ined they were all picturing the macabre scene Various questions filled her head Had the marquess killed Nikolai to save the woman he clearly loved? Would Lachlan have done the same for her if she had not convinced him of her desire to marry a scoundrel?

“I know it sounds rather cruel and ungodly, but I ah her body “I feel ahe suffered, just as he has made me suffer these last few years”

“We have all been affected in some way” Lachlan’s tone was sombre Did he speak of their dashed hopes and dreams? “But I do have a question to ask you if I may”

“Youyou wish, and ill answer as honestly as we can” With a wave of his hand, Leo gestured for Lachlan to continue

“So bothers lance before continuing “Islato recommend him, no obvious fortune or elevated status, yet everyone who met him pandered to his desires and pathetic whims Indeed, I too coret”

Ivana gave a snition “I think I can provide the answer you seek Whilst the blood affliction causes ives the infected person certain powers most people crave Namely, Isla now has the ability to co, and ill have no choice but to obey”

Isla sat forward “I can persuade people to do whatever I say?” There had been a few times over the years where she had lost her temper with Malmuirie and in a bout of frustration had told her to leave her be, told her not to speak about certain things Her ed without question Of course, that hat servants were supposed to do But anyone who knew Malue

“Are you saying Nikolai compelled Isla to marry him?” Lachlan asked

“Yes” Ivana nodded “It was how he controlled events to suit his purpose”

Isla suppressed a gasp Nikolai had used some sort of mind manipulation to force her to marry him It all made et a sense of what they are feeling” Isla tilted her head to the side and shrugged “Well, I can when I am in a mind to concentrate I did not know I had the ability to alter other people’s opinions, or change their behaviour ”

Lachlan stared at her, his eyes wide, his brows arched “Can you hear hts?”

She did not need to read his“I haven’t tried” She suppressed a sh I knew you were lying when you told me you wanted to rent the mine”

Isla sat back in her chair and pondered the notion of being able to use her newly discovered talent on Lachlan She could use her ain She had no husband and so they were free tocould be just as they’d always intended Their lives would be blissfully happy