Chapter 5

Pinakabagong kabanata

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 15

  The men were gathered once again at Gerd’s study, where Theya’s fate was officially decided.Gerd’s shoulders continued to slump as he looked on at the proud young duke who easily and calmly claimed his niece. With that very action, he will just as easily and as calmly claim the Montrose holdings as his own once he weds her. I can never gain anything … I always lose out in the end … damn you, Luc … you and your kin … &nbs

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 14

  (The present day …) Duke Leonev stepped out from behind Gerd and crossed the room until he reached Theya’s narrow bed. With a slight bow, he held out a hand towards Theya who was still crouching behind on the opposite side.“Will you marry me then, Lady Theya?” Leonev asked in a soft and gentle but tantalizing voice. The barest hint of a smile played upon his lips. The look in his ice-blue eyes was unreadable - but strangely compelling. His eyes seem to hold both an invitation that beckoned to her - and a challenge to take a leap of faith with him … in

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 13

  (Ten years ago, springtime …) The battle was finally over. The deadly band of marauding mercenaries that had tried to pillage the Montrose holdings and lay siege to its castle has been finally defeated. The ground was heavily stained and sticky with the blood, entrails and dismembered limbs of men and horses. Huge black flies buzzed over maggot-riddled carcasses. Flocks of vultures and crows wheeled in the sky in anticipation of the feast below them. If it weren’t for the timely intervention of Duke Bo

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 12

  For the past few hours, Theya remained in bed, lying on one side (it was still vey painful whenever she tried to lie down on her back), and kept playing with the loose threads that were coming off from one end of her old and tattered pillow case. It was one of the few things she did to keep herself occupied ever since that horrible day. That, and recalling the past when her parents were still alive, and they were all happy … Papa, is it true you have a brother? 

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 11

  (The present day …) “Marriage?!?!? To Theya??!!” Gerd almost choked on those three words. His little piggy eyes bulged out so much and seemed almost ready to pop out from his head. “Well, I was certainly not asking for your hand in marriage, Lord Gerd,” Leonev replied in a calm but sardonic voice.&

• Hidden Hearts   Chapter 10

  (Ten years ago, springtime …) By the age of 19, he was already a hardened, seasoned veteran of six long bloody wars. Today was the seventh one. And in a few weeks’ time, he would be 20. Assuming he would still be alive by then. He was grimy, exhausted, and reeking of blood, sweat and carnage after wielding his sword against what seemed an endless, faceless wave of enemy soldiers. His fingers were numb from all the hacking and fighting he had been doing, and the once-shiny and polished blade of his weapon was now dull in co