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Leo followed her gaze, shuffled over to theand stared out “I have no idea” He offered a shrug and an amused chuckle as he turned to face her “It is probably a local hunting ritual or an ancient ceremony to assist with fertility I’ve often found that those who live in res”
“There is nothing wrong with tradition,” she said raising a disapproving brow “Soreat deal froenerations”
“Tell that to Herr Bruhn when he boasts about brewing his new beer The old method produced a drink that is far too bitter and cloudy”
The carriage ca it was evident Sylvester had climbed down from the box seat and that they had reached their destination They heard the squeak of a rusty gate before their coachuided the conveyance across the narrow bridge
Ivana had expressed so Sylvester to accompany them on their trip She’d wanted hiuard their ho consequences of the blood affliction Without the ability to compel another driver to keep their secret, should they find the wo Sylvester along
They rattled through the stone gatehouse and into the bailey The loud clattering would certainly alert the castle’s occupants of their arrival As soon as the carriage rumbled to a halt, Leo opened the door and vaulted out
“Good Lord, it feels wonderful to stretch my limbs” He offered her his hand “Allow me to assist you, my lady”
She nodded, but rather than lower the steps his niers settled on her waist, and he lifted her down slowly until her feet touched the ground
After a quick attelanced up at the dull grey facade “If you had covered ht me here, I would think I was home”
Leo followed her gaze “It does bear a striking resemblance to the castle in Bavaria You said the wos are not coincidences Like most men, it appears Nikolai had his preferences”
Ivana shook her head “Nikolai always had an ulteriorhe did I doubt hair colour and the place one rests their head had anything to do with it Trust me It is a coincidence”
“Or it is fate” Leo quirked a brow “After all that has occurred, I think we both have some faith in that possibility”
“Well, ill know the answer soon enough” She glanced around the empty bailey, scanned the dark, dreary facade once ested no one was ho a storm and had consequently closed the shutters “Do you not think it is odd that no one has ht to be here? Or at the very least, attempted to establish if we have lost our way In such a remote location, I suspect they rarely have visitors”
Leo rubbed his chin “The affliction can ers What would you do if faced with a similar situation?”
Ivana conte with such a terrible secret often made one delusional, overly suspicious A solitary existence was far preferable than risking discovery “I would hide in the shadows, refuse to open the door, hope they would grow tired and leave”