Accidentally Fell For My Ex's Uncle. The Dark Alpha novel Chapter 4

REMI POV

"Okay, Remi. What are we doing?"

I was talking to myself like a crazy person. Which was appropriate given my current situation.

"Zaya would calculate the odds. She'd say something smart like 'the probability of you dying if you investigate creepy chain sounds is seventy-three percent.'" I mimicked her voice. "And then Jade would tell me to stop being dramatic and just go look."

The chains rattled again. Louder this time. Like someone was dragging them across stone.

"And my mom would say 'Remi Olandria Cross, you better not go looking for trouble.'" I looked at the door. "Which obviously means I'm about to go looking for trouble."

I glanced down at the wedding dress crumpled on the floor. Bloodstained. Torn. And that green stain near the neckline—the same color I'd seen under the dead bride's fingernails.

"Yeah, no. I'm not wearing a dead woman's dress. Even I have standards."

Which left me with option two.

The lingerie.

I picked up the black lace thong and bra that Kade had brought. Held them up to the candlelight.

"Oh, fuck no. This is basically string with delusions of grandeur."

The chains rattled again.

"Okay, okay. String it is."

I stripped off the innerdress of the gown and pulled on the lingerie. The lace felt expensive against my skin—nothing like the cheap cotton I usually wore. I caught my reflection in the mirror and stopped.

Holy shit.

I looked... good. Better than good.

The black lace made my curves look hot. My ass looked amazing in the thong. My waist looked tiny. My boobs actually looked fuller.

Marcus had bought me clothes before—nice things, expensive things—but they always felt like costumes. Like I was playing dress-up as someone I wasn't.

This felt like me.

"Damn," I said to my reflection. "Maybe I should almost-die more often."

The chains dragged across stone again. Closer now.

I grabbed the bed sheet and wrapped it around myself like the world's sexiest toga.

"Fuck it. Let's go save a cursed alpha or die trying. What's the worst that could happen?"

I tried the door.

It opened.

"Okay, not locked. That's... either good or very bad."

I stepped into the hallway. The palace was dark, lit only by torches along the walls. The chain sounds were coming from my left.

I took two steps and heard someone clear their throat behind me.

I spun around.

Marcus was standing there, looking like he'd been lurking outside my door for hours. His hair was messy, his shirt untucked, and he had that desperate puppy-dog look that used to make me melt.

Now it just pissed me off.

"What the hell are you wearing?" His eyes dragged over me. Over the sheet that was barely covering the lingerie. "Are you already a whore for my uncle?"

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He stepped closer. "End this, Remi. Tell him it was a mistake. Tell him you were confused. He'll understand—"

"I'm your aunt now, Marcus." I crossed my arms. "Better show some respect."

His face twisted. "Stop saying that—"

"Aunt Remi. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"This is insane!" He grabbed my arm. "You don't belong here. You belong with me. I'll announce it to everyone—tell them who you are to me. My family will accept you—"

"Marcus!"

We both turned. Sophie was standing at the end of the hallway in a silk nightgown, looking perfectly composed even at whatever-the-hell-hour this was.

"I couldn't sleep," she said sweetly. "I have a terrible headache. Can you get me something?"

Marcus looked between us. Torn.

"Marcus," Sophie called again, sharper this time.

He hesitated for one more second. Then he turned and walked toward her.

Just like I knew he would.

I watched them disappear around the corner, Sophie's hand sliding possessively around his arm.

"Exactly like in the books," I muttered. "Foolish girl in love with her boyfriend while he gets manipulated by the scheming other woman through acts of fake kindness. Classic." I shook my head. "Not my problem anymore."

The chains rattled again.

I followed the sound down one hallway—past rooms with closed doors and sleeping guards who didn't even notice me.

And then I saw him.

Nero was in the middle of the corridor, chains dragging behind him from both wrists. But his eyes were empty. Glazed over like glass. Like he was looking at something I couldn't see.

His chest was bare, covered in sweat, and he was walking straight toward the open balcony at the end of the hall.

Straight toward a four-story drop onto stone courtyard.

"Nero!"

He didn't respond or even blink.

"NERO, STOP!"

Nothing. He kept walking.

I ran toward him. "Hey! Cursed Alpha! I'm talking to you!"

Still nothing.

I grabbed his arm. He was burning up—fever-hot and trembling.

"Nero, please. It's me. It's Remi. You need to wake up."

His eyes stayed empty. He took another step toward the balcony.

Ten feet away now.

"Okay, fuck this." I planted myself in front of him. Pushed against his chest. "I'm the one who's supposed to die from this stupid curse, not you. So stop trying to steal my thunder."

He walked right through me. Literally pushed me aside like I weighed nothing.

I was panicking now. What the hell was I supposed to do? I couldn't physically stop him—he was twice my size and clearly not conscious.

"Think, Remi. Think."

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