Author's note: this is from Serina's point of view

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My steps slowed down when I saw two guys in front of us further ahead in the alley. They were looking at us with suspicious smirks on their faces and it made me nervous.

When Duke pulled me closer to him I realized that he noticed them as well.

Crap, there are two guys behind us as well!

Were they following us?

I was immersed in my joy of being with Duke and I completely forgot about potential dangers!

Where is Marius? Oh, right… I told my father that we are not going to leave the property, so Marius stayed in London with his regular duties.

This was the worst possible scenario. Should I reveal my abilities and expose myself as non-human?

I was planning to talk about this with Duke, but later and gradually. What if he thinks I'm a monster?

Before I came up with more scary scenarios, the guy in front of us asked for our wallets and valuables. I didn't like his lecherous gaze directed my way, but I was relieved to find out they are just muggers and not related to the hooded guys from the event at the Council.

Duke pushed me against the wall and stood in front of me protectively.

Four guys looked at us smugly and they didn't rush to approach us. They found strength in numbers and the fact that Duke was shielding me, told them that I'm not good at fighting.

The guy I assumed was the leader was still talking, telling us not to try calling the cops and that screaming for help won't help either. Next, the guy was saying that they will play with me and he announced how he will get the first turn, and I grit my teeth in annoyance while trying to ignore his words.

This was not the right time or place to blow up in rage.

I was contemplating how to deal with this without Duke freaking out. Maybe I could pretend to punch a guy, and at the same time use the wind to blow him away... or something like that. Can I make it believable? In either case, I wanted to let Duke know that it's fine and I got this.

To my surprise, Duke didn't seem to be worried at all. His gaze was brimming with wild confidence as if he was itching for a fight and I could feel the icy hostility rippling from him.

I guess Duke didn't need translation for what the mugger said because their body language and expressions spoke volumes.

Duke extended his arm and gave them the middle finger.

Well, that's universal for 'fuck off'.

I would laugh at their outraged faces if not for the tricky situation.

The guys in front were further away, but the guys who sneaked behind us were creeping closer. Too close for comfort.

"Stay here and don't move…", Duke told me in a low voice and dashed toward the two closer guys with a speed that stunned me and the muggers.

I opened my mouth to tell him to stay put, but the words were stuck in my throat. Can a man run this fast?

Duke was in a full run when he jumped and twisted his body at the waist.

His foot crashed one guy's face, blood splattering instantly and sending him flying backward. Duke used that same momentum to connect his fist with the second guy's face, right in the middle, and the sound of bones cracking was heard.

All three of them touched the ground at the same time with Duke landing elegantly while the two scoundrels were knocked out, plopping lifelessly on the pavement.

My breath hitched. I always despised violence, but this was wonderful.

One hit. It took Duke one hit for each of the guys to render them unconscious and based on the amount of blood and the hair-raising sounds of bones cracking, those two guys will need a lot of time to recover.

Such power.

I knew that Duke was faster and stronger than anyone in our high school, but I didn't expect this. If it didn't happen right in front of me, I would say that it was actors exaggerating combined with special effects for an action movie.

"Bâtard!", one of the other two scoundrels (aka the leader) screamed when he realized that his two companions are out of commission.

It all happened so fast that they didn't react at all, and they could only gape at Duke in disbelief (me included).

Duke walked toward me unhurriedly, without removing his bloodthirsty gaze from the remaining two muggers.

I thought that Duke might grab my hand and make a run for it, after all, one side of the alley was available for us to flee. Instead, he stood in front of me, shielding me with his body while facing the other two guys.

I stared at Duke's broad back, feeling his violent energy, and I never felt so safe; not even with Lazarus or Aldus. Duke was my mountain, and somehow I knew that he would protect me no matter what.

My daze cracked when I saw the leader pulling a knife.

The good thing was that he didn't have a gun, but that was still a knife.

I could use the wind to whip them away or suck the air out of their lungs but how could I explain to Duke why they collapsed?

"Remember, don't move…", Duke nearly growled without turning to look at me and I held my breath when he dashed toward the other two guys.

The leader was shouting for Duke to stop while waving the knife, but Duke expertly avoided the jab and grabbed his wrist.

The guy screamed as his wrist was bent at an unusual angle and Duke snatched his knife and threw it at the second mugger, hitting him in the shoulder.

The mugger with the knife in his shoulder was staring at the handle that was sticking out of his body and he didn't see Duke's foot landing on his chest violently and propelling him backward. He hit the wall harshly and slid down in slow motion.

The leader screamed when Duke let go of his hand and before the guy could stumble backward, Duke grabbed him at the collar and pulled him closer to him.

"No one gets to threaten my woman and leaves unscathed."

My insides trembled at the intensity of Duke's words, and I jolted when Duke punched the man in the face, blood surging from his mouth together with a few loose teeth instantly.

I could see the guy's eyes rolling back until they were white, and he fell down like a ragdoll when Duke let go of him.

And just like that, it was over.

Duke turned to me slowly, almost reluctantly, and I could see a myriad of emotions on his face.

He didn't move, so I walked over to him.

"Are you OK?", I asked.

"I'm sorry…"

I was confused. Why is he apologizing?

"I didn't mean to do this, but they were cornering us, and I saw how he was looking at you and I lost it. Normally, I am not a violent person."

I blinked while processing his words. Is Duke afraid I will think badly of him because he beat up four muggers?

I realized that he is also hiding some things out of fear of rejection.

I smiled. "Thank you for saving me."

I could see relief washing over Duke's handsome face.

"Let me see your hands.", I said while hoping that the blood is not his.

He delivered fierce punches, and I was sure that he will need at least some ice to prevent swelling.

Duke gave me his hands obediently.

"Don't worry about it, Serina. I heal fast.", he said and glanced around. "We should leave this place in case there are more of them lurking around."

I agreed with this one.

Duke wiped his hands on the shirt of one of the muggers and we walked away.

Of course, after this incident, I insisted that we return to the villa. Sweets can wait.

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