The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride

The door to the chamber Quinn used was opened by a guard.

Quinn looked up from the book he kept himself busy with and smiled upon seeing who walked into the room.

"When I asked for the king to send me a companion, I did not think he would so gracefully offer his son to lie in bed with me. I had a growing interest in your wife, but you would do," Quinn said, closing the book.

"Not even in your dreams would something so sinful happen. You wanted an audience, and here we are. You've fallen so far since I last saw you," Tyrion said as he walked further into the room.

"Fallen?" Quinn chuckled. "I have the prince in my home. A pleasure not many can speak of. Must I still refer to you as a prince? You did abandon the palace. Please say that I can call you whatever I like."

"He is a prince, and you must be careful how you speak to him. You are on thin ice, Quinn. You would receive a lighter punishment if you spoke now," said Mark.

"Lighter? Look around, you fool. The men in this room want to kill me. They are just holding back their weapons now because they think they can save others. You're going to need to place more guards to protect me from them," Quinn said, staring down Tyrion.

"You will be protected by the court until it is time for you to stand trial-"

"No wonder he got rid of so many of you. The court is full of fools. Where is the duke? He is the one I want to speak with. I know you didn't come without him," Quinn said, looking at the door. "I will speak with only him."

"Or what?" Tyrion asked. 'What will happen if you don't get to see the duke?"

"Then, another body will be placed. You'll have yourself to blame for someone losing their life. Can you live with that?" Quinn asked, enjoying the smug smile Tyrion wore.

That smile was bound to go away soon.

"Yes, I can. Go ahead and kill someone else. Shock the town with a death," Tyrion encouraged Quinn.

Mark frowned. "Your highness, we are here to save lives, not add to the deaths."

"I am aware of this, but I want to see the power of Quinn Monroe. Can he command his followers when he is heavily guarded here? If he can do that, then he is a man the king should fear. Wouldn't you agree, Mark?" Tyrion asked, seeking support from Mark.

"No. I would rather not take the chance that someone might die," Mark replied.

Whatever Tyrion was planning wasn't worrying about it in Mark's eyes.

They shouldn't take any risks when it involves someone's life.

"Life is about chance. If we don't take any chances, then we might always be stuck. Should a body be found, then I take full responsibility for it. So, go on," Tyrion urged Quinn.

Quinn was puzzled by Tyrion's bold move. He was curious if the prince had stumbled upon something to make him act this way.

Still, Quinn wasn't afraid.

"I look forward to news of you apologising, Prince Tyrion. After you apologise to the town, I would like you to apologise to me. For making me go through all the trouble to find a good spot to place-"

"I want it at the church in town. That would give the town quite a scare," said Tyrion.

"Trying to see who will deliver the body won't give you any clues. My men are loyal enough to kill themselves before you can get an answer out of them. I urge you not to be so bold," Quinn said, disliking the way Tyrion spoke. "You will never be able to understand me."

"Unluckily for you, I understand you quite well. I will only see reason to fear you or take you seriously if a body is placed before the church. If needed, I can make it easier for you. Have it placed by your father's home, but then again, it's being destroyed right now-"

"What?!" Quinn's voice filled the room.

Quinn sat up, furious that they would destroy something he worked so hard to get his hands on.

"What would you destroy a perfectly good home for? I have done the repairs on it. You had ample time to tear it down, but now you want to take it from my hands? I have so few valuables from my father," said Quinn.

William's home was his last gift to Quinn. It held treasures.

"It doesn't matter what a dead man wants. That home belongs to a man who troubled ladies, and now a son who killed others. It shouldn't be left standing in Lockwood-"

"Yet you allow Simon's house to stand!" Quinn yelled, frustrated that they were toying with him.

Tyrion thoroughly enjoyed Quinn's outburst. "It doesn't feel good to have something stolen from you, does it? Why would you think that you would get to keep it after all that you did? Any valuables that are there will be given to the family of the victims."

Quinn moved to get off the bed, which resulted in Rafael unsheathing his sword. "Victims? I gave them money, and when they could not pay me back, I took their lives. It was a business exchange."

"Take a house or land. Not someone's life. When you die, I won't let it be known that you were William's son. You will be remembered as a nobody who came into town and had victims. You'll die a Monroe rather than a Lancaster," Tyrion said, toying with Quinn.

"You-"

"Oh, look at me. I spoke too much. Henry," Tyrion said, his gaze fixed on Quinn. "You may question him now. I don't want to take up too much of your last day."

Tyrion noticed how Quinn stared at Henry like the news was something he didn't like. Quinn glared at Henry, but it didn't last long. Had Tyrion not been watching Quinn, he wouldn't have noticed it.

"I don't want to speak to a guard," Quinn said.

"Why not? Henry is quite talented at his work. Go ahead and speak, Henry," Tyrion said, motioning for Henry to go forward. "It is your last day, so make the most of it."

"It is not my last day. This will be the last case I work on," Henry corrected Tyrion.

What was the prince doing now?

"No, it will be your last day here because I will send for the new captain tomorrow. I have much to do, so question him," Tyrion said, losing patience.

Quinn's gaze flickered to Henry, who should have nothing to do other than explain why he would quit.