But I also knew that I couldn’t let him die. Even if he wouldn’t realize it, I would do everything I could to protect him.History would not repeat itself.He seemed satisfied with my answer, and put an arm around my waist to guide me down the street. “Come on, let’s actually get out of the rain.”“
CALEB“Daniel, let it go,” Ruby yelled, her hands swishing at her sides. Goddess, she is extremely drunk. “He didn’t really mean it, like not actually.” She said to me, squeezing in between us and trying to push us apart.“I think your little friend needs to be taught a lesson, Ruby.” I said, liftin
RUBYMy body felt like it was on fire. I was still groggy from the wine, but the sensation of throbbing, aching pain drew me instantly out of my stupor.“It hurts…” I moaned, pulling Caleb’s body closer into me. He was warm, and his presence was soothing.“Ruby, what’s wrong?” He asked, pulling back
“You’ll come to me tonight?” A sickly sweet feminine voice crooned.“As soon as I can,” a second voice answered—my fiancé’s voice, “I’ll drug her if I have to. No one but you is getting this cock tonight.”The room swam into focus, and I realized I was back at this exact moment from a year ago. Two
“You’re calling off the wedding, darling?” He chuckled and reached out to caress my cheek, but I swatted the gesture away.“You heard me.”“I heard you, I just don’t believe you. Is there a problem? Are the flowers not to your taste? I could have someone adjust the arrangements before the ceremony—“
I drew my fingers around his neck, feeling day-old stubble lacing his jaw. With a twist of my wrist, I pulled away the tie at his throat, which was already crooked and smudged with pink lipstick. From the Blondy Girls in his room earlier, I was sure.He watched me intently as I undid the buttons of
RUBYLucas pulled me through the castle, down staircases and through echoing corridors, finally back into my chambers.It would have been a beautiful night for a wedding, if I had still been the naive girl Lucas married in another life.“You’re angry with me, and I don’t understand why.” He began as
RUBYI stood before the doors to the great hall, where the wedding guests were seated and waiting for the ceremony to commence. There was nothing I could do now, except go through with the wedding. My secret weapon, the recording of Harper’s confession, hid heavily in my bouquet.I rehearsed my move
RUBYMy body felt like it was on fire. I was still groggy from the wine, but the sensation of throbbing, aching pain drew me instantly out of my stupor.“It hurts…” I moaned, pulling Caleb’s body closer into me. He was warm, and his presence was soothing.“Ruby, what’s wrong?” He asked, pulling back
CALEB“Daniel, let it go,” Ruby yelled, her hands swishing at her sides. Goddess, she is extremely drunk. “He didn’t really mean it, like not actually.” She said to me, squeezing in between us and trying to push us apart.“I think your little friend needs to be taught a lesson, Ruby.” I said, liftin
But I also knew that I couldn’t let him die. Even if he wouldn’t realize it, I would do everything I could to protect him.History would not repeat itself.He seemed satisfied with my answer, and put an arm around my waist to guide me down the street. “Come on, let’s actually get out of the rain.”“
RUBYI panic and duck underneath the windowsill, wrapping my arms over my head to stay hidden. Who was that woman? I think of her perfectly shaped limbs, the easy way she attached herself to Caleb. But mostly, the fact he let her. Who is she to him?I shake myself out of my thoughts. He isn’t my ma
And here she stood before me, hideously beautiful, and as calm as the Prenian breeze. I clawed my way out of the memory. I refused to ever be put in that same position again.“I can’t trust you completely while it’s still true you are tied to my brother.” I paused, she still hadn’t looked up or ack
CALEBReally, I shouldn’t be so surprised that Ruby knows as much about Lucas as she does. They were mates after all, and even though now she seems to have turned against him, she has been following him around like a love-sick puppy for as long as I could remember.I sighed, the dilemma beginning to
”Whoever takes on this job has to have enough experience to make the party a success, your claim to the throne is dependent on it. So, for two candidates who have never worked with the palace before and who don’t know how the kitchens work, the timing of events… it could be a disaster.”“I have plen
I could see the hesitation on his face, stopping him from reaching out with confidence to take his brother’s hand. I tugged on his shoulder, tip-toeing to his ear to whisper, “You can do this Caleb, I know you can.”His jaw set firmly in determination, and he shook Lucas’s outstretched hand.“Fine,
Lucas glares at me. “What is that supposed to mean?”I groan in frustration, and pull his engagement ring from my pocket. “This will never sit on my finger Lucas. I would rather die than be bound to you for the rest of my life.” It fell from my fingers, clinking pitifully on the marble steps.“But y