Caleb huffs a short, bitter laugh. “You are imagining things,” he says to Tristan. “I only care about her enough to keep her alive. She’s the only lead we have to finding my child.”Tristan lowers his head. “Of course, my King. My apologies.” “See that you don’t make this mistake again,” Caleb says
“Out with it then.”“The bear clan are building their forces just outside of the Riverwood Pack territory. We have every reason to believe the attack will be there.”My heart picks up speed. That’s my pack.“The Riverwood Pack are holding their Alpha succession ceremony soon,” the man continues. “Wi
“And Tristan…” Caleb adds.“Yes, my King?”“Summon the doctors once again. I want to find out exactly what happened to Harper’s wolf.”I try to listen to their continued conversation. Yet even as fear grips my heart, I struggle to keep my eyes open. Whatever is in that IV is good stuff. Too soon, I
Pushing down my pride, just as I did each time with Leah, I lower myself down to my knees.Once I’m settled, Caleb stands. Snatching something off a nearby table he comes toward me. As he comes closer, I can see he’s holding a simple sliver banded collar with a latch on the back. Immediately, I cowe
Slowly, Caleb lifts his fingers and touches his lip. Pulling back, he sees the blood on his fingertips.Panic settles over Harper. She hadn’t meant to actually hurt him. What’s the punishment for this? Is she going to be killed?She still has to warn her pack.Caleb raises his gaze from his bloodied
“Guards!” Veronica calls, her voice shrill.At once, a set of guards rush down the hallway toward us, their rifles in their hands. One has a sword tied to his belt. Another, a whip.Veronica continues to glare at me, even as a smug smile curves her lips. Pointing straight at me, she commands, “This
Quickly, one of the guards procures a whip and places it into Caleb’s outstretched hand.“M-my King,” Veronica says quickly, terror making her voice wobble. “I’m confused. If you intend to honor me by whipping this slave, then why remove me as your favorite…?”Caleb narrows his eyes at Veronica. His
Relieved to be alone, I plop down on the stool and breathe. I can still hear the screaming. I think I’ll hear it even after it stops – definitely it will haunt my nightmares tonight.A moment later, another slave enters the chamber. Her garb is similar to mine, but with an additional halter top unde
“I imagine the request will come sooner rather than later,” the third advisor said. “Gladys has been outspoken against you, my King. There’s even some talk that she wishes to publically face you, to confront you over your treatment of Hector and Kira.”Caleb laughs, thinking it a joke. When he sees
As Caleb sits on his throne, he only vaguely listens to the discussions his advisors are holding before him. No one seems entirely sure what to do with Kira’s remains.As a former Luna, by right, she should be interred in the royal crypt within the capital. But, because of the situation of her attem
That night, in the room I share with Caleb, he holds me with incredibly tenderness. We’ve not made love yet, though there is a hint of promise lingering in the air. There’s something else too, though. Under the passion and the desire, a warm core of affection glistens.In the dark, it’s easier for u
“Come on,” Caleb says. As he stands, he gently takes my hands and helps me up from the chair. “You’ve been in here too long already.”I pause for a moment, still processing all his words and what’s happening here. “You aren’t angry.”“I am angry,” he says. “But not at you. No one told me where you w
For hours, I sit in an interrogation room. The fluorescent light overhead buzzes gently. The one in the corner is flickering. The room is otherwise quiet.Sterile, the concrete walls are painted white, with the tiles on the floor are dark blue. Unnervingly, there is a drain in the floor at the cente
Jason continues to watch me and Kira as I follow Kira down the hallway. Only after we round a corner, physically breaking line of sight with him, am I confident he is no longer looking at us.Kira doesn’t say one word to me all the way back to her room. She opens the door for me, ushers me inside, a
I would not fall into the same trap, not to satisfy Kira or anyone else.“I can only be who I am, and nothing more,” I say.“That’s all I need you to be,” Caleb says, stepping more fully beside me. From our body language alone, it’s clear who he supports in this argument. He takes my arm in his and,
Without even turning, I can feel Caleb’s presence coming toward us. As I did, the people standing nearby all turn to look behind me. Kira herself starts to pale, though she keeps her head high and defiant.“Mother, you have overstepped for the last time,” Caleb begins to say.I glance back at Caleb,
Turning, I find Caleb staring straight at me. I worried he might be annoyed by my presence, but looking at him now, I can see the flicker of amusement in his eyes, and the way the very edge of his lip curls ever-so-slightly with mischief.“Well? Would you deny your king, servant?” he asks.I curtsey