Whatever was holding the beasts back seems to have vanished now.Sword in hand, I slash this way and that, but still they prowl closer as if looking for a chance to strike. I do my best to hold them off, but I am no warrior. My back hurts, and I am growing tired.I fight as hard as I can, even thoug
Caleb paces outside of the hospital room where inside, the doctors continue to try to save Harper’s life. It’s been thirty minutes so far, and still they work. A nurse he stopped told him, with fear in her eyes that it could be hours still before their work is done.“There’s so much bleeding,” that
“Answer me,” Caleb demands.I can’t possibly tell him the truth. In his rage, he might purposefully seek out Samuel just to kill him.“We’re like siblings,” I say.Caleb glares at me, clearly not believing me.“It’s true,” I double down. “Soon, he’s even going to be my brother-in-law.” That truth st
Compared to the depths of the coliseum, the hospital is like a five-star hotel. The hospital bed is plush. The room is relatively private, with just a few doctors and nurses coming in and out now and then. They even give me food that tastes fresh, not moldy, and hot or cold water whenever I ask for
“What is that?” I say, trying to reach through the fog of my mind. It’s still so difficult to piece things together. To my knowledge, she is no doctor or nurse. She should not be touching those IV’s. “What are you doing?”“What do you think I’m doing, Harper?” Nina says, laughing cruelly at my cloud
“S-sir?” one of the advisors stutters, when Caleb continues to glare at him specifically.“Is it you?” Caleb demands. “Are you plotting to kill me?”“No!” the man says at once and lowers his head in reverence. “Of course not, m-my King.”Caleb doesn’t like how he denied it twice. Too many denials co
At his growing worry, he scoffs at himself, reminding himself that he only cares because he needs her alive to find his child. He doesn’t care about her beyond that.After a few, long, agonizing moments, where Caleb wonders if he’s lost his only lead to his child – as well as the most annoying woma
Blinking my eyes open, I’m once again surprised to find myself still alive. In fact, I almost feel… better?I lift my limbs, surprised to find that I still can, and it’s so much easier than it was when Nina was putting that needle into my IV tube and –Fear floods through me at the thought, and I je
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
As the days continue, so too does Caleb’s initiative to add commoners to the court. Thusly, per Bethany, I learn there are some fresh faces in court, in the form of three chosen commoners and their families.Caleb has already asked me not to leave our room until he can personally escort me, but I am
As a member of Caleb’s harem, and as his favored, I’ve become accustomed to sharing a bed with Caleb – either his or mine. Yet moving entirely into the same living space as him is an entirely different step. Before, though we often slept together, we would keep our personal effects and space separat
Caleb reads the threat before I can think to hide it. As he does, a red hue begins to swirl in his eyes swallowing all other color there.“Caleb,” I whisper, hoping the softness in my voice might help calm him, when he seems so very much like he might shift at any moment.The fingers of his free ha
The next morning, though I wake without Caleb, I still feel as though I am in some kind of beautiful dream. The evidence of Caleb’s being here the night before remains all around me, and on me.In the mirror, I spy several live bites running up and down the column of my throat. They continue over my
In the early morning hours, Caleb holds Harper tightly against him. They’ve made love several times throughout the afternoon and evening before Harper finally passed out from exhaustion. She’s so strong, so passionate, that Caleb sometimes forgets she’s only human.He pushed her too hard, but even i
At once, I card my fingers through his hair. Back bowing, I try to give him more room.One of his hands slides under my ass, pulling me up against his body, lifting my feet from the floor. I wrap my legs around him.He laps and suckles my nipple, then pops off to kiss his way to the other breast. He