His hands follow the path of my gaze, tracing up from my ankles to my knees, then dip between my thighs. His forefinger rubs along my entrance, just as his thumb brushes my clit.I gasp as I toppled forward, putting more weight on his shoulders.“Lay down,” he says. “Let me see you.”Slowly, I try t
Caleb brings me straight over the edge of bliss, as he so often, so expertly does. All the while, his words remain crass and ugly, but his motions are gentle and considerate. I only ever feel a limited amount of pain.He, too, brings himself to completion and then lowers my ass back down to the carp
I look at Bethany, whose chin is down to her chest, her face pale white and from what I can see, completely miserable.An accusation of murder is a serious one. Perhaps not so much around here, where whippings and poison seem to be par for the course. But back home where I’m from, people generally d
Away from the door now, at Bethany’s side, I can’t hear them chattering anymore. It’s as good as pretending they are no longer there.“Do you want to tell me what they were talking about?” I ask.“No,” Bethany says.“Is it something I ought to know?” I ask.Bethany lowers her head again. As I debate
By now, I’ve been threatened with death so much, that it shouldn’t still bother me. But I suppose I don’t actually want to die, so that keeps me from being too blasé about it.I’ve seen with my own eyes enough to know how dangerous this place is. Just because the King hasn’t carried out on his threa
Caleb is absolutely furious. He has a mind to wake this wench up just so she can feel the pleasure he was set to bestow upon her. Does she realize how she insults his gifts?Yet as he reaches forward to shake her, something in her face stills his hand. He is used to seeing her face twisted in pain o
Then, abruptly, Bethany insists that I take a nap. “King’s orders,” she says. “He wants you well rested for tonight.”After the debacle last night, I suppose I can understand why.“Fine,” I grumble.Blessedly, I do drift off to sleep rather quickly, and when I wake up again, I feel rested and refres
Bethany and I inspect the remnants of our train.“Is there anything we can do?” I ask. I’ve been around a sewing machine, but it’s hardly my area of expertise. There isn’t exactly time for it anyway. I’m supposed to be in the entryway in ten minutes.Bethany stares hard at the lace, then at my dress
Even though I don’t want to be permanently confined to my room, I can recognize that a bit of caution would go a long way given the current political climate. For that reason, I stay in my room more than I have before, even though I often grow bored. To stifle my latest bout with anger, I head int
“My people!” Samuel calls, his voice hushing the crowd in a way that Tristan would have never expected from an Alpha as weak-willed as Samuel. He never impressed Tristan much at the capital. Has he been hiding this charismatic side of himself all this time? “My people!” he calls again. “Together,
Finally, he receives his invitation to official join the rebellion. He’s given a cloak and a special patch that he is to sew on the inside of his clothing. He is also given the location of one of the rebellion’s strongholds. Finally, a break. Tristan sews the patch, knowing that if he is killed,
Annabelle’s threat stays with me this time, even long after she’s gone. Bethany comes to the medical ward to collect me and together with a guard we walk back to my room. I’m unusually quiet, even with my friend, my thoughts stuck on how off Annabelle sounded as she made her threats. How very unhi
Caleb sits on his throne, glaring down at the line of guards filed before him with clear, heartless distain. One or many of these guards directly betrayed Caleb. That none of them will give up the others tells him that all of them might as well have been responsible. How many of his soldiers hav
“You are a fragile human,” Caleb says, as he continues to inspect me. “There could be internal bleeding. We need to take you to the medical ward and have you checked out by a doctor.” “But Caleb…” I say, still glancing back at Annabelle, who in turn, is watching us closely. “Forget her,” Caleb s
Bethany rushes from my room and returns with an axe. I pull back as far as I can, giving her the room she knees to slash away at the baseboard of the bed where the chains are connected. It must take some exertion. Blood begins to seep through her bandages. “Bethany…” “Almost there!” He brings
Caleb stays with Harper for a time. Curled up against him, she sleeps soundly, her body damp with sweat but relaxed. He is pleased that she enjoyed her punishment. Blissful torture is often the best kind. She will undoubtedly be furious when she wakes up and continues to find herself chained to th
When Caleb finally reappears in the hallway, my nerves prickle, while the guard forced to watch me seems relived. Caleb glances me over, seeing that I am unharmed and dutifully in the same spot he left me in. Then he grabs me again. This time, blessedly, he pulls me into a bridal carry and not jus