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
When the kiss ends, I feel a little lightheaded, caught up in the whirlwind of King Caleb and his masterful tongue. As I try to catch my breath, Caleb glowers at all the onlookers, as if making sure the message was received.I am King Caleb’s. No one else is allowed to touch.I know better than to a
Caleb once more sits on his throne in front of the Alpha Council, staring down at them in judgement and distrust. His earlier meeting with Harper had only helped him somewhat, but now that they were separated, Caleb’s dark thoughts were returning with a vengeance, somehow even worse than before. W
“Actually,” the guard begins, glancing between the two of us. “King Caleb has already given Harper permission to enter his chambers as she desires.” Annabelle’s entire face flashes bright red. I very nearly smirk with satisfaction, but I bite it back at the last minute. It wouldn’t do to be smug
Tristan’s eyes widen slightly. “Did he truly say that?” “I heard it,” Caleb snaps. He knows what Tristan is thinking. This could be the paranoia again, creating whispers where there were none. Maybe he had right to worry. Perhaps Caleb had imagined it. But what if he hadn’t? “Your brother’s
Caleb hates the Alpha Council, now more than ever before. The last time they convened, the entire capital had been besieged by bears after the betrayal of Caleb’s Gamma. This already painted the council in a negative light for Caleb, even though it had no real fault in what happened. Now however,
“I can’t?” Caleb steps around Leah, ignoring her and her pale face entirely to focus primarily on me. He leans close, danger in his eyes, jaw clenched, teeth grit together. “Do not ever tell me what I can and cannot do, consort. Or have you forgotten yourself?” Maybe I have. With everything Caleb
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Leah spits at me. “I didn’t admit to anything.” “You don’t have to,” I tell her. “I can see the truth in your eyes. I know how much you despise me. I never thought you would go so low as to terrorize me like this. Even then, when I suspected and everyone told
There are two floors that I know Caleb would take someone to interrogate them. The first is the dungeon, where he frightens and tortures. The next is the floor up from the dungeon, where interrogation rooms are set up, cold tile rooms with one-way windows like in police stations. I can’t waste tim
Bethany dips her head while glancing sideways at me. “Of course, my King.” She cannot tell the King no, but she’s still looking to me for what she should do. I close my eyes and give her a stilted nod. Without his approval, I won’t be able to take one foot out of the palace without being dragged
For a moment, I’m too stunned to speak. How could I have gotten this so wrong? How could I think that Caleb would be reasonable, and want to save me from further hurt, when everything that he’s ever done until this moment has only been in his own selfish interest? Of course, he wouldn’t want to fr