Caleb grunts. “I suppose it wouldn’t be terrible to keep a closer eye on the handmaidens. After all, it was only because of yours that I discovered you were missing.”“I thought Bethany might be responsible,” I say. “What did she do?”“Stormed straight into the Hall and requested my attention.”For
Soon, Caleb is called away and Bethany returns to the room to help me get changed. Surprising to me still, Caleb left the knife in my possession. I covered it with the jeweled sheath and hold it, even as I follow Bethany into the closet to pick out the day’s outfit.“I have news,” she says.“Oh?”“T
Still, I would be foolish to turn down a summons from the King.“I will be there at once,” I say to the messenger, who slips back into the hallway. As he goes, he leaves the door open behind him.Bethany starts to close it, yet before she can, a pair of feminine hands grips the door and pushes it ba
Stepping into Caleb’s personal chambers feels like stepping into another world. Every square inch of the room is filled with decadent displays of wealth, from the gold and crystal chandeliers, to the elaborate sconces filled with fresh flowers, to the jewel-encrusted walls and the shining, golden fu
I’m horny as hell, about to be frustrated as hell, if he means what he says.“I’m sorry?” I ask, thinking perhaps I misheard.He presses the heel of his palm hard against his dick as if trying to ease the throbbing erection I can see tenting his pants.“I have a meeting,” he says again. “I stepped o
The next few days, I mostly spend pacing back and forth in my room, worrying about my pack while healing from the rest of my injuries.Bethany works on the sewing machine as she watches me. She’s made it a habit of personalizing my dresses when she has no other work duties to attend to. I’m happy fo
Of all the things I expected Bethany to tell me, this is somewhere near the bottom. Even after hearing the words, I don’t understand. She has to be mistaken. “Surely he’s visited other consorts,” I say. I know all about his virile stamina and strength. I’d be surprised that even one woman could sa
The next day, the best tailors in the kingdom are brought in to help design new dresses for the entirety of the harem. With the Alpha of every pack arriving soon, the advisors thought it best that the harem wow and stun even more so than usual. A beautiful, dazzling harem means a strong King and a
Holding the note, I moved toward the bed and sat down on the edge. Caleb, finished with his shower, comes out of the shower looking relaxed as can be. The moment he sees me perched on the bed, he tenses again.“What happened? What’s going on?” he asks, his voice all business.I hold up the small not
The stare-off continues for an uncomfortably long amount of time. Around us, I see Gladys’s servants take notice, and my own worry sets in. If this continues, will they attack Caleb? Is Caleb willing to go to war to keep me safe and by his side?I fear I already know the answer to that.Yet, before
Even so, with the drama, I worry about the food getting cold. It does look good and a cook took the time to make it. I quickly cut a bite of the fish and eat it.Though my stomach is in knots, the fish is delicious so I force it down.“Careful, stepmother,” Caleb says, giving weight to the word I’ve
Of all the awkward, uncomfortable diners I have sat through over the years, this one has to be the worst. And that includes the ones right after my public disgrace, when I went from being the pride of my parents to their servant instead, with my sister taking my place.Gladys, Caleb, and I are in th
Caleb releases his hold from around my waist. Instead he takes my hands in his, then brings them both to his lips to kiss the backs of them, one after the other.Still holding my hands, he leads me toward the bed. There, releases my hand to grab one of the lamps from the nightstand. Carefully, he li
“Come with me,” Gladys says, her eyes flitting between Caleb and me. “I’d be happy to give you a tour of my home.”“That would be very kind, thank you,” Caleb says, his voice dripping with false diplomacy. It matches Gladys’s own.“Thank you,” I say, softer.Gladys turns and slowly leads the way out
Looking out the window, I watch as the car follows the winding tunnel road up and out of the underground.Caleb and I sit in the back seat while a driver sits up front, hidden from us, and us from him behind a partition.The view sends me back to the last time Caleb and I left the capital behind, wh
Staying by Caleb’s side is not the only rule he has in place for me. In fact, for three hours after the messenger with Caleb’s agreement, I sat sitting in the Hall, hearing many rules now placed upon me for this trip.“You cannot let anyone get you alone,” the advisor said. “Gladys herself will try
The messenger is dressed in a simple tunic with a sash bearing the colors of Gladys’s pack lands. He waltzes confidently through the Hall, seemingly uncaring that everyone in the room is looking at him. Or perhaps he thrives on that.Regardless, he walks the walk to the base of the throne, then bows