Breathing heavy, he looks deep into my eyes and I into his. I wanted it to be good for him. With the distant look in his eyes, I feel proud, like I did a good job. Also, he came inside of me… He’s never done that before. Well, except for perhaps that first night, but I don’t remember much from t
It makes no sense to me. Why would Caleb kill me for this? “You still don’t get it,” Bethany says. I shake my head, hopelessly lost. “King Caleb does not have children, nor does he want them with anyone other than his mate,” Bethany explains. “He uses his harem for sexual gratification but he
He could strangle me… I shudder as a touch of fear runs down my spine. My throat still hurts. “I’ll be fine,” I tell Bethany, pulling on a strong face. “I will see you in the morning.” Definite positives, I hope, will help us both. I will see you, not I might see you. “Okay,” Bethany says, tho
I wait all day, but Caleb does not send for me at all. Without being summoned, I have no reason to leave my room, so I stay inside all day. It feels a lot like I’m hiding. Maybe I am. I’m no coward, but I suspect walking into Caleb right now might lead to my untimely death. I’d rather stay alive,
Tristan steps inside with his usual confident steps. His face conveys his overall boredom. I hope that means he’s not here to murder me. Last time he had to send me to my supposed death, he at least seemed somewhat conflicted about it. “Harper,” he says as he walks to the center of the room. I don
For the rest of the day, Bethany measures me and works on a dress. Aside from showing me her designs and asking for my input, she does not speak to me. But then, I don’t speak to her either. She’s my friend more than my servant, and I don’t understand why as either of those things, she would refus
I try my best not to think about Caleb sleeping with some other woman, yet the image of it still creeps into my mind again and again. My stomach turns, imagining him naked with another woman, thrusting inside of her or doing all those wicked things with his tongue… This shouldn’t bother me. The ma
Both the rage and passion in his face grow in equal measure. As he takes a step closer, I’m unsure if he wants to hit me or kiss me. I’m starting to think it might be both. Delight coils through me, imagining him bending me over and spanking me. Quickly I shove away those thoughts. I’ve never want
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