Caleb and I, as well as most of the soldiers sit in the back of the truck, while Tristan and one soldier sit up front. The ride to the capital is long, especially without a seat cushion, but not a one of us complains. Without any light from outside, we are left in total darkness. As the trip progr
Caleb and I move to the center of the warehouse. The soldiers and other loyal citizens make room for use. When word gets out that we are going to spare, we earn ourselves a sizeable crowd. They should be getting ready for the fight ahead, but I suppose watching the king spar with a member of his har
“King Caleb,” Tristan says, materializing nearby. “It’s time to go.” Caleb looks at me a moment more, then turns without another word to me. With Tristan’s help, he straps on the armored vest, then, leading the soldiers, slips out through the side door with them following behind. The plan, as I
With no time to waste, as soon as I’m dressed, I rush out of the warehouse and head down the streets toward the palace. My plan is flimsy at best, but someone has to take the risk to save those innocent servants. I’m not willing to let anyone else take the risk, despite my promise to Caleb. He’s
As the second guard nods, the first slips into the room. It takes a few minutes, but then an angry booming voice erupts so loudly, I can hear it even from the hallway. “Bring her here at once, you imbecile!” The second guard doesn’t wait for the first to reemerge before he shoves open the door t
“I will ask once more before I become a man you will not like,” George says. “Too late,” I snap. He glowers at me. “You can speak to insult me, but not to answer my questions. Do you know understand the precarious nature of your situation, whore? It is by my will alone that you live or die. I co
Some of the Alphas bow. Others stare as if seeing a ghost. I’m up on the stage near the throne, on my knees in front of George standing behind me. His hands are on my neck. As Caleb comes closer, his expression darkens more and more. A few feet away from me, his eyes flash red. He glances at m
After Caleb’s grand display, I decide to remove myself from the gruesome sight and return to my old room, to see if it’s been ransacked. Entering, I notice a few things that are strewn about, but for the most part, everything is more or less as I left it. With a quick cleaning, it will be good as ne
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
“You…” I’m certain I’m hallucinating now. After all my pleading, all my hoping, it doesn’t seem real that my wishes could all come true now in the final hour – the final minute. I try again to question it. “You…?” Once more, my voice falls flat.“I made it the entire way to the vows,” Caleb says. “I
“Very well,” Caleb replies.“Please, repeat after me. I take you, Annabelle…”Caleb opens his mouth, but the words do not come.Whispers begin in the gathered crowd.Caleb wishes he could bring himself to care. About them. About Annabelle. About any of this.The chaplain clears his throat. “I take y
Caleb goes through the motions of the ceremony. There’s a lot of talking. The chaplain does a lot of talking, and then members of the court get to all say their peace.Caleb blocks most of it out, focusing instead on this unfamiliar, unsettled feeling inside of him. Yes, he wants Harper to be here i
Looking at her, Caleb tries to stir up some feelings. If he could just feel something. It doesn’t have to be as strong as how he feels for Harper, but something in the same vein. He can admit she’s beautiful. He can admit she will likely be a good Luna.But that’s where his affections for her end.
I run all the way back to my room, trembling with shock and upset. Bethany turns to me the moment I come rushing through the door.“There you are! Where did you go?” she says. She seems angry for a moment, until she fully takes in the state of me. “What happened?”Shakily, I tell her what I can, abo