Caleb sees nothing but vengeful shadows everywhere he looks. Even from the safety of his chambers, he suspects everyone in the palace is plotting against him. Before the attempted coup, Caleb thought that his paranoia was mostly unwarranted, triggered only from the strain of not yet finding his m
I nervously approach Caleb’s chambers. The guards are there, same as ever, eyeing me warily as I approach. “I need to see the King,” I say. “So does everyone,” one of the guards says. “What makes you special?” “That’s Harper, the King’s favored,” the other guard tells the first. The first gu
Caleb is trapped inside of a fog within his own mind. Everywhere he turns, there is only darkness. Even this figure – this woman – before him is cast in dark shadows. She could be familiar – his heart is telling him that she likely is – but his mind insists he is only surrounded by enemies. Even t
“Absolutely not,” I say. Caleb seems taken aback, his brow raising at first, before lowering dangerously. “You would deny your king?” “I’m not comfortable with that. I don’t want something like that, that could kill someone so easily, not even to defend myself.” “You carry a blade,” Caleb poin
Caleb suddenly goes very still. “My parents?” “They await in the Hall,” Tristan says. “They are expecting you.” “Caleb?” I ask. I’m still pinned beneath him on the bed, my body still hot even as my confusion has thrown a wrench in my lust. Caleb looks down at me, with something like an apology
“You could call me ‘father,’” Hector says. “That was another title you sacrificed long ago,” Caleb says. While they continue to argue, Caleb’s mother glances at me. “And who is this, Caleb? She is dressed like one of your harem girls, but surely you would not bring someone so unrefined to a meet
Since my arrival here at the capital, it has never been any secret that Caleb was the kingdom’s most eligible bachelor. I can’t pretend to be shocked when so many woman take interest in him, hoping to claim his eye and his hand – and some of his power – for themselves. Yet, even knowing that, the
Caleb storms toward Ted, fire in his eyes. The Pitmaster sees Caleb coming before Ted does. She had been attempting to show him a few moves, but now she stands to the side, moving at just the last moment, before Caleb grabs Ted by the arm and swivels him around. “Hey – what gives?” Ted demands.
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