Bethany and I shift our direction and head toward the guard barracks. While I hide behind a nearby pillar, not wanting to be scene, Bethany disappears inside. A few minutes later, she steps back outside with a familiar guard in tow. She brings him to my location. “Harper, I can’t believe it,” Ted
To my surprise, Caleb does not force the issue of my lying, even though he scowls deeply at me. Instead, he drops his hold on me, turns, and abruptly walks out of the room. Somehow, this feels worse. I’d almost rather he stay and argue with me, than face what I did just now. On his face, in a flas
Maybe they are. I hadn’t considered that. I can’t disprove it, but neither can I let it hold me back. “I’ll be on my guard,” I assure them both and then walk up to the door, leaving my companions down on the street. Lifting my hand, I knock twice on the door. At first, no one responds. “Hell
Mrs. Robins takes a deep breath, and then begins to tell me the story of her daughter. “Summer was a servant in the palace. They had her assigned to cleaning up after the women of the palace. She wasn’t important enough to actually interact with them, but she would do their laundry and tend to the
It was terribly romantic, and my heart ached for them. How I wished things could have been different. “On the day Evan was to announce his bride, just before his coronation, when his father was to hand over the crown, Caleb killed him,” Mrs. Robins says. She sighs heavily, like the breath is pun
“Sorry, Harper,” Ted says. “It’s not personal.” He hasn’t pulled the trigger yet, which is a good sign. But that he’s holding the gun at all is very, very bad. “Harper trusted you. Who turned you?” Bethany asks. “King Caleb did,” Ted replies. “The way he treated me and the others. I had to com
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I say. He narrows his eyes at me, as a growl escapes his lips. “Do not test me, Harper. I have little reason not to kill you as a traitor would deserve right at this very moment.” “Fine,” I say, then close my eyes. I was planning on bringing this to him a
I force the annoyed thoughts from my mind. This is fine. If this leads to Bethany being saved, I can survive this. When we finally reach the palace, Caleb barks at some of the nearby guards, “Grab a medic and head down to the alley in town.” He gives a more specific address. “There is a wounded ha
Caleb stays with Harper for a time. Curled up against him, she sleeps soundly, her body damp with sweat but relaxed. He is pleased that she enjoyed her punishment. Blissful torture is often the best kind. She will undoubtedly be furious when she wakes up and continues to find herself chained to th
When Caleb finally reappears in the hallway, my nerves prickle, while the guard forced to watch me seems relived. Caleb glances me over, seeing that I am unharmed and dutifully in the same spot he left me in. Then he grabs me again. This time, blessedly, he pulls me into a bridal carry and not jus
I force the annoyed thoughts from my mind. This is fine. If this leads to Bethany being saved, I can survive this. When we finally reach the palace, Caleb barks at some of the nearby guards, “Grab a medic and head down to the alley in town.” He gives a more specific address. “There is a wounded ha
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I say. He narrows his eyes at me, as a growl escapes his lips. “Do not test me, Harper. I have little reason not to kill you as a traitor would deserve right at this very moment.” “Fine,” I say, then close my eyes. I was planning on bringing this to him a
“Sorry, Harper,” Ted says. “It’s not personal.” He hasn’t pulled the trigger yet, which is a good sign. But that he’s holding the gun at all is very, very bad. “Harper trusted you. Who turned you?” Bethany asks. “King Caleb did,” Ted replies. “The way he treated me and the others. I had to com
It was terribly romantic, and my heart ached for them. How I wished things could have been different. “On the day Evan was to announce his bride, just before his coronation, when his father was to hand over the crown, Caleb killed him,” Mrs. Robins says. She sighs heavily, like the breath is pun
Mrs. Robins takes a deep breath, and then begins to tell me the story of her daughter. “Summer was a servant in the palace. They had her assigned to cleaning up after the women of the palace. She wasn’t important enough to actually interact with them, but she would do their laundry and tend to the
Maybe they are. I hadn’t considered that. I can’t disprove it, but neither can I let it hold me back. “I’ll be on my guard,” I assure them both and then walk up to the door, leaving my companions down on the street. Lifting my hand, I knock twice on the door. At first, no one responds. “Hell
To my surprise, Caleb does not force the issue of my lying, even though he scowls deeply at me. Instead, he drops his hold on me, turns, and abruptly walks out of the room. Somehow, this feels worse. I’d almost rather he stay and argue with me, than face what I did just now. On his face, in a flas