I awaken the next morning to a loud, confident knock on my door. Rising up from bed, I pull on my housecoat and walk to the door, opening it. I’m half-expecting Bethany, though she doesn’t usually knock quite that loudly. Instead, I find the Pitmaster there. Her expression is severe as always but d
She looks away. “While I cannot save those condemned to the coliseum, I can help prepare them to hone the best of their abilities. I give them the best possible fighting chance, so when they step into the ring, they might survive. Many do not, but some succeed.” Looking back at me, she continues, “
“I want to apologize to you for how I acted before,” Annabelle says. With her head down, she also droops her shoulders, seeming for all the world like she might drop to her knees at any moment. He really doesn’t need that kind of dramatics, so he’s relieved when she continues to stand. “I let my
The next morning, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, dreading another day of doing nothing, I hear a swishing sound near my door. Sitting up, I look at the door and find a slip of paper laying near it on the ground. Did someone slide that underneath? Curious, I pull myself out of bed and walk
None of that matters now. Annabelle looks at me sharply. “What are you doing here?” I step into the room, Bethany following along, my silent support. Glancing away from her in my dream gown, I try to stoke my rage again. Remembering the letter, I retrieve it from my pocket. “I’m tired of being th
My heavy heart persists into the evening. I haven’t talked much since speaking with Kira, retreating to my room soon after. Not even Bethany could encourage me to speak. Kira’s words cut into me, straight down to the bone. I don’t want to believe that Caleb only wants me for sex, and that’s all he’
As much as I wished it wouldn’t, the day of Caleb’s wedding eventually arrives. It takes me a long while to drag myself out of bed, and then even longer to go to the window and pear out at the world.A day this dark should be miserable outside. Storm clouds, maybe. Dreary and overcast at least.But
Seeing Caleb in his wedding suit, I start to lose my nerve.Why in the world would I think I could convince him now, when he’s ready to go and greet the nobles and other guests? By coming in here, I’m only embarrassing myself.Mortified by my own impulsive action, I turn around and start to leave.“
Caleb is talking about the swelling red on my cheek. The bruise that has been forming since Kira slapped me. But so much has happened since then. It’s hard for me to focus, to keep track. Deciding whether or not to reveal Kira as the culprit of this particular injury requires more critical thinking
I’m stunned silent for a moment, then I look at her with wild eyes. I can’t really understand what’s happened here, or why she would do that.Before she can get even one more word out, I shout, “Someone is planning to kill Caleb!”She rolls her eyes at me. “Someone’s always trying to kill him, you s
As I race back into the hallway, I think about returning to my room, but I don’t want to be idle anymore. Sitting around thinking is half of what got me into this mess. It’s what made me take such a foolish action as pouring my heart out to a man who has no capacity to accept it.But just as I don’t
He cares for me, that I know. It might not be love, but it’s more than nothing.Even so, he and I are from two very different worlds.What does Caleb even know about love? His father had a harem, and he and his mother never got along. Caleb’s brother Evan found a mate, but then Caleb was forced to k
Seeing Caleb in his wedding suit, I start to lose my nerve.Why in the world would I think I could convince him now, when he’s ready to go and greet the nobles and other guests? By coming in here, I’m only embarrassing myself.Mortified by my own impulsive action, I turn around and start to leave.“
As much as I wished it wouldn’t, the day of Caleb’s wedding eventually arrives. It takes me a long while to drag myself out of bed, and then even longer to go to the window and pear out at the world.A day this dark should be miserable outside. Storm clouds, maybe. Dreary and overcast at least.But
My heavy heart persists into the evening. I haven’t talked much since speaking with Kira, retreating to my room soon after. Not even Bethany could encourage me to speak. Kira’s words cut into me, straight down to the bone. I don’t want to believe that Caleb only wants me for sex, and that’s all he’
None of that matters now. Annabelle looks at me sharply. “What are you doing here?” I step into the room, Bethany following along, my silent support. Glancing away from her in my dream gown, I try to stoke my rage again. Remembering the letter, I retrieve it from my pocket. “I’m tired of being th
The next morning, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, dreading another day of doing nothing, I hear a swishing sound near my door. Sitting up, I look at the door and find a slip of paper laying near it on the ground. Did someone slide that underneath? Curious, I pull myself out of bed and walk