All Chapters of The Taming: Chapter 201 - Chapter 210

The source of Elsabet’s recent mood changes would soon be made clear to Sebastion. It began this morning. Peaceful as it was. It started with him watching Elsabet warily from across the table at luncheon. Grimacing at the sounds she was making as she quenched her ravaging hunger. She sounded as though she was starving to death. He wondered how much she’d been eating while he was gone. Does she not eat while I’m away. That had unlocked a whole passel of new fears. He sat across the width of the table from her, and twice already had been splashed with mashed potatoes launched off her trencher as she forced the food into her mouth in handfuls. She rummaged through the platter of chicken. Plucking at the browned skin of the legs until finding the pinkest one, which she tilted her head up to devour nearly whole. He cringed again. “Hungry sweetheart?” She paused, blue eyes lifting to look at him. So beautiful it

“Elsabet?” He murmured during dinner later in the day. Hoping to prompt some conversation from her.She’d been painfully quiet since yesterday.Please talk to me. He willed her. Missing her zest for the meal from yesterday.She looked up from her trencher of food.He’d been joining her at one corner of the long table. But tonight, he sensed he was unwelcome since he’d told her he wouldn’t release her. She hadn’t said a word to him in months and it was making him ache inside. How much longer will this go on?She no longer crept into his room to warm his lonely nights.He spent them instead listening to her up in her chamber, from his chamber in the servant’s quarters. Soothed by the sounds of her slumber but torn asunder, nonetheless. What’ve I done?The absence of her affections was agonizing. And he wondered constantly about the impending introduction to his child. Will I get to meet her?

Elsabet awoke this morning to unmistakable brightness pouring through the window slit. She had managed to get back to sleep after a fitful night but still found herself exhausted.The more her young one grew, the more Elsabet’s old fears emerged. She worried about bringing a babe into the same world that had gravely disappointed her.Elsabet grew increasingly strained by the discomfort. She found that pacing helped soothe her. This morning she yearned for Quandary’s company. She’d have liked to curl up to the big cat and let his warmth soothe her tummy.After hours of pacing and rubbing her bulging stomach downward she gave a screech of frustration.To her surprise, Calisto instantly appeared. Looking aggravated.“Cease that noise Elsabet! Why? Why do you do that?” She pressed her palms to her ears.“I’m miserable!”“Why?” Calisto’s eyes roved the floor in confusion before settling on Elsabet as she cocked her head.“I’ve not s

Elsabet’s question was complicated.Has something happened to Quandary. The answer was no. But it was harder to admit to her that he was Quandary.I’ve waited too long to tell her. Or, perhaps he shouldn’t have deceived her to begin with.But had I not, I’d have missed so many chances to comfort her. “No, not persay.”She eyed him skeptically. Lurching forward to down her glass of water, body language hostile as she tried to gauge what he was about to say.Rising, he refilled her drink under her watchful gaze. Taking his seat again, he felt her eyes on him. Studying his movements.She was unholy beautiful.Angry or not.Firelight played with some gold tones in the white of her hair. Making her seem to glow.He itched to wind his fingers in its luxurious length. It’d be as soft as the rest of her.“You’re eying me as though I’m&

Radix lifted the goblet in Chavias’s direction. Sloshing some of Chavias’s blood on his skinny, gnarled fingers and black nails. “Let’s see what secrets you’ve let up today.”Radix gulped the fluid down. So greedily that it ran down the corners of his mouth.Radix was heedless. Focused on the visions running behind his eyes.Chavias’s memories peeled through his mind. Images of Chavias laughing with his gold-haired friend. Or playfully sparring with the others. Then the world darkened into an endless stream of days in his miserable cell in the caves.The blood was tainted with Chavias’s misery giving it a bitter flavor.Which had been the moment that Chavias had gained control over the pain. Feeding into his blood the most mundane memories he possessed.Radix spit the last swallow of Chavias’s blood out. Not caring for the taste of those memories of his cavernous prison.“Strong stronghold?” Okine chirped hopefully. Wondering if Radix