Chapter 24

I managed to catch up to his car before he left, and trailed him through the gates. I waved my arms frantically to flag him down, but he didn’t see me, and instead took an unexpected turn back into the palace gardens.

What is he doing there? Don’t tell me Caleb likes gardening.

I walked along the side of the street, and heard a horn honking behind me, making me duck into the bushes to avoid being hit. “What the hell?” I exclaimed after the speeding car, but they didn’t stop, just carried on in a blur of red paint.

I brushed the leaves off of my shirt in irritation, a light coating of dust now covering my elbows and knees. Great end to a great day, I thought miserably. Caleb was sure to gloat when he saw me like this.

The walking path towards the heart of the gardens was more direct than the paved road, so I took the shortcut to find where Caleb ended up. It took me a few minutes of parting through neatly trimmed hedges and elegant, flowering trees to find him.

“We didn’t have to meet somewhere so secluded if that was all you had to say to me. A text would have sufficed.” Caleb’s voice echoed across the grounds as I came to the clearing. He stood opposite a figure facing away from me, and I wasn’t quite sure who he was speaking to.

“I’m only looking out for you,” a voice said, dripping with insincerity. The tone made me shudder, Lucas? What the hell were these two doing meeting in secret here?

I instantly dropped to the ground, determined to stay out of their sight. This was a perfect chance to gather more information about both of their plans. Lucas was a wildcard enemy, but it was still in my best interest to understand Caleb and his motivations, even if we were supposed to be partners now.

He might have defended me in front of his supporters, but even I could see their arguments were difficult to fight against. Lucas had managed to spin his schemes around me at the center, and it was no wonder Caleb’s allies were hesitant to trust me. I had to prove to Caleb that keeping me on his team was the right move.

Crawling through the brush, I hid myself at the base of a willow tree, just behind Lucas so I could watch Caleb’s face.

“You sure have a funny way of showing brotherly affection, Lucas.” Caleb said, shaking his head. “I haven’t forgotten your little break-in episode from the other night. I have no idea what makes you think I’ll believe anything you say after that, but go ahead. Try me.”

“You just can’t understand what it does to your head when your mate betrays you,” Lucas said, sounding like he was nearly on the verge of tears.

“I think I can imagine. Do you even know what happens to Ruby when you fuck Harper, or do you just not care? That woman has borne more pain for you than anyone should have to experience in their entire lives, and it’s like you don’t even give a shit that you’re hurting her.”

Lucas shook his head, “She did it to me first! She has been playing me since I first proposed. I was a prospective prince, and she snatched me up because the match would give her access to the throne. As soon as we were engaged, the power went to her head, and she has been sleeping around behind my back ever since!”

That little conniving bastard, I thought, fuming. If I could reach your face right now, I would tear that smug smile off your lips.

“She’s going to do the same to you. I just can’t bear to see you experience the same heartbreak that Ruby put me through,” Lucas lowered his head mournfully.

“Give it a rest. You’re not even a good liar, you’re just pathetic.”

Lucas clenched his fists at his side, then released them like he was trying to hide the gesture. “You’ll learn soon enough what she’s capable of if you don’t give her up and call off your marriage,” Lucas said, his voice strained.

“Oh I think I already have a pretty good idea of what she’s capable of, and it’s a hell of a lot more than you are.”

Lucas paused, seemingly stunned by the accusation. I couldn’t help but feel a grin tugging at the edges of my mouth. Was Caleb really sincerely defending me?

“You can moan about how unfortunate you have been throughout this ordeal, but everyone can see you’ve brought this suffering on yourself. I’ve watched you sneak around with Harper for years, do you think just by coming up with another story now I’m going to forget everything you’ve done?”

Lucas took a step back, seemingly intimidated. “I didn’t think–”

“That’s right. You didn’t think. I’m not even sure you can. Ruby has been nothing but brilliant, and brave, and loyal since she came to me on the night of your wedding, and there’s nothing you can say that will convince me otherwise.”

Caleb strode up to Lucas and grabbed him violently by the collar, lifting him just enough so they were at eye level. “Now I don’t want to have to talk to you again unless you actually have something important to say, alright?”

Lucas slapped Caleb’s hands away and stumbled backwards. He took a moment to regain his balance and composure before spreading his arms open. “All I want is for the two of us to be friends, brother.”

Caleb cackled loudly like the word was hilarious. “Don’t you fucking dare call me that again.”

Lucas brushed his coat off and adjusted his sleeves, “Fine, then. I’ll see you at the Alpha Ball, I hope everything goes to plan for you.”

Caleb ignored the remark, and walked away without another word. I hid for a few more minutes, watching Lucas curse and kick the pebbled pathway before he finally followed Caleb to where their cars had been parked. Once I was sure they were both gone, I emerged and began dusting myself off.

I replayed the conversation in my head several times, shocked and amazed by Caleb.

Brilliant, and brave, and loyal.

Is that what Caleb thought of me? Is that how he saw me, even when everyone around him was saying that I couldn’t be trusted?

My heart fluttered and I collected my resolve. I had to prove him right. My job was to make sure that the Alpha Ball went off perfectly and smoothly, exactly as we had planned. And to do that, I had to make sure everything was sorted out. I took off running for the market, I had work to do.