Chapter 155

Caleb sits on his throne, glaring down at the line of guards filed before him with clear, heartless distain.

One or many of these guards directly betrayed Caleb. That none of them will give up the others tells him that all of them might as well have been responsible.

How many of his soldiers have turned to the rebellion. Are there none left among those remaining who could be trusted?

Not for the first time, Caleb misses the judgement of his Beta, Tristan. Tristan has a way of sniffing out the troublesome ones among the guard, as well as reminding Caleb, in the moment, not to act too rashly.

The only other person who could help him hold himself back is Harper, but she is down in the medical ward, still waiting for that doctor’s ointment.

Caleb hasn’t forgotten that the one guards Harper sought out, the one she had thought would be loyal to her, turned on her and tried to kill her when she refused to give herself over to the rebellion.

If only more people could be as loyal as Harper and her handmaiden. Caleb’s allies these days seem few and far between.

Tapping his fingers on the arm rest of his throne, he stares down each guard, moving his glare from one to the next. Each squirm slightly under his intense glare, but none break. It is most frustrating.

“I will ask once more,” Caleb announces. His voice booms in the quiet Hall. “Who is responsible for helping Hector escape?”

What further boggles Caleb’s mind is why the rebellion would want to help Hector, anyway. The man, as Alpha King, had been even more ruthless and tyrannical than Caleb himself. It made little sense for the rebellion to back the man who had been purposefully responsible for so much slaughter among the commoners.

Perhaps history has forgotten Hector’s shadier past in favor of tarnishing Caleb’s own gray present.

“That man was no hero to anyone,” Caleb reminds them. “Did you forget when he sent a woman and child to the gallows to sate his own amusement?”

A few look uncomfortable, remembering, but none speak up.

Caleb wants to start breaking bones, but thoughts of Harper stop him short. She asked him not to kill anyone. She seemed as if she would be disappointed in him if he did.

His father was right about one thing. Caleb is weak for Harper. He doesn’t want to disappoint her, even if that means it will take longer to uncover the secrets of the rebellion.

He has other ways in mind, anyway.

If he cannot harm those in his service, given Harper’s request, then he will simply make it more tempting for them to speak out against each other.

“I hereby declare a new rule around here,” Caleb says. “Any who suspects one of their fellow guards of working for the rebellion and turns in that guard’s name will receive a reward in terms of their annual salary as a lump sum.”

All of the guards’ eyes go wide. It’s a generous sum, basically doubling what the guards presently earn. But to receive it, they have to start giving up the rebels.

A few of the guards look at each other, suspicion growing in their eyes. Others look straight at Caleb, and he swears he could feel the heat of their hatred searing his skin.

The ointment finally arrives not long after Caleb leaves, and the doctor helps me apply it. I’m gathering my things to return to my room, when an uninvited guest steps into my medical observation room.

Annabelle casts an unimpressed glance around the room, before looking at the guard in the corner who had been assigned to my protection.

“If you could give Harper and I a minute alone,” Annabelle says sweetly. “I need to speak with her about a private matter.”

The guard hesitates. “The King said not to move from this spot.”

“You think I’m going to hurt her?” Annabelle bats her eyes. “Me? Why, I’m going to be the Luna soon. Caleb trusts me enough to be his fiancé. Surely that earns me some leeway with you?”

“The King said –” The guard starts again, clearly wanting to hold his ground.

“It’s alright,” I tell him. I’ve been wanting to speak to Annabelle too, ever since seeing her out in the courtyard after Hector and Caleb’s fight. “We’ll only be a minute.”

The guard seems unsure, even with me giving him the go-ahead. “Only for a moment,” he eventually relents.

“I promise,” I assure him. With that assurance, he steps outside, closing the door behind him.

The minute that door is closed, Annabelle swivels on her heels and stalks toward me, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I told you to back off of Caleb,” she says, glowering at me.

Perhaps she intends to be intimidating, but I am tired and sore. I’ve also been threatened by men and women much scarier and much more powerful than her. If she wants to get into my head or under my skin, she would have to try harder.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, meaning it earnestly. She came here expecting to be made into a queen, but Caleb never really wanted her. Time and again, he’s chosen me as his companion, casting Annabelle and her feelings to the side.

I pity her. Just as I can never be Caleb’s wife because of my station, she can never own Caleb’s heart because I exist.

We are each other’s nemesis, but the removal of one would not solve the problem of the other. Surely she can see that?

Or, with the way she’s glaring at me, perhaps she can’t…

“You’ve blinded the King with your flirtations and your… your… sex,” she spits out, as if in disgust. The smell of Caleb and I blended together must still hang on the air. She looks as if she might be sick. “If you would deny him, he would come to me.”

“The King can’t be denied,” I say.

“He would listen to you if you told him you didn’t want him.”

“He would know I was lying.”

“So don’t lie!” Annabelle shouts. “Just stop wanting him! He’s above your station. He cannot love you. Why would you hoard him for yourself, ensuring you are both unhappy? Let him go, Harper. Let me have him. I can make him happy, and then you will be free.”

She doesn’t understand. I love Caleb. Even if I was free of this palace, I would never be free of him. Not truly. He would remain in my heart.

“I’m sorry,” I say again.

Her smile starts to twitch, and a part of her eye goes red, like a blood vessel popped. She doesn’t seem as nice anymore. Her smile is like a doll’s, painted on, while the true her starts to crack underneath.

“I’m tired of playing nice with you, Harper. I’ve tried to be the better woman. I’ve tried to reason. Well, I’m done with all of that, and so now I’m telling you. You will stay away from Caleb, because if you don’t, I will find a way to have you killed. Oh, Caleb will grieve you for a moment, and then he will forget you, as it was always meant to be.”