Chapter 185

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 the sun shines in a bright blue sky, mocking me with its pleasantness and warmth. What is there to be so bright about? How can the rest of the world go on as if nothing terrible is happening today?

I’m still in my pajamas when Bethany wanders in. Her shoulder has mostly healed up now, so she no longer needs her sling or her cast. Even so, she probably shouldn’t still be carrying the stack of fresh blankets she is carrying. When I see her, arms so full, I rush to help.

“Thanks,” she says. “I thought you might want to help me clean up some today. You don’t have to, of course, by any means, and I wouldn’t take it personally. But with everything going on, I thought you could use the distraction.”

“I could,” I tell her. “And I’m no stranger to cleaning. Count me in.”

Rushing into the closet, I change into some linen pants and a t-shirt, a simple outfit suited for cleaning. Back in the main room, Bethany hands me a dust rag, before she turns her sights on the bed.

Bethany was right, having a task does keep my mind off of things. At least for a few minutes here and there. Time and again though, I find myself distracted. I must have dusted the same painting on the wall six or seven times.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Bethany asks.

I nearly jump out of my skin, not having expected her to suddenly be beside me. Glancing back, she finished making the entire bed. I don’t even see the old sheets. She must have taken them out of the room and then returned, all while I was standing here, dusting this painting.

“What’s left to talk about?” I say. “It’s happening. I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t. Caleb didn’t hear me, or he wouldn’t. Maybe he couldn’t.” Sighing, I shake my head. “Bethany, you talk to more people than me. Is Annabelle really popular enough to help stop the rebellion?”

Bethany glances around like the walls might have ears. Lowly, she leans in and whispers, “In my opinion? From what I’ve seen and heard? No. But then, I only speak with people here in the capital. She’s likely more popular in her own pack. That pack will likely step up to defend the new Luna as one of their own.”

That’s true, and Annabelle’s pack isn’t a small one either. That alliance would be very beneficial to Caleb and his defense against the rebels. But that’s only if it comes to a fight. Annabelle’s presence doesn’t seem to offer much in the way of a peaceful solution to the rebel problem.

But maybe we are beyond peace now. I still worry about Tristan, imprisoned somewhere, if he’s even still alive.

That Samuel is behind all of this gives me nothing but despair as well. I should have noticed sooner the type of man he truly is. Maybe I could have helped Caleb resolve all of this before it ever truly began.

Now, I’m infinitely helpless, in the rebellion, in life. Here I am, trapped in my room, because I’m afraid to come out and see a wedding I don’t want to.

“When do you think the wedding will happen?” I ask. The invitations told the guests to arrive early. I imagine most of them are already filing in.

“The exchange of vows is set for this afternoon,” Bethany says. Quietly, she adds, “There’s still time.”

I want to chastise her for the foolish hope she’s trying to instill in me. It won’t do much good when the time comes for the wedding.

Caleb has made it very clear that he will be marrying Annabelle, regardless of what I think.

I open my voice to reply, when a knock on the door stops me. Quickly, Bethany snags the rag out of my hand and hurries toward the door. We both would get in trouble for my helping with the cleaning depending who is on the other side.

Before Bethany can even reach the door, it bursts open and Kira, Caleb’s mother waltzes in. She glances around the room.

“Where is Harper?”

She looked right over me.

“I’m here,” I say, stepping forward.

Glancing back at me, she double takes, then sneers at my outfit. “Why are you dressed like that?”

“I want to be comfortable today,” I say.

“Well you aren’t wearing that to the wedding,” Kira says sourly.

“I’m not going to the wedding.”

Kira laughs for a moment, until she realizes that neither I nor Bethany are laughing along with her. Then her laughter abruptly stops and outrage fills her voice. “What do you mean, you aren’t going?”

“I’m staying here.”

“Like hell you are,” Kira replies. “All of the harem will be there to show their support to Caleb and his new bride. You, for whatever the reason, are the favored consort. If you do not attend, do you have any idea of the scandal that would arise?”

“I don’t care about scandal,” I say. “I’m not going to watch Caleb marry someone else.”

Kira lifts her head abruptly, as if shocked by my words. “The audacity. ‘Someone else?’ Like you ever had a chance. You are a slave girl, Harper. You are a whore. Caleb does not care about you beyond that. You think he would break all rules of decorum for you?”

“His brother did, for his mate.”

“You are not Caleb’s mate,” Kira says, a growl in her voice now.

Bethany gives me a warning look. I’m provoking Kira too much, I know that, but my heart is so heavy. She came here to mock me, and I won’t let her. Not right now. Not when everything aches and feels so damn raw.

Kira seems to calm herself though, reeling herself in and standing somewhat taller, regal. She closes her eyes, breathes, and then opens them again, looking clearer.

“If you have any care for Caleb at all, you will not make more trouble for him. You will attend this wedding as you are intended to, and that is final.”

She does not wait for my reply. She simply swivels on her heel and leaves.

I look at Bethany who looks at me.

Do I really have to go to this wedding? Do I have to watch Caleb promise his devotion to someone else? Does the entire court demand my torture like this?

No. I have to talk to Caleb. Just one more time. Maybe, if I plead once more, I can finally convince him not to do this.

“Harper,” Bethany says, but I don’t stay to hear what she has to say.

Instead, I head for the door. Kira is at the end of the hallway. She doesn’t see me as I slink towards Caleb’s room. The guards see me but don’t stop me as I slip inside.

Caleb stands in front of a full length mirror, wearing a sharp suit with golden trim. His hair is slicked back. His eyes are bright.

He’s so damn handsome, he steals my breath away.