Chapter 224

Bethany, in shock over what she was hearing, emitted a tiny gasp. Though she covered her mouth in an instant, it was unfortunately enough of a sound to draw the attention of Gladys and the butler in the kitchen.

“What was that?” the butler says, just as Gladys calls out, “Who’s there?”

Bethany, realizing she’s been caught, turns and scurries away, hoping to hide before the pair can step out into the hallway.

Knowing she only has a few brief moments, she hurries – but when she turns the corner in her haste, without looking where she’s going, she runs directly into a hard male chest.

A pair of arms steady her.

“Bethany?”

Looking up, Bethany stares straight into Cameron’s worried eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Stop her!” the butler calls out from behind her.

“I have to go,” she says and tries to sidestep around Cameron, but his hands are like shackles on her arms, keeping her from wandering too far in any direction. She’s trapped, his prisoner. “Cam, please.”

Cameron’s expression tightens but he does not let her go. He looks for all the world like he wants to, but he can’t. Hearing the thud of Gladys’s cane and the flurry of the butler’s footsteps approaching, Bethany knows it’s already too late.

Cameron is supposed to be her friend. They are from the same town, shared similar childhoods. She knew she couldn’t trust him exactly, but he’d raised her faith in him when he turned up at her Harper’s room, gave them those warnings of his, and destroyed the listening devices.

That had to account for something, didn’t it?

Or perhaps that was the precursor to this moment. Perhaps one of the reasons that he was so adamant about her leaving was because he knew that if things were to come to this, that he would be forced to take sides.

Right now, she foolishly hopes that Cameron will save her, but in the firmness of his grip, she already has the truth.

His loyalty is to his employer, not to Bethany, no matter their shared background or their friendship.

In a way, she understands.

Bethany, having been spotted, is now an enemy to Gladys and her lot. Bethany will always be on the side of Harper, and therefore on Caleb’s side. Despite their friendship, she would never surrender that loyalty for Cameron’s sake.

This friendship, it seems, was only ever meant to end in tragedy.

“Bring her to the library,” Gladys commands.

Bethany gives Cameron one last pleading glance, and for a moment, he seems conflicted. But that moment passes far too quickly.

Then, he’s pushing Bethany toward the library none-too-gently, his fingers digging bruises into her arms.

She struggles slightly, meekly. She’s panicking and afraid but knows she will not be saved here. She is outmatched. She never should have tried to snoop around on her own. Caleb warned her to be careful. Why wasn’t she more careful?!

In the library, Gladys approaches one of the bookcases. She turns the light fixture and then removes one of the books.

Suddenly, a loud clicking sound fills the space and then the bookcase pulls inward and swings open, revealing an opening – a doorway – that leads to a long dark corridor.

Bethany doesn’t know where that corridor goes but she knows she won’t enjoy it.

“You know what to do,” Gladys says to Cameron.

Cameron pushes Bethany through the open door to the secret passage.

That evening, as Caleb and I are readying for the gala, I notice Bethany’s absence right away. I keep glancing at the clock and then at the door, so much so that Caleb even starts to take notice.

“Your handmaiden is late to assist you,” Caleb says.

“This isn’t like her,” I say, letting more of my worry show. “Something might have happened…”

Caleb doesn’t say anything, which only adds to my suspicions.

“Maybe we should go look for her friend, Cameron. He gave us a warning before,” I suggest.

“No,” Caleb says quickly. “He might know Bethany from her past, and he even might have warned you both about the dangers here, but that does not make him an ally. In front of Gladys, he will still bow to her will.”

“You don’t know that,” I say.

Caleb shakes his head. “A person wouldn’t be admitted employment here within the estate if he hasn’t already proven himself the utmost loyal to her or the rebellion. His friendships, even his personal feelings won’t matter when it comes time to choose sides. Even Bethany won’t be spared.”

I don’t like the way he’s talking, like Bethany might be dead. “Caleb, please don’t say such things…”

Caleb, at last seeming to realize my distress comes to me and wraps me in his arms.

“If something did happen to her, we need to be more careful. We can keep an eye out of her, or for that friend she is friends with, and maybe we will find answers there. But we must be careful not to step one foot out of line. If we have any hope of investigating that secret passage, we can’t afford to draw any suspicious gazes our way.”

“Bethany means more to me than a door,” I say.

“If she was captured, the door might be the way to find her,” Caleb replies.

I snuggle closer to him, taking comfort in his warmth and strength.

Bringing Bethany was a mistake. If something happened to her, it was entirely my fault.

What if she discovered something? What if she’d been trying to do her best for me, but they caught her before she could make it back to mine and Caleb’s side.

Her absence sends a chill through me, and I can see how clearly the warnings are real.

Before Caleb can have chance to further console me, there’s a knock on the door.

“The ballroom is ready,” the servant there says, when we open it. “The other guests have already arrived. We await your arrival. I will show you the way.”

Caleb takes my hand, and together we follow the servant down the stairs and the through the main chamber to the ballroom. There, a pair of double doors open, revealing a long grand staircase down into an expansive room of white tables, crystal chandeliers, and many, many people.

Gladys stands at the bottom of the stairs, addressing some of the guests.

Caleb pauses, his nostrils flaring.

“The scents here match the ones I smelled from the forest,” he whispers to me. “Stay on your guard.”

He doesn’t need to tell me twice.

The other guests are peering at me with curiosity and interest. Too much interest. In fact, they appear as if they want to eat me. The entire thing is very unnerving.

I inch closer to Caleb, who protectively wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me against his side.

“Welcome to our guests, Alpha King Caleb and his favored consort Harper,” Gladys says, and most of the guests clap politely. More than a few simply glare at Caleb and me.

Gladys, smiling wide, looks away from us and out over her crowd of guests. “I want to thank everyone for attending tonight and formally welcome you all. Soon, we will beginning this evening’s main event.”

Main event? I thought this was just going to be a party.

Gladys’s smile adds teeth as she turns back and glances at me. “A hunt.”