Rebel Rising : The Vessel Games (#2) by E.J. Eden

Author:E.J. Eden [Eden, E.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eighteen

Karina slumped down behind the large wooden oak desk and onto the squeaky leather seat, burying her head in her hands. The ball in her throat was growing, choking her until she couldn’t breathe anymore.

Gasps came, and salty, wet tears followed soon after. Karina crumpled over, gripping herself. The hope she’d held for herself, her little family, was gone now.

Her corset was tight tonight, she’d be showing soon—then everything was over for her. She wondered how long they’d wait until they executed her for her crimes. A day after her child was born? A month? Would she even get to hold her baby?

Karina didn’t know how long she’d sat there for. Until she heard the screams of those who’d been caught while the windows shattered dwindle. If it wasn’t so horrific, it might’ve been almost poetic.

Northumberland’s hunting lodge was impenetrable by all forces he could ever anticipate. But he never could’ve anticipated this.

A creak made her jump. She glanced up, her eyes puffy and red, to a face she knew. A face, to her surprise, that she was relieved to see. “Caleb.”

Caleb stormed across the room, his face riddled with telltale signs she recognized. He was furious.

But not at her, she realized. At himself. He was beating himself up for losing her in the crowd.

“Are you hurt?” His eyes raked over her, burning with hot fury.

“I’m fine,” Karina insisted. “I was lucky. I wasn’t standing near any windows when they shattered. I ran to the corridor, which was windowless and then….” She remembered Will dragging her along the corridor to this safe spot. How it felt to be in his arms again, and how it felt when he ripped her future from her with a few simple words: I don’t love you anymore.

“The rain didn’t get me. I’m unharmed.” On the outside anyway, she thought.

Caleb grazed a finger across her cheek. Karina winced, feeling like her face was burning. He pulled his finger back, showing her the red blood dripping down her face.

“Oh.” Karina’s fingers shot up to meet the sticky substance on her cheek. “I hadn’t realized I was bleeding.”

“You’re hurt.” Caleb grunted, searching around the desk. He grabbed at a glass water bottle, open and half-empty on the desk, and ripped his tie off.

“We need to clean the wound. Make sure no acid from the window got in. That could hurt a lot later on.”

“Why does it not hurt now?” Karina mumbled.

“Because you’re in shock,.” Caleb soaked the tie, unbuttoning his white-collared shirt further, the hardened muscle peeking through. Karina gazed at the strong column of his throat, where his Adam’s apple bobbed as he dabbed at the cuts on her cheek.

“I’m so sorry,” Caleb breathed. “I tried everything to get to you. You got swept away…”

“It’s okay.” Karina’s voice was quiet.

“It’s not okay. I’m supposed to protect you. To look after you.”

“I understand,” Karina said, thinking of Will. “You need to look after the greater good sometimes. And the greater good was making sure you were safe and unhurt.

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