Page 46 of Bittersweet Revenge

I stood in the corridor for quite some time after his departure. I was surprised by both my need to protect and heal him, as well as the deep response to my comfort, dare I even say the plenitude, that had settled on his face under my touch.

“There might be hope for you yet, Caleb Astor. There might be hope for you after all,” I whispered before stepping into my room and locking the door behind me.

Chapter 11 - Caleb

“So, I think that today we need to discuss the subject of the Prom,” Archibald said as he opened the council book.

I rested my forehead on the table. “No.”

“No? What do you mean, no?”

I looked up. “I just don’t care at all, not even a little.” And especially not after what my father had said to me the other night after dinner. How he intended for us to share my bride,whether I wanted us to or not. But I would kill him before I let him touch her.

Hell, I’d kill anyone who thought they had rights to her. I might have promised her I’d let her go, but it was still very hard for me not to think of her as mine. I couldn’t do that until I knew what they hid from me, until I knew what they were facing together. I hadn’t really cared about the pathetic little secret club until what had happened in the swimming pool because if Esmeralda had spoken the truth, which I still wasn’t sure she had, then somebody had tried to kill her, and that was not something I wanted to be kept away from. I wanted to find the culprit and burn him to the ground.

Archibald sighed, resting his hand on the book. “Why do you always have to make things so difficult, Astor? This is trivial and yet essential in school life. You wanted the chair at the council. You have it–”

“There are matters which are much more important.” I was done playing the idiot.

“Yeah?” Archibald arched an eyebrow mockingly.

I tightened my hands into fists, pushing down my strong desire to smash his face into the table.

“Yeah, like maybe what is happening with Esmeralda and why you’re all meeting like little spies behind my back.”

I looked at Antoine who had the decency to look down in shame. I'd always considered him as being my friend - my only friend, even if the word didn’t really mean much in this world.

As for Archibald and I… Ah, Archibald and I, there was way too much bad blood between us. Too many things had happened while fighting for a crown I was not sure was worth anything anymore.

As for the incident with Taylor, well, I wasn't sure I was really to blame in that. He had made his choice, burning any feelings that might have existed. I'd barely handed him the matches. The consequences were all his.

I cocked my head to the side, thinking for the first time about what I would have done if it had been Esmeralda and I.

Archibald closed the book. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Do you really think you can fool me? I’m the puppet master, remember?”

He shook his head.

“Please,” I snorted. “You can deny it all you like. You think you’re an evil mastermind, but your little gang is far from being smooth.”

I pointed to Antoine who was still avoiding my eyes. “You could at least pretend to teach her some French. Either you’re the worst tutor in history or you are not teaching her shit because fuck, she blows at French.”

“I– It’s…” He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.

I raised my hand. “Don’t embarrass yourself and insult me by trying to lie, just keep it closed. And if you don't tell me, I swear I’ll burn the fucking world until I find out the secrets you’re keeping.”

“You should be careful, Caleb.” Archibald crossed his arms on his chest. “If you burn the world, you might burn with it.”

“And I care because…” I trailed off. I didn't think Archibald really understood the depth of my detachment. Nobody was more dangerous than someone who had nothing left to lose.

“Little lesson, Archibald – to destroy your enemy, you need to be ready to be destroyed.” And I was born ready. I even thought that part of me had been chipping away since the day I was born.

Archibald turned to Antoine who shook his head ever so slightly.

Archibald sighed. “To be fair, Caleb, whatever is happening,ifanything is happening, it has nothing to do with you.” He shook his head. “And if you want to know, you’ll need to speak with your fiancée.”

“Ah yes,” I snorted. “My fiancée, your sister…” I turned to Antoine. “Your little secret-keeper.”

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