Bonded Ever After (The Royal Gold Keepers #3)

Chapter 8

EIGHT

Elora

I clutch the phone in my hand, brushing away tears as Beva continues to talk excitedly. My gaze goes outside my bedroom window to the early morning sky, and I try not to wallow in my sadness. This is it. There’s no more time left. My best friend is leaving, and I’m never going to see her again.

“It’s amazing!” she exclaims. “Can you believe it? Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving to my new college.”

Yes, I can believe it, because I love Beva. Selfishly, I feel like everything I love gets taken away, even though deep down I know this is what’s best for her. She has to go, and I have to support her in leaving.

“That’s wonderful,” I say, heart hammering.

“I just wish my parents were allowed to call and tell me what it’s like. I bet it’s amazing. I mean, if the drugs, violence, and war were that bad, they wouldn’t let us leave to study at the universities on the outside, right?”

“Right.” I try to sound chipper, even going so far as to force a smile, even though she can’t see me.

“And I reached out to Teth since he’s leaving too. His university is several hours away from mine, but we’re going to make plans to talk and meet up, if we can, so I won’t be completely alone after my family leaves.”

I think of the silent guy who only seemed connected to Callum and Serrill. “Yeah, having a friend on the outside will be great.”

My thoughts go to Serrill and Teth. Callum and I had seen them kiss. I’d never heard of two guys kissing before. Rules are in place to say that such things are illegal, even though no one seems to care about that law. Now, I wonder if it’s more common than I know.

As long as Serrill’s happy, that’s all I care about. Happy, and safe. But if they are going to continue kissing until Teth leaves, they’ll have to be more careful about it. If anyone other than Callum and I see them… well, they’ll disappear.

“Do you have any idea when Teth is leaving?”

She laughs. “He’s actually going to be on the same flight as me. We’ll be having a layover in his city, then we’ll head to mine.”

My heart sinks. Callum must be so sad. We’re both losing our best friends tomorrow, at a time when we need them the most. But maybe it’s best that they’re going. The Council won’t be able to use them to hurt us if things go south.

“I’m really happy for you,” I say.

There’s a rush of breath over the line. “I wish I could be here for you. I know how much you need someone…”

“You’ll be here for me in spirit,” I tell her.

“I will be,” she says fiercely. “I’ll think about you every day and send good thoughts your way.”

“Anytime I need you, I’ll just remember that.”

She’s quiet for a long minute. “You’re going to do great, you know that right? You’re going to accomplish wonderful things and be great at everything you do.” At being a mom, but she doesn’t say that.

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “So, should we have a celebration meal tonight with Teth to wish you good luck on your journey?”

“Yeah, an early dinner would be great, so I’m not too tired for my flight. I’ll set it up with Teth and text you the details.”

“Perfect.”

Our last meal together. I will not spend the whole time crying.

“Alright, I’ll get going. See you tonight!”

“See you tonight!”

I get off the phone and shove my cell phone back into my pocket. Then I get off the bed, standing and feeling lost. I don’t know what to do, but I know I don’t want to keep standing in my room staring at nothing.

I open my door and head to my parents’ room. I open the door all the way. My stepmom is lying sprawled on the bed. A bottle of wine has spilled out of her hand and onto the floor.

I take the bottle out of her hand and place it on her side table, then grab a towel and clean up the mess. Ignoring the other bottles of wine, since the cleaning lady will take care of them, I just cover her up. For a second, I linger, staring down at her face. She looks like a doll that someone has played with too hard. I wonder what it’s like for her to finally have the life her parents always wanted for her, being married to a Gold Keeper, having no responsibility in the world. Is it everything she thought it would be? Is she happy?

It’s strange that I don’t know. That I have no connection to a woman who has been around me since I was a young child. I want to feel close to her, but I just don’t.

I wonder if she feels the same way about me.

There’s a loud knocking on the front door. I jump a little, cast one last look back at my stepmom, then leave her bedroom, closing the door behind me. When I open the front door, I’m shocked to see a team of four scientists and a bunch of the council members at my door. Councilwoman Prisma, Councilman Runo, Councilman Vyn, Councilwoman Oliva, and Councilman Abraxas. Everyone except Callum’s mom.

“What’s going on?” I ask in complete shock.

One of the scientists lifts a silver case. “Time for your physical.”

My mouth drops open for a half a second before I slam it shit. “But it was canceled.”

Councilman Vyn steps forward, and I step back, not wanting the bastard near me. “Council Member Kela cancelled the physical without the agreement from the rest of the Council. We took a new vote and decided it would take place today instead.”

They voted without Callum’s mom? This is strange. His mom has never been the leader of the Council officially, but she always sort of has been by default, since she was willing to do the most work. Why would they do this behind her back?

And what the hell am I supposed to do? Reality hits me with a cold flash that rolls through my blood. If I do this physical, they’re going to know I’m pregnant, and I haven’t slept with Ferone yet. If I can’t get out of this, I’m in trouble. My baby is in trouble.

“I’m actually completely exhausted from being up all night partying, can we do it another day?” I ask, then start to close the door.

A shoe stops the door from closing. Councilman Vyn shoves it back open with a sickening sweet smile on his old face… because he is old, even if he uses goldarium to look younger. “Actually, today would be best.”

My heart races. “Wouldn’t it be better to meet at a science building to do all the tests in one shot?”

One of the scientists, the older man with a silver case, lifts it and says, “Actually, we have everything we need right here.” Behind him, three of the other scientists lift their identical silver cases too.

“Well–” I start, but Councilman Vyn pushes his way inside, and the others follow.

The scientist opens his silver case and pulls out a cup. “First, we’ll need some urine. Here you go! Just fill her up!” He walks over and pushes the cup into my hand.

Everyone stares at me. I rack my brain for a way out of this and come up empty.

“Have you already done Callum’s? He might be pissed if I go first.”

“We’ll do his tomorrow,” Councilman Vyn says with a smile.

“Maybe we could switch days, since I’m not feeling well.”

Councilman Vyn comes closer, his gaze running over me in an unsettling way. “You’re a Gold Keeper. I’m sure a little partying is nothing compared to what you do in Neverwood, so why don’t you be a good girl and go pee in that damn cup.”

A shudder rolls through me, and I turn and head for my bedroom, then I go into the bathroom and close and lock the door. Pulling open my phone, I do the only thing I can think of: I call Callum.

He answers after one ring. “Hello.”

“The Council is at my house giving me a physical. I told them you might get mad if I go first.”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “I’ll be there as fast as I can. Stall them.”

The call ends, and I sit down on the lid of the toilet, feeling sick. My sensitive stomach rolls painfully, and I have to fight the urge to vomit. What do I do? Will Callum make it in time?

Time ticks away. I jump when someone knocks at the door.

Councilman Vyn’s slimy voice comes through the door. “Are you finished?”

“I can’t pee,” I lie. Just speaking to him makes me feel even sicker.

His voice comes low and slow. “We have a stimulant gel out here. I could put it on you, if it would help.”

A picture of him putting a stimulant gel on me comes to my mind, and my stomach heaves for a second before I manage to keep it down. “No, I’m fine.”

“You’ve got five minutes, then we try the gel.”

It’s strange. I’m a Gold Keeper. The only heir of one of the two most powerful families. I should be treated with respect, but I’m not. This is the problem. The thing I never saw before my dad disappeared. The Council, our people, no one actually cares about us, other than our ability to give them goldarium. I don’t have any real power.

I pee in the cup, then seal it and set it on the counter, deciding to wait out the clock. Callum will be here. He’ll arrive soon, and then he’ll come up with some way to get me out of this. Some way to protect our child.

There’s a sharp knock at the door. “It’s time.”

I leap to my feet, grab my urine sample, and open the door. “I’m done.”

Councilman Vyn is standing with the gel in his hand with a grin that quickly vanishes. Everyone else has set up in my room, and they’re all looking uncomfortable. Clearly, they don’t like the idea of some old man touching me, but not enough to actually stop him.

Assholes.

Council Member Prisma yawns near my bed. “Do we really need to stay here? We made our point to Council Member Kela. We’re still on schedule. Do we need to do anything else?”

To my surprise, Council Member Vyn waves them away. “You may go.”

A scientist with a big bald head and big green eyes gestures to me. “Come sit on the bed. I’m going to take your blood sample.”

I don’t move as the council members file out. Everyone but Vyn. “I actually don’t see the point in taking my blood. I’m a Gold Keeper. You have my blood sample results from when I was a girl. You know there’s nothing genetically wrong with me, and we don’t get sick, so nothing would have changed.”

The bald guy looks at Council Member Vyn.

He draws himself up taller near me. “This is now standard protocol. All of you will be getting physicals on a regular basis, starting with you and Callum, then continuing this new procedure with your kids.”

“I just think it’s pointless,” I say, stalling for time.

“Why? You afraid of a little poke?” he asks, invading my space.

I take a step back. “I’m a Gold Keeper. I’m not afraid of anything. I just think this is dumb.”

“Dumb or not, your Council is ordering you to do this,” he says, his voice angry, like my refusal is a personal slight to him.

The scientist gives me a sympathetic look while another opens their silver case and places my urine sample into it. I see a spot beside it for my blood sample, and my mind starts working.

“Okay,” I finally manage, then I sit down gingerly on the edge of my bed.

They take my blood sample, then close it up and put it in the silver case before closing the thing. Next, they run through all the standard tests, testing my reflexes, checking my throat and my nose, having me touch my toes while they look at my spine.

I do everything slowly, taking my time. I chat with them, try to distract them, and all along try to keep an eye on the silver case. It looks exactly like the other three, so I have no interest in mixing it up. Still, they’re always opening one case or another as they run through the tests, and I find myself trying to subtly ensure that my case doesn’t get switched.

Suddenly, Callum comes crashing into my room, looking pissed. “What the hell?”

Everyone tenses.

“Why the fuck does the Walker get her physical first?” he shouts.

The scientists draw into the corner of my room, looking nervous. Councilman Vyn, however, just looks irritated. Not that I blame him. The Runefalls are not fun to deal with when they’re angry.

“We were going to do your physical tomorrow,” Councilman Vyn says coldly.

“Like hell!” Callum yells.

They square off, getting into each other’s face as they yell back and forth. The scientists grab the cases and move them out of the way of the potential fight, and I’m again left watching them, making certain I have the right case. When Callum pushes the councilman, the scientists suddenly start trying to break them up. I slip toward the cases, grab the right one, and hurry out. I shove the case in a closet, then come back.

I grab one of the scientist’s arms. “You should warn the Council about what’s going on.”

He gives a frantic nod and runs out of the room.

I wait long enough to give him time to be gone while Callum and Councilman Vyn scream in each other’s face about how they both have egos, etc. Callum’s gaze catches mine, and I give a little nod.

He steps back. “You know what, give the bitch her physical. Because we all know that Runefalls are better than Walkers, and my physical will prove that.”

Relief washes over everyone. The three scientists remaining grab their cases and head out. Councilman Vyn gives Callum a warning glance, but doesn’t say a word, probably because deep down he’s relieved to be getting out of here alive.

Callum leaves with the others, but I know he won’t be gone long. I wait, counting the seconds, needing to be sure that the scientists and councilman are long gone before I dig out the case. Before Callum comes back. Eventually, Callum slips in from my backdoor, and I lead him to the hall closet, where I pull out the case.

“That’s it?” he asks quietly.

I nod.

We go to my room. I put the case on the bed, open it, and feel the color drain from my face. “This isn’t possible.”

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I collapse in front of it, breathing hard. “This is the wrong case. They got the one with my blood and urine.”

“Fuck. Do you know what science building they were going to with it?”

I shake my head.

“We could get in the truck. We’ll be faster than them… We can find them.”

“Callum,” I say softly. We could try, but there are a million different ways to get to the science center, a dozen different buildings they could go to. We’d have to be the luckiest people in the world to catch them, and then what? Steal it from them in broad daylight? “It’s over.”

“But–”

“All this was ever going to do is buy us time. As soon as they realized my samples were missing, they’d be back for more. We have to come up with a real plan.”

He kneels down beside me and takes my face in his hands. “It’s okay. You and our baby will be safe.”

“Because I’m going to sleep with Ferone,” I say.

His expression flashes with anger. “No.”

“Then give me another plan. Give me a way to save our baby.”

He’s breathing hard. “Do you think Ferone would agree to a deal? To pretend like it’s his baby? He likely won’t even ask questions if it gets him what he finally wants.”

I think. “He might.”

Actually, I know he’ll agree to it. Anyone with half a brain would accept the deal. Hell, if he was crazy enough to say no, someone else wouldn’t be. This is a solution that could work, even though passing the baby off as his would be simpler.

“Then ask him. It’ll take them a couple days to run your labs. We’ll have everything arranged by then.”

He leans in to kiss me, but I pull back, looking toward my door in a panic as I sense movement on the other side.

Callum rises to his feet, creeps toward the door, and throws it open– except, no one is there. It’s just the empty hallway. Yet, it’s a reminder. We’d have no way to explain why he and I were here alone. He has to go.

His gaze holds mine, and I can feel a thousand things he wants to say, but then he turns and leaves. I sit back against my bed, head in my hands.

Everything is going to change. Nothing will ever be the same again.