Page 19 of Bonded Ever After

“Perfect.”

Our last meal together. I willnotspend 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. Mybabyis 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.”

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