#Chapter 179: No Authority To Barter Yourself

Seeing Caleb rush towards me, fury in his gaze, I already know what’s happened here. Bethany. She might have seemed compliant when I told her to stay behind, but I should have known she wouldn’t just sit idly by while I placed myself in danger, even if I instructed her to do so. She is my friend before she is my servant, and has been for a long time. If she thought she couldn’t convince me to stop my plans, she would likely turn to the one person with the power to make me stop. I could only imagine how that conversation might have gone, but I can see clearly now how it ends. Caleb grabs me roughly by the arm and drags me back the aisle toward the stairwell. He is unkind, his fingers biting into my skin. He’s taking wide strides, giving me no time to collect myself. I struggle to keep up with him. In the stairwell, he drags me up to the first landing, then he forcibly shoves me against the wall. My back strikes the stone, knocking the wind out of me. He gives me no room, cro