Glimmer by Anya Monroe Read Free Book Online Page B

choice of words.
    But I couldn't be happier. I always hoped Integrity was a supporter. Lucy believed him to be pure and good. And he revealed that he is, indeed, not like the other men on the Council. He isn't corrupt and greedy.
    My body exposes my feelings. I brighten the room as relief floods through me. Lucy will still be Bound to me one day.
    "That being said," Integrity surprisingly continues, "I think we will need to keep the Nobleman here, for several weeks, if not months, if He is not wanting to be Bound with one of our Refuge's Vessel's. We wouldn't want to risk another outage, would we?" Integrity looks at me, through squinting eyes. "Besides we are owed his energy resource. We have plans of building a new wing on our Refuge."
    The Councilmen nod in agreement.
    "Of course He would need to stay. A month, minimum," Depend says. They are talking about me as though I am not in the room. A commodity to trade, to leverage. "We can't risk it. And besides, we were already promised the extra energy when that hussy Lucy and the Nobleman chose to be Bound. We shouldn't be penalized for her leaving!"
    "I ... well ... of course I wouldn't want to leave ... but...." I stumble. I can't very well say to them that I need to leave this Refuge so I can free Basil and Grace and develop a new power source for the children here and find my parents and reunite with Lucy. It would be a bit wordy, not to mention a sure fire way to kill my plan.
    "Of course, there is another option," Integrity says. "You can be Bound with one of our Vessels. After which you would of course need to travel to each Refuge to present yourselves as Nobleman and Noblelady." He looks right at me as he says this.
    Travel to each Refuge.
    "So you are saying if I refuse to be Bound, I'll be forced to stay, but if I agree, you'll let me travel?" I ask, shaking my head. They are putting me in bind no matter what I choose. And either way I am in their grip. Still their pawn.
    I can't spend two months being stuck here. Lucy will think I have forgotten her if I wait around that long. Not to mention Basil and Grace. I can't let their blood be on my hands for not doing something. But if I am Bound to another Vessel, I am betraying Lucy.
    "Why do you want to leave so badly Nobleman? Why now ?" Rely questions, his eyes boring into me.
    "I'm restless. You know after a month I am always ready to go. And besides, this place is making me sad. I mean, I really thought I was going to end up with Lucy. And she left me."
    "So a case of lovers betrayal, is it son?" The Head Councilman says, his face empathizing with me and diminishing the value of Depend's question. Thankfully, because going down that rabbit trail will keep me in their burrow forever.
    I wish I could ask Lucy what I should do. Or I wish my family were still here, to help me decide. But everyone I have ever loved is gone. No one is left to help me.
    I think of Lucy, how she arrived at this Refuge and changed the course of my life. She kissed my lips and touched my soul. I will never betray my love for her.
                  Integrity coughs into his hand, breaking the silence of the room. The Councilmen are all studying me closely.
                  "If you agree to be Bound with a Vessel from this Refuge," Discernment chimes in, "we will have the word of the Head Councilman that you will return here more often to sustain our energy supplies, and donate extra to the cause of our growth. Isn't that right men?"
                  "Of course it is. How do you want to play this out, Lukas? Either way you know who ultimately is in control of your life," says the Head Councilman icily. He knows what a dagger calling me by my given name is. It's a name reserved for my family, only. He's only using it to pull on my heartstrings even more.
    I look back at Integrity. Something about him being the one who told me I would have a chance to travel to each Refuge strikes me as odd.
    Unless.
    Unless his