After another argumentwith Lucas, Harper arose at dawn to light the fires and help in the preparation of the morning meal for Gillen's officers. To ensure that she had fewer interactions with the slaves or sitters, she was assigned a new job at the Casa, where she would cater to the high-ranking soldiers and guards. In a sense, she was more visible to them.
Towards the middle of the day, after she had completed all of her cleaning and laundry duties, she was given a few minutes to herself in her room. It was forbidden for her to interact with any of the other slaves who had not taken part in their failed uprising, particularly with Clay, who had been assigned solely to serve as Gillen's body slave. But, regardless of how strict the regulations were enforced around her, she was still able to collect some information about Francine.
The vampiress was still being imprisoned in the cell below, along with the rest of the slaves, sitters, and fighters who would be executed the following day. When Harper found out the news, she made the best of the brief window of time she had to herself and cried in her room.
When the sun went down, Harper had just finished making supper for the guards when she was called to Gillen's receiving room. He chest tightened as her heart hammered madly in her chest.
Walking the distance between the communal kitchen and the area where Gillen was waiting for her was the longest she had ever walked in her life. It felt like every step was a bit heavier than the one before. While her terror was crippling her, she silently prayed for deliverance.
Inside the large room, she found Kara lounging on a sofa. Gillen sat in an adjacent chair, sipping from a glass of wine. When she walked up to them, they both looked up. Her face was flushed with surprise and confusion when two servants walked into view.
"Master Gillen, did you want to speak with me?"
"Ah, yes! Harper! Come here," Gillen motioned for her to come forward. "Kara here is very pleased with the quick justice that this Casa has provided her after what Libby did to her. And as a mark of her gratitude, she has offered to help you for tomorrow. "
"I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying, Master Gillen."
Gillen, on the other hand, chose not to explain and simply grinned and said to Kara, "I'll be right back."
Kara got up from her sofa and beckoned to the two maids to bring her the chest of fine garments.
"I'm not sure why I have to dress..." Harper stood in the middle of the room, and the two servants began to surround her, mending, adjusting, measuring, and doing just about anything else that could be done to a dress to make it suit her.
"Didn't your mate tell you?"
*Mate*. Harper's stomach clenched as she heard the word.
"No. He didn't say anything to me," she murmured, her teeth clenched together in annoyance. When one of the servants tugged on her rag dress, she took it as a signal to take it off. "Please allow me," she said to the servant.
"Well, he will be formally assuming his new duty as Gillen's Champion Commander." Kara got on one of the couches close to Harper and drank some wine while she swiftly removed the rag she was wearing.
"And what does it have to do with me?" Harper asked, feeling very exposed underneath the tiny undergarment she was wearing.
"Everything, to be honest. As a token of Gillen's appreciation for Lucas' great contribution to his House of Champion, you must be at the very least presentable tomorrow when Lucas officially pledges his loyalty to Gillen." She sat the cup on the table.
"I'm just a token?" Harper took a deep breath and slipped into the outfit they had chosen for her without taking off her undergarment. There was absolutely no way she was going to stand naked in front of all of these people.
"You should really consider yourself fortunate, you know. After everything that has happened... the crime that you have committed," Kara spoke fairly harshly. She got to her feet and began walking slowly in circles around Harper.
Harper was dressed in a long white dress with straps that hung low but snug, just below her shoulder. The clothing clung to her flesh, emphasizing her breasts, waist, and hips more than she preferred. Though it wasn't as fancy as Kara's, it was certainly finer than what the slaves and sitters wore around the Casa.
"Fix her hair," Kara instructed one of the slaves. "I want to see what style will suit her."
In no time, Harper's hair had been woven around her head to create the appearance of waves, with only a few stray pieces remaining to frame her face and one long strand curled to perfection at the nape of her neck resting over her shoulder.
"I think this hairstyle already suits her. If I didn't know who or what you were, I'd be inclined to believe you were one of Gillen's guests," Kara commented.
As they were making Harper uncomfortable with their eyes that scanned every inch of her, making sure they had not missed anything, they heard footsteps approaching the receiving area.
Gillen was the first to enter, followed by Lucas. "Take a look at my gift for you, Lucas!" Gillen stated, his arms outstretched in front of him as if he was presenting Harper to Lucas.
"I hate to say it, but she's just stunning. And the dress fit her better than I could have anticipated!" Kara said this with a smile on her face.
Gillen walked over to Harper and took a few steps around her. "Kara, you are, without a doubt, a woman of exceptional ability. My house is grateful to you." He flashed a grin. "How do you feel about this, Harper?"
Harper glanced at Lucas for a moment before looking away and saying nothing.
"Harper?"
"I think Kara—"
"—*Mistress Kara*," Kara immediately corrected her and shook her head. "Even though I assisted Gillen in dressing you and making you presentable, we are not friends, and you are a servant."
"Please accept my apologies, Mistress Kara. And, thank you."
"Harper will pick up on proper etiquette in no time," Gillen said. "And what are your thoughts, Lucas? Is she not a sight to behold?"
Harper observed Lucas as he drew closer to her, capturing her eyes and then giving her the look that showed how much he wanted her, one that conveyed hunger and lust.
"She's just beautiful, Master Gillen," Lucas remarked quietly.
Kara sat down and continued to sip her cup of wine. Gillen sat down next to her, keeping an eye on both Harper and Lucas.
"What are your thoughts on the two of them, Kara? Don't they make a good pair?" he asked.
"I agree with you. However, do not become overly fond of them. Remember what they just did," Kara said, her gaze fixed on Harper. "Especially her. I know you have a soft spot for humans, but you need to be cautious around this one."
Harper swallowed as she stayed motionless in front of Kara and Gillen's prying eyes.
"The new slaves and fighters will arrive tomorrow. Apart from the execution, which will serve as a warning to everyone not to ever defy me ever again, Lucas' ceremony will also serve as a sign of what a kind, generous, and fair master I am. If they prove to be faithful and deserving, they will undoubtedly be rewarded. Harper will be permanently pardoned after the formalities are completed, and she will continue to carry out her duties."
"I'm looking forward to meeting your new fighters," Kara said with a sneaky grin.
"I'm certain that you are." Gillen gave a little smile and then leaned slightly towards Kara and asked quietly, "Is there any word on Liv? Will she be here tomorrow?"
"She is going to be here. No doubt about that. There is, however, something I failed to mention."
"Shall we go to my office?" Gillen and Kara walked out of the room without looking back, leaving the slaves, Harper and Lucas behind.
Harper assured the other slaves that she no longer required their assistance in removing the dress, and they hurriedly exited the room. When Lucas approached her, she pretended he wasn't there and proceeded to take off the fancy dress and put on her rag dress.
"I think you're beautiful every day." Lucas smiled as Harper folded the dress and set it inside the chest.
"A token! That's what I've been reduced to!" Harper spat, catching his gaze.
"Of course not! You know you aren't! Why are you—"
Suddenly, an *explosion* blasted outside the Casa, cutting Lucas short in the middle of what he was saying. And before he could say anything or make any movement toward Harper, another one went off, this one rocking the Casa. In no time, chaos erupted throughout the halls as everyone fled to the outside.
"Harper!" Lucas screamed as another distant explosion broke. "Let's go!" He snatched her arm and dragged her through the door.
After they left the room, they heard a series of thunderous explosions and screams of horror.
"Velaris is *under* *attack*!"
Everyone in the Casa scurried around in fear. And from where they were standing on the balcony, Lucas and Harper could see that a large chunk of Velaris had been set ablaze in a sea of flames, right outside the high walls of the Casa.
The sound of terrified Velarians crying out into the night filled the air as the raging flames destroyed everything outside the Casa, causing havoc all around; people were racing frantically all around, men attempting to extinguish the blaze while women tried to find shelter for themselves and their children.
Then there were a few more explosions in the arena and throughout the city. One more explosion ripped through Casa's east gate, and Harper stood there in horror as guards were blasted to pieces by the explosion. Despite the horrors of the dead bodies with limbs thrown all over, Harper's gaze was drawn to something else...
*The gaping hole in the wall.*