Page 112 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT EXPRESSION WAS ON MY FACE, BUT EVERYONE made way for me as I headed to my quarters, giving me a wide berth. The sun had already set, which meant I knew where she was. The guards outside her door saw me and bowed their heads before removing their helmets and striding away. Their shift was over once I was back in my room.

I was in front of her door the moment they turned the corner, my knuckles dancing across the wood.

“One second,” she called.

I heard her footsteps, but a heavier tread accompanied them. My brow furrowed, and I didn’t wait before turning the knob. I pushed the door open and froze in the doorway.

Kaden stood near her bed, his hands in his pocket as she adjusted the sides of her nightgown. A gown I thought was too sheer for her to wear around company, especially his. The scrunched look on her face and the slowly fading mark under her chin made me see red, and I was across the room without remembering how I got there. My fist cracked the side of Kaden’s face, his cheek splitting under the gauntlet. Kaden laughed, his eyes flaring red as he reached for me. I lunged for him. One moment, we had our hands on each other, and the next, we were on opposite sides of the room.

“Vincent!” Camilla snapped, her emerald magic holding us like a vise.

Kaden snarled, exposing his fangs. “Could you be any more obvious?” he spat.

I couldn’t hide my hate. “Don’t touch her! Don’t ever touch her.”

His teeth snapped at me, fangs elongated and sharp. “Don’t worry. I had my fill of witch. Wasn’t anything to write home about.”

I writhed within the grip of her magic, grunting with the effort to free myself so I could rip his face off, but her hold was too strong.

“Both of you!” Camilla snapped. “Stop before the guards end up in here.”

Kaden stopped growling, and I lowered my lip, concealing my teeth. No matter how much I hated him, I wouldn’t risk anything happening to Camilla. She nodded as we both agreed in our own way, then she let us go. Kaden scoffed before running his hand across his healing cheek, and I froze.

“If you say anything . . .” I said, pointing a finger at Kaden. Camilla placed a calming hand on my arm.

“You’ll what? You couldn’t take me on my worst day. I could beat you with both arms tied behind my back,” Kaden taunted.

“Seriously.” Camilla tossed her hands up. “Fine, fight, get us all killed, or worse.”

I didn’t want Nismera here, neither did she, and he knew it.

“You’re both pathetic.” Kaden chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry, lap dog. I was just leaving,” he said, walking past with a shove to my shoulder.

“Oh, and make sure my sister doesn’t know you are sneaking into witches’ chambers late at night. I’m sure she’d hate that.” Kaden strolled out and shut the door quietly behind him, leaving Camilla and me alone.

“He won’t tell,” Camilla said. “I know that much.”

I ignored her, gently cupping her face. I swore I’d seen the bruise, but now nothing remained.

She rolled her eyes. “Vincent.” She placed her hand over mine. “I’m fine.”

“I hate him,” I hissed.

“Who doesn’t?” She smiled.

“Since when do you trust him?”

She shrugged. “Since I have something over him.”

“I don’t like it.” The words left my lips before I could tell my brain to shut up. Thoughts and words like that usually stayed in my head, but I was too wound up from imagining Kaden and Camilla together.

Her lips turned up slightly. “I didn’t know you cared.”

I took a step back, then another, allowing both of us some breathing room. “That’s a lie.”

Camilla shook her head. “Not really. I haven’t seen you in days.”

I took a shuddering breath, knowing I couldn’t tell her where I was or what I was doing, all because of Nismera’s will.

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