Page 60 of Devious Knight

“A word, Kade.” Thorne cocks his head to the side, signaling he wants to talk outside the room.

“Sure.”

I follow his lead, ignoring the cautious glances of Dmitri, Logan and Alek—who also has questions for me. I’m waiting for Alek to confront me, too. The fact that days have passed since he saw us torching the restaurant suggests he’s still watching us and playing it cool.

Thorne and I walk down the hallway and stop at a safe distance to speak—or fight.

“What the fuck happened today with Isabelle?” Thorne looks me up and down, sizing me up.

“She torched my bike.”

He gives me an unhinged grin and takes a few steps toward me. He’s slightly taller than me but when he gets mad he looks even bigger. “For no reason? I don’t believe for a second that you didn’t destroy her sculpture.”

“There’s no evidence of that.”

“Fuck evidence. Remember, Padawan, we both agreed not to lie to each other.”

“We did.” That was on the night of the hardest trial he gave the guys and I when we were battling for the elite position.

“Then don’t fucking lie to me now. If you weren’t in my elite you’d be picking your teeth up off the floor. I want to know why you're screwing with her.”

“I have my own business with Isabelle.”

His sharp eyes narrow in scrutiny, the blue irises almost turning black. “What kind of business?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt her.” Hurting her the way he’s thinking isn’t part of my plan, but I will ruin her. He doesn’t need to know that.

“Kade, I hope for your sake that’s the fucking truth.”

“On my honor, my lord, it is the truth.” I make a show of dipping my head to add more emphasis to my promise.

“Good, because if you hurt her, you won’t like what I do to you. You’d beg for death before I was done with you.”

“Why are you so protective of her?” I’m curious. I know he’s known her longer than me, but there must be a reason.

Thorne gets up in my face, reminding me of a snarling animal. “There are some girls you don’t mess with. She’s one of them. As a Knight you never prey on those who can’t fight back. I hope you understand that.”

“Loud and clear.”

“Now that my uncle is involved the situation is out of my hands. But I still hold the power when it comes to your training. I don’t have to do it. I won’t if you cross me.”

I knew he would say something like this, and I hate that I need him. “I’m not stupid enough to cross you, Thorne.”

“You better not be.” With a hard stare he nudges into my shoulder and walks away, leaving me staring at the wall.

As a Knight, you never prey on those who can’t fight back.

Yeah, Thorne, you’re right, but Isabelle is a fighter.

I head back to Erebus House. There’s a party going on and the house is packed.

I’m not in the mood to party so I head straight to my apartment.

When I walk inside I realize I’m not alone. There’s a pair of lace panties on the floor by the TV and a matching bra hanging from the stair railing.

The guys must have let in whoever is here. I don’t like this type of surprise when I have other things on my mind.

I enter my bedroom and find a naked Lana DaCosta lying on my bed.