Page 122 of Kingmakers, Year Three

“And you’re a traitor,” I retort, staring him down. “I’d take Ivan as an enemy before I’d take you as a friend.”

Bodashka, Vanya, and Pasha glare at me. Motya and Valon look torn. Only Bram gives me an affirming nod. He likes Kade Petrov.

“You better keep your mouth shut about this,” Bodashka hisses.

I scoff in his face, leaving the dice and cash scattered on the stable floor.

It’ll be a dark day when I take orders from Bodashka Kushnir.

Sunday morningI wake up with a raging headache. This is why I never fucking drink—I hate paying the price the next morning.

I go looking for Cat anyway, determined to talk through our argument.

But I can’t find her anywhere—she’s not in the dining hall, the library, or her dorm room.

I know she’s avoiding me intentionally. That sneaky little kitten can be quite elusive when she wants to be.

She won’t be able to hide on Monday—she’ll have to go to class, and I have her schedule memorized.

I corner her outside Chemistry before first period.

“Cat,” I say, grabbing her arm. “I need to talk to you.”

She shakes me off, snapping, “Don’t touch me!”

“Are you going to pretend you don’t like when I touch you?” I growl, pinning her up against the rough stone wall.

“I’m not playing games with you anymore!” she cries, trying to get past me.

I’m not looking at her angry expression—I’m fixated on the shockingly bare expanse of collarbone where the ruby necklace usually sits.

“You took off my necklace?” I say, outraged.

“It’smynecklace,” Cat says angrily, “and I’ll throw it in the fucking toilet if I feel like it!”

“Don’t you dare, you little?—”

My words are cut off by a swift and accurate knee to the groin from my beloved.

I double over, groaning. Cat slips neatly past me.

“Leave me alone, Dean. I mean it!” she cries, darting into the classroom.

I lean against the wall, sweating and breathing hard until the throbbing pain in my balls dissipates.

“You should be more careful with something you might want to use again . . .” I grumble toward the closed door of Cat’s class.

Straightening up, I give my head a shake.

I should be angry with her. But I’m well aware of Cat’s claustrophobia. There’s a fine line between restraining her and trapping her.

Besides . . . I always enjoy a glimpse of Cat’s ruthless side. Even when it’s directed at me.

The bigger issue is how I’m going to make her talk to me.

I ponder this conundrum during boxing.

I pair up with Kade Petrov intentionally to annoy Vanya and Bodashka. Sure enough, they glower and mutter to each other as they watch us spar.

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