Page 143 of Theirs to Ruin

“Because it doesn’t matter what we are now. You were mine once. Once mine, always mine.”

“So you’re the only one who can make me feel pain then?”

“Interpret it how you want.”

I sighed. “Well, thank you. For helping Kage.”

His eyes flickered. “Go to bed. I’m staying awake and I won’t shut my door. You’ll be safe.”

I was on the verge of asking him to stay with me. Not for sex, but for comfort. But we weren’t about that and despite our temporary truce tonight, probably never would be.

I walked to my bedroom. At the door, I turned back to look at him. Ty hadn’t moved. I bit back the urge to scream at him. Despite how he’d helped with Kage, he was lost to me again. For no fucking reason that I could understand. Anger and sadness swelled painfully in my chest. Finally, I forced myself to turn away. I stared into my bedroom, realizing I’d spent more time in Kage’s room than my own, and I gravitated toward it now.

I walked into Kage’s room, leaving the door open. I felt too exhausted to even wash my face, so I crawled into Kage’s bed and underneath the sheets, his scent, warm and familiar, enveloping me. But sleep didn’t come.

I stared at the ceiling, wondering what horrible thing would happen next. If I had my phone, I would have checked mymessages to see if Bianca had checked in. Only I knew she hadn’t. The last few texts I’d sent her had gone unanswered.

Like Dante, she was ghosting me. The pain of that made me curl into myself.

First Ty. My mom. Then Ava and Dante. Now Bianca.

Was I destined to lose every meaningful connection I made in my life.

And if so, who was next?

The next morning, I showered and dressed before heading downstairs. Tonight was my Seduction 102 practical exam, but if Kage wasn’t recovered from what had happened, I was going to reschedule it. Assuming Professor Santiago let me, that is. Just in case, I decided to bring a prop with me to class. At least if my mind went blank, I’d have something to do with my hands. I added a black silk scarf to my outfit, tying it loosely around my neck.

I found Callum and Kage in the kitchen.

“Good morning, Rebel,” Kage said.

He looked much better than when I’d left him on the couch the night before. His skin had its warmth back and his eyes were sharp as they trailed over my body.

Callum’s gaze flicked up to meet mine.

His hair was ruffled from a night of sleeping in the armchair and I could almost forget his cold, merciless eyes when he’d said he knew what was going to happen to Phillip Hermes next. Right now, Callum didn’t look hardened; he looked young. Innocent. I couldn’t help but think who he would have been, whoKagewould have been, if they had been born into a different family.

Kage held out his hand. “Come here.”

I hesitated, looking at Callum.

“I need to make some calls,” Callum muttered before walking away. I heard the front door open and close.

I practically ran to Kage and he immediately pulled me into a hug.

“I was so scared,” I confessed, my voice shaking.

“I know, but I’m okay.” He stroked my hair. “The doctor left. I did well enough through the night that he’s not concerned. But he wants me to continue to rest. Callum offered to stay with me.”

“I can skip my classes,” I began, but Kage pulled back. Something in his gaze had hardened.

“Nope. You need to stay on track, and you have your Seduction 102 exam. Besides, Callum and I need to talk business.”

I shivered. I knew what business meant. Business meant taking care of Phillip.

As if reading my mind, Kage said, “Callum already had him brought somewhere. I’m going to try and convince Callum to let the Student Council deal with him.”

That surprised me. “Why?”

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