Page 18 of Theirs to Rule

“Camille.”

The word scraped out of my throat, barely more than a whisper. My heart jackhammered as panic clawed at me. Where was she? The last thing I remembered was the Bugatti hanging over the cliff, Camille refusing to leave me.

A soft touch on my hand pulled me out of my spiraling fear. The hand was warm and soft, fingers curling gently around mine.Camille.Thank God. I struggled to open my eyes and finally succeeded. I could make out shapes and colors around me. Hospital monitors beeped steadily, their rhythmic sounds blending into the background noise of distant voices and footsteps.

“Kage.” I instantly recognized my mother’s voice.

Shit, was Seamus here, too? I wrapped my fingers tighter around Camille’s, trying to give her comfort. Even after Silas’s confession, even after I’d slit his throat, my mother and stepfather still believed Camille was somehow responsible for Ava’s murder. Even as I appreciated how fucking worried my mother must be about me, I didn’t want them anywhere near Camille. What had they said to her when I’d been out of it? Had they hurt her?

The thought jolted me, pushing me further into consciousness. If they had given her a moment’s pain or worry, there would be hell to pay.

I blinked hard and sure enough, my mother’s face came into view, her expression a mix of relief and worry.

“Where’s Camille?”

“Kage, calm down.”

“Where. Is. Camille?”

“I don’t know. But Daniella’s here for you. Your fiancée is here for you.”

The word hit me like a slap. Fiancée?

Before I could say anything, another female voice spoke from beside me. “Yes, I’m here, Kage. I won’t leave you.”

Daniella’s voice was calm and sweet, but it immediately sent a jarring wave of confusion and worry through me. The worry turned into panic when I realized it was Daniella who was holding my hand. I ripped my hand away and struggled to sit up despite the searing pain in my chest.

It didn’t make sense. Camille would never abandon me. She loved me. I clung to that thought, staring hard at my mother.

“What did you do?”

Chapter 9

Kage

What did you do?

At my shouted question, Moira’s expression faltered, a flicker of fear crossing her features before she rallied.

“I told Camille the truth,” she said.

“The truth being what?” I asked, my frustration mounting.

“What else? That you’re engaged.”

“That information wasn’t yours to tell,” I snapped, anger fueling me through the pain. “Daniella and I have an agreement. We see other people until we’re married. Hell, we’ll see other peopleafterwe’re married. The marriage is just a business arrangement.”

Daniella’s voice cut in, her tone so whiny I wanted to hit something. “I don’t want to see other people. I love you.”

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and grating. “Since when?”

Ignoring the searing pain coursing through me, I tried to get out of bed, driven by the need to find Camille and explain everything. Explain that Daniella meant nothing to me,while Camille meant everything. Yes, we were supposed to be temporary, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care about her, that I hadn’t fallen in love with her.

But I knew Camille. If she knew about Daniella, she’d left here heartbroken. And determined. Determined to never see me again.

That wasn’t happening.

I fought to get out of my bed again, but my body betrayed me, the pain too much to bear. I clutched at my chest, groaning, and felt myself fading.

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