Page 33 of Theirs to Rule

But Kage’s eyes were locked on me, his expression a mix of determination and something far more intense, something that made my heart pound even harder.

“Camille,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “this isn’t over. Do you remember what I told you in that coffee shop? If another woman comes near me, you fucking stake your claim. That includes Daniella.”

The balls on this guy! "Fuck you, Kage. Daniella can have you."

He took a step closer. “You think you can end things?” He reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek before cupping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You can try to hide behind Daniella or Dante or even Ty. You can try to run. But I’ll find you, every single time. I'm imprinted on your soul, Camille. Just like you’re imprinted on mine.”

“Kage, please,” I whispered, my heart racing with a mix of fear and something else, something that terrified me even more because of how much I wanted what he was saying.

How pathetic did that make me?

Then again, how much more pathetic could I get after I just let him fuck me?

Kage’s lips twisted into a dark smile as his thumb brushed over my lower lip, sending a shiver down my spine. “What just happened here, Camille,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, “is just the beginning. You run, I'll chase. I will catch you. And then I’ll punish you for trying to leave me. And I promise you, you’ll love every second of it.”

“Kage, stop,” Callum’s voice cut in, more urgent now, but Kage didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on mine, and I felt like I was drowning in them, unable to pull away.

“Rebel,” he said again, softer now, but no less intense, “I’ll prove to you that we’re not over. That Daniella doesn’t haveanything to do with you and me or what we can have. And even if we can’t have it forever, it’ll be worth it.”

He was drawing me in. Weakening my resolve. I felt the walls closing in, felt the weight of his words wrapping around me, pulling me deeper into the chaos that was Kage. And the worst part? Part of me wanted to believe this wasn’t the end, that it was just the beginning.

Finally, Kage stepped back, turned, and strode away. With a worried glance at me, Callum followed.

As Kage and Callum left, Dante stayed where he was, staring at me. I knew his eyes saw everything – my flushed cheeks, my swollen lips. Hell, the room smelled like sin and sex.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked.

I sighed, relieved that he wasn’t throwing accusations or acting jealous. Maybe he really had meant it when he said he’d be willing to share me with Kage. Dante was amazing and far too good for me. "I don't know," I admitted. "Part of me hates him. But…”

“But part of you still loves him.” Dante nodded, understanding.

"I can’t do it. Share him, knowing his ring is on Daniella’s finger. Knowing that he lied to me. Does that make me a hypocrite? Because he’s willing to share me. You are, too…”

“It doesn’t make you a hypocrite, Peaches. Because you never agreed to sharehim.”

I swallowed hard. “I’ve never agreed to share you either,” I whispered.

“You don’t have to. You’re it for me, sweetheart.”

And yet, as much as his words touched me, he didn’t approach me or try to touchme. Maybe he was just being considerate or maybe me being with Kage really did bother him more than he was letting on. Suddenly, I felt an overwhelmingneed to be alone. "Is it okay if I ask for some space right now? I want to go home."

Dante clenched his fists and jaw but said, "Of course, whatever you need.”

I wondered, suddenly, if he would ever deny me anything? Was thereanythingI could ask him for that would cross the line in his mind?

He took me home on the back of his bike, the silence between us as tangible as the roar of his bike's engine, filled with all the words we left unspoken. One thing was for sure—Dante wasn’tmyvice, he was my virtue, the one thing keeping my sanity right now.

Once we arrived at the chateau, I hesitated before getting off his bike. "Thanks for everything, Dante," I said, trying to smile.

"Anytime, Camille. Remember, I'm here if you need me," he reassured me yet again, but the weight of my request to be alone hung heavy in the air.

As I watched him ride away on his motorcycle, a pang of regret stabbed through me. The solitude I thought I craved now felt like a prison, cold and unwelcoming.

Inside the chateau, the silence was oppressive, each room echoing with the ghosts of conversations and laughter, now distant memories. I wandered through the empty rooms, my thoughts a tumultuous sea. The realization that I couldn’t truly trust anyone cut deep. Not Kage, with his secrets and obligations. Not Ty, whose actions and words were a maze I couldn’t navigate. And not even Dante, who, despite his goodness, despite his assurances, despite me wanting to hold on to him with everything I had, I feared would pull away, just like he had before.

Sitting alone in the dim light of the living room, I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill of isolation. The events of not just the past few weeks but of the past fewyears played over in my mind. I'd lost my mother and grown distant from my father. I'd lost Ty and even though he was back, he was a stranger who hated me. My relationship with Bianca was weird, and the guy I loved had lied to me and still planned to marry another woman. And Dante... He had his own life, a life that had existed before me, and I couldn’t expect him to put it aside to deal with my drama. Eventually, he’d grow tired of everything I asked from him, and I couldn’t blame him.

Chapter 16

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