Page 4 of Theirs to Rule

“Kage?” My voice cracked.

But his eyes remained closed. Either he’d passed out or…

Dante knelt beside Kage and checked his pulse. “He’s alive.”

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed my hand to Kage’s cheek. “Stay with me. Please.”

Dante placed a hand on my shoulder. “He’s strong, Camille. He’ll fight.”

I nodded, holding onto that hope with everything I had.

Chapter 3

Dante

Two hours after Kage had barely survived surgery, Camille sat beside his hospital bed, her hand gripping his like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. The machines in the room beeped in a maddening rhythm, the sound as relentless as the knot of worry in my chest.

I stayed in the corner, leaning against the sterile white wall, watching her. I should’ve felt useful, heroic even, after pulling Kage out of that car, but instead, I felt like an outsider looking in. Like I didn’t belong in the room with the raw intensity of her loyalty to him.

The crystal in my jacket pocket dug into my palm as I gripped it tighter. It was the same one I’d bought after Camille nearly drowned with Ava, Kage’s sister. She’d once told me she believed in crystals, in their power to bring positive energy, so I’d picked out a handful and brought them to her. What I never told her was that I’d kept some for myself. Not because I believed in magic rocks, but because I believed in her.

And maybe, just maybe, carrying a piece of her belief had worked. We’d been lucky enough to save her before. And tonight? I’d saved her again. And Kage.

At least, I hoped I had.

The doctor’s face earlier hadn’t inspired much confidence, no matter how much they tried to put on a brave front for Camille. I pushed the thought away. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do for Kage right now, but I could do something for her.

We’d been here for hours. She needed to eat.

“I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” I said and though she nodded, she didn’t even look at me. I headed to the cafeteria. When I came back with a sandwich, Camille hadn’t moved. Her posture was rigid, her gaze locked on Kage’s pale face like she could will him to wake up if she just tried hard enough.

“Here.” I unwrapped the sandwich and held it out to her.

She shook her head without looking at me.

“It wasn’t a suggestion, Peaches,” I said, stepping closer and gently placing the sandwich in her hand. “You need to eat. If you collapse, what good will you be to him?”

She stared blankly at the sandwich for a moment, then brought it to her mouth. She took a small bite, then another, chewing mechanically.

“Crusts too,” I said, my tone teasing.

She shot me a glare, irritation flickering through the heavy fog of her grief. “Seriously? What am I, a kid?”

I smiled tightly. “I mean, you aren’t eating your crusts, so you’re kind of acting like one.”

Her lips quirked, the smallest, faintest hint of a smile breaking through. Relief spread through me like sunlight breaking through clouds.

“What?” she asked, her voice soft but with an edge.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile since we got here,” I said.

Her face fell almost instantly, guilt clouding her features. “There’s not much to smile about,” she murmured, glancing back at Kage. Her voice cracked. “I’m so scared, Dante. What if he doesn’t?—”

“Don’t,” I cut her off gently. “Don’t go there. He’s going to be okay.”

“Can you promise me that?” she whispered.

“No,” I said honestly. “But I can promise you’ll handle whatever happens. You’re the strongest person I know.”

---