Page 64 of Theirs to Rule

He pulled down his sleeve, covering it up, but didn’t reply.

He didn’t say anything for the longest time and neither did I. I just sat there, watching him as he was completely consumed by his drawing. At some point, he looked up and caught me staring. Embarrassed, I looked away, my cheeks flushing.

“I didn’t paint that swan picture, Camille.”

That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.

“What I feel for you, it's complicated and sometimes it's dark. I'm different from the guy you knew. I hurt and I feel the need to hurt others. But I would never do something like that to you. I swear."

For some reason, I believed him, and it healed something in me. "If you hurt, Ty, why hurt me? Why don't you let me help? We meant something to each other once."

“You’re better off without me in your life. Trust me.”

I blinked at him in surprise. It was as big a revelation as he’d given me in a long time, but before I could form a response, his eyes were back on the page. His expression hardened and he switched off, making it clear that our little heart-to-heart was over. He abruptly stood.

“You can get dressed,” he said quietly. “I’m done.”

“Can I see it?” I asked as I tugged the robe closed over my chest.

"That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“Seriously?” I arched an eyebrow. “This wholedealwas your idea. You asked me to work with you and I agreed. The least you can do is show me.” He still didn’t look convinced. “I don’t understand the problem.” I frowned at him. “Unless you made me look ridiculous or something?—”

"Jesus, why would I do that? I need to pass this class, remember?"

“Then show me,” I pushed, folding my arms across my chest. “Or I won’t draw you and then we’ll both fail.”

“Fine." He held out his sketch pad and took it. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the picture staring back at me took my breath away. It was stunning. He’d captured everything, from the light in my eyes to the soft curves of my breasts. It wasn’t a lewd picture, it was so beautiful that I couldn’t look away. Everything I thought I’d known about Ty was captured in this one drawing and it gave me hope that somewhere, deep inside, the boy I’d known was still there.

“Well?” he asked after a moment, his voice gruff.

“It’s amazing” I murmured, still staring at it.

He nodded. “I’ve got stuff to do.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised by his abruptness. “Okay.”

I grabbed my clothes off his dresser and then slipped outside his room. I pulled the collar of his robe closer, inhaling his scent. Something had shifted between us again. I just couldn't count on it. Ty might let down his walls while he was drawing, but the rest of the time, I had to brace myself. The war between us would battle on.

Chapter 29

Camille

“So,” Kage said when he came back later that afternoon and stopped by my room where I'd been sketching a portrait of Ty, Kage and Dante. I quickly shut the sketch pad and smiled at him. “How did the art project go?" he asked.

"Better than I thought it would," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

Kage raised one eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes at his playful smirk, knowing exactly where his mind had gone. “Nothing like that,” I said, though I felt the heat creeping up my neck. “I just meant Ty was actually pleasant, for a change.”

“Pleasant?” Kage chuckled, his deep voice filling the room as he leaned against the doorframe. “What are you, sixty? Who even uses that word nowadays?”

“Me, I guess. But it was fine. We were civil, and we got some good work done. He did an amazing job. It was strange, though. There were moments... moments where it felt like I was talking to the old Ty again.”

Kage’s teasing demeanor faltered, his smile fading as something more serious crossed his face. “The one you were in love with?”

I froze. The words hit like a sharp slap to the gut, the air thickening between us. My cheeks burned under the weight of his gaze, and I cursed my body for betraying me so easily.

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