Page 9 of Theirs to Rule

But could I say without a shadow of a doubt that I trusted them completely?

Even Kage was still a closed book in many ways.

I trusted them to protect me, but when it came to other students…

The wordtrustfelt heavy, almost foreign. In a world where secrets were currency, trust was a luxury I wasn’t sure I could afford anymore.

"I hate this," I admitted, my voice breaking slightly. "But I’ll agree to that, at least for right now. But what about theconciliantis? Are you so sure you can trust her?”

“The only one I trust completely isyou. But I’m inclined to believe her for now.” Bianca reached out, squeezing my hand. "I just want you to be safe, Cami. That's all that matters. If you’re staying, even temporarily, you need to go on as if everything's normal. We can't do anything to arouse suspicion."

"I get it. Act normal, don't ask questions."

"Exactly. And you need to search your chateau for bugs, cameras, or mics. We don't know who's watching or listening."

"I will," I assured her, already planning a thorough search of the chateau.

Bianca gave me a long, hard look, as if trying to imprint the seriousness of the situation into my mind. "Be careful, Cami. And remember, trust no one."

Chapter 5

Camille

The fluorescent lights in Kage’s hospital room buzzed faintly, amplifying the crushing silence. I stepped inside, Bianca’s warning still spinning through my mind like a storm. My chest felt tight, as if I were carrying the weight of the entire night on my shoulders.

Dante was leaning against the wall, his dark eyes sharp and assessing as they locked onto me. His presence, normally steadying, felt like a lifeline I wasn’t ready to grab.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, pulling me into his orbit. His hand slid to my waist, a touch that was more grounding than intimate.

I forced a nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Just a lot to think about.”

“A lot?” He tilted his head slightly, his grip firming as if he could tether me in place. “Like what?”

Before I could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his jaw tightening.

"Is it that woman Jane?"

Dante sighed. "Yeah."

"Are you going to tell me who she is to you?"

He clenched his jaw. "You havenothingto be jealous of, Camille."

"So you haven’t slept with her?" I pushed, unable to stop myself.

Something flickered in his expression—regret, maybe shame. "It's not like that.” The phone stopped buzzing when he declined the call.

The bitter laugh that bubbled up caught even me by surprise. “Then whatisit like?” I asked, unable to keep the sharp edge from my voice.

His phone buzzed again, and he swiped to decline the call, muttering under his breath. “She’s from my past. Someone I knew before I ever met you. She doesn’t matter.”

Doesn’t matter? That’s not how it felt, especially when she kept calling.

“You should talk to her,” I said, managing a brittle smile. “I’ll be fine here.”

“Camille—”

“Go,” I interrupted, turning my back on him. I moved to sit beside Kage’s bed, taking his hand in mine.

---