Page 166 of Dance of Deception

“Now you are,” he growls.

I nod.

For a moment his blue eyes search mine, as if weighing what to say and what to keep buried. Then, finally, he exhales.

“It started at Knightsblood.” His voice is quiet. “I assume you've heard of it?”

Of course I have. It's the notorious ‘Mafia Hogwarts’, where the next generation of crime bosses, arms dealers, and underworld elites sharpen their claws before inheriting their family empires.

He smirks when he sees the recognition on my face. “I was in Para Bellum.”

That name rings a bell, too. One of the four exclusive student clubs on campus.

“There were five of us,” Carmine continues. “We had…similar views. On power. On control.” His gaze sharpens. “On what the criminal underworldshouldbe.”

I don’t say anything, letting him continue.

“There’s an old saying,” he murmurs, “that there's no honor among thieves.” He watches me carefully. “But there has to be. Theremustbe some level of order, some code of conduct, or it all devolves into chaos.”

I swallow nervously, my fingers tightening on his forearm. “And… The Black Court enforces that code of conduct?”

His lips curve slightly. “Something like that.”

I hesitate. “Is it sanctioned by the major crime families?”

Carmine laughs mirthlessly under his breath. “What doyouthink?”

I exhale. Right, of course not.

“So—what, you just decide who deserves to be punished?” I murmur. “And how?”

Carmine leans in, his nose brushing mine. “Someone has to.”

The words settle heavily in my chest.

Someone has to.

“Who else is in it?”

“Lyra.”

His face darkens, but not with anger. Just a warning that this is as far as he goes in terms of telling me about this.

“Who we are in Court, wearing our masks, is completely different to who we are in real life.” His fingers skim my jaw, my throat, my collarbone. “Names don’t matter there.”

I frown slightly, not understanding. “So, you don't even know who they are?”

Carmine chuckles a quiet laugh, pressing a slow kiss to my jaw. “Of course I do.” His lips graze my skin, sending a fresh shiver down my spine. “But what happens in that room, under those masks… That’s something else.”

My stomach twists.

“Enough,” he growls quietly, pinning me harder against the counter behind me. “I have to go deal with some work bullshit.”

I nod, blushing and wincing a little as he leans in to kiss my neck, then bites it.

After he leaves, I stay in the kitchen, having coffee and some breakfast.

Guilt gnaws at me. Yes, I asked him about the Court because I was curious. But that wasn’t the only reason. It was the threatening text from the other night, too.

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