Page 270 of Midnights
When the door swings open, I jump, schooling my expression like Iwasn’tjust snooping.
Cam comes in like he owns the place, because maybe heactuallydoes.
He looks like he's out of breath, and his usual composure is just off enough to make my stomach flip. His hair is tousled, like he’s been running his hands through it, and there’s a faint flush on his cheeks that tells me he’s been doing something that requires some effort.
“Raven.”
The way he says my name like he knows exactly what I was up to makes my nerves spark. His gaze sweeps the room before settling on me. “Sorry I’m late, I got caught up in something.”
I straighten, shoving down the nagging questions clawing up my throat. “No worries.” I watch him closely, trying to read between imaginary lines. “Everything okay?”
He takes a deep breath, rolling his shoulders like he’s shaking off whatever just happened. “Yeah, I just had to… handle some things.”
His voice is distant enough that it only makes me more suspicious. He’s being intentionally vague,again. Which only adds to my theory.
His eyes dip to my necklace and then right back to me. “Where did you get that necklace?”
“My grandparents gave it to me,” I say, reaching up to touch it. Its warmth is a familiar comfort.
“Interesting.”
I let out a soft chuckle, trying to ease the strange tension that’s settled between us. “Is it?”
His eyes flick back to mine. “It looks familiar, is all.”
A prickle of unease slides down my spine.Familiar?How would this look familiar to him?
“Cam, I have something I need to ask…” I hesitate, then rip off the Band-Aid. “Are you the King?”
He bursts out laughing, tipping his head back like I just said the funniest shit he’s ever heard. The tension evaporates in a single breath as his entire body shakes with amusement.
“Fuck no.”
That was a lot of laughter for what should’ve been a simple no. If he’s telling the truth, then I’m right back to knowing nothing. None of this makes any sense.
“I’m the King’s right hand, though. Have been since before he was even the King. But no, I’mdefinitelynothim.”
That explains… something. Or at least, itshould. But the relief I feel is almost drowned out by the dozen new questions flooding my brain.
“Then where are the King and Queen?” I ask, grasping at whatever scraps of information Idoknow, desperate to make sense of something.
Cam’s laughter fades, and something guarded settles in its place. There’s a flash of something in his eyes but it’s gone too fast to pin down.
“That’s… a complicated question.” His voice is quiet, and I almost step closer just so I can hear him. “The King is… handling business matters.”
“And the Queen?”
Cam’s jaw clenches just enough for me to notice as he runs a hand through his hair. “There is no Queen.”
No Queen?“Why not? What happened to her?”
His posture goes rigid. I can feel the air in the room shift, and it suddenly feels like something's sitting on my chest.
“It’s a long story, Raven.” He says it like he’s done talking about it. “One that’s not mine to tell. But I promise, when the time is right, you’ll know what you need to.”
That… sounds a hell of a lot like another non-answer. A part of me wants to push past whatever wall he’s clearly putting up, but the look in his eyes tells me it’s pointless.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me, but I’m gettingreally fuckingtired of all the secrets.
