Chapter 32
Iwoke to the sensation of warmth enveloping me, Cole's strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, his chest rising and falling steadily against my back.
For a moment, I allowed myself to simply exist in this perfect bubble, no mother who despised me, no Trivium watching from the shadows, no contract binding me to three men I hated, no hateful mother. Just this. Just us.
I nestled deeper into Cole's embrace, savouring the pleasant ache between my thighs that reminded me of our night together. The gentleness, the love in his touch had healed something broken inside me, not completely, but enough that I could breathe again without feeling like I might shatter.
"Good morning, Poison," a voice that was decidedly not Cole's said from inches away. My eyes flew open to find Ryder's face hovering directly above mine, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief, his mouth curved into that familiar grin that was equal parts charming and unsettling.
"Jesus Christ!" I yelped, jerking backward into Cole, who grunted as my elbow connected with his ribs. "What is wrong with you? Do you have to be such a weirdo?"
"Seriously, Ryder," Cole mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he tightened his arm around me protectively. "It's creepy as fuck when you do that." Ryder's grin only widened.
"You two looked so peaceful. Like a little romantic comedy. I couldn't resist."
"You need therapy," I grumbled, but there was no real heat behind it. Something had shifted between us all. The words that would have once been a genuine accusation now felt like banter. Like something friends might say.
"That's what Lexington was for," Ryder said with a wink, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Didn’t take then, doubt it would take now." His gaze travelled over our entangled bodies beneath the sheet, his expression warming.
"So, how was it?" he asked, his eyebrow waggling. I groaned and pulled the covers over my head.
"I am not having that conversation with you Ryder," I said.
"Yep got it, no talking. Well, how about a little celebration sex? All three of us?" Cole threw a pillow at him, which Ryder caught easily.
"Give her a break, man. She's barely had time to recover from me." I pulled the covers back down and sat up, fully aware that I was completely naked. I twisted to look at Cole.
"Modest, aren’t we," I said dryly, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. My stomach dropped. "Shit! We’re going to be late for English!"
"Skip it," Ryder suggested, leaning back on his hands. "After everything that's happened, you deserve a day off. We could stay in bed, order food, watch movies..." His eyebrows waggled suggestively again. "Among other activities."
Despite the temptation, and yes, there was definitely temptation, especially with Cole's hand now tracing lazy circles on my hip, I shook my head.
"I need normal right now," I said, disentangling myself from Cole's body and wrapping the sheet around me as I stood.
"Classes, routine, something that isn't... all of this.
" I gestured vaguely at the candles still scattered around the room, the rumpled bed, the three of us in this strange new configuration.
"Fine," Ryder sighed dramatically. "But you're missing out on what could have been the best morning of your life."
"I'll take a rain check," I said sarcastically, then felt my cheeks flush at the implication that I'd be open to being with both of them at once. From the heat that flared in Ryder's eyes and the way Cole's breath caught, they hadn't missed it either.
"I'm going to shower," I announced, backing toward the door. "Alone," I added firmly when Ryder opened his mouth, no doubt to offer his company.
As I gathered my clothes and hurried toward my room, I nearly collided with Logan in the hallway. He steadied me with hands on my shoulders, his hazel eyes unreadable as they swept over me, hair mussed, wearing nothing but a sheet, clearly having just left Cole's bed.
"Morning," he said, his voice neutral.
"Morning," I replied, suddenly acutely aware that Logan was the only Regent I hadn't given my permission to.
The only one I hadn't surrendered to. The thought sent an unexpected flutter through my stomach.
Logan released me and continued down the hall without another word, his shoulders tense beneath his crisp white shirt.
I watched him go, a confusing mixture of relief and disappointment swirling through me.
An hour later, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a sweater, I walked across campus flanked by the three Regents.
Cole stayed close to my side, his hand occasionally brushing mine in a gesture that felt protective rather than possessive.
Ryder bounced around us like an overgrown puppy, pointing out ridiculous things and making jokes that had even Cole cracking reluctant smiles.
Logan walked a few paces ahead, his back straight, his steps measured.
He'd barely spoken since we left Covenant House, responding to Ryder's attempts at conversation with grunts or single-word answers.
Despite the lingering shadow of my mother's cruelty and the revelation of my twisted past, I felt almost happy.
The morning sunshine warmed my face, students bustled around us, and for once, I didn't feel like I was drowning in secrets and manipulation. I felt almost normal.
"Are you sure you aren’t coming to class?" I all but pouted at Cole. He had told me before we left that they all had a meeting with William about something, keeping it vague.
"I'll see you at lunch," Cole said with a smile as we reached the building where my English class was held.
"Yeah," I said, smiling back. "Save me a seat?" Cole's eyes softened, and he bent to press a quick kiss to my forehead, a gesture so casual yet intimate that it made my chest ache. Ryder made a gagging sound, then ruined it by winking at me.
"Later, Poison," he said, blowing me an exaggerated kiss before following Cole toward the Administration buildings. Which left Logan, standing a few feet away, watching me with that inscrutable expression.
"Have a good class, Princess," he said finally, his voice low and controlled. Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me with the distinct impression that something was very wrong.
English class passed in a blur of Austen and Bronte, my mind drifting between the text and memories of the previous night with Cole.
The tenderness in his touch, the look in his eyes as he'd moved inside me, it was unlike anything I'd experienced before.
Not just physically, but emotionally. For the first time since being forced into the role of Consort, I'd felt like I had a choice. Like I mattered. Luce had to tell me to concentrate twice, and kept giggling at me when I got confused because I wasn’t listening.
As I gathered my books at the end of class, I found myself smiling.
Maybe this was a turning point. Maybe things could be different now.
"Cade." I looked up to see Damien standing in the doorway of the now-empty classroom, his expression tight.
My smile faltered. I hadn't spoken to him for about a month, and our last interaction had been tense at best. He had been passing messages through Megan, but she had told me she almost got caught and got scared.
I looked around the room, but Luce had already left, something about meeting with Max about an assignment.
"Hey," I said cautiously, sliding my notebook into my bag. "What's up?"
"I need to talk to you," he said, glancing over his shoulder.
"Not here." Warning bells went off in my head, but this was Damien, my friend, the guy who'd helped me with maths and who'd been genuinely concerned about my well-being when I was first taken to Covenant House. Yeah, we had a bit of a past, given that I had slept with him at the end of last year, but I had made it clear it shouldn’t have happened afterwards.
"I have to get to lunch," I said, edging toward the door. "The guys are waiting-"
"It's important," he insisted, grabbing my arm. "Please, Cade. Five minutes." I hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay. Five minutes." Relief flashed across his face, and he led me out of the building, his grip on my arm uncomfortably tight. Instead of heading toward the main quad, he pulled me between two buildings, into a narrow alley used mainly by maintenance staff.
"Damien, what the hell?" I said, pulling my arm free once we were out of sight of the main walkway. "What's going on?" He ran a hand through his dark hair, his eyes darting around as if checking for eavesdroppers.
"I've been trying to reach you for days. Even Megan's been avoiding me. I was starting to think they'd done something to you."
"I'm fine," I said, rubbing my arm where his fingers had dug in. "I've just been... dealing with some personal stuff."
"The Alumni Dinner," he said, nodding. "I heard about what happened with your mother." I stiffened.
"How did you-"
"Everyone's talking about it," he said dismissively. "But that's not why I needed to see you. I think I’ve found a way out, Cade." My heart skipped a beat.
"What?"
"Yeah, something doesn’t add up with the timeline, and I reckon if I can get my hands on a copy of the contract, I could look to see if it had been messed with," he said, his eyes bright with excitement. "You’ll have a copy, won’t you?"
"The Contract?" I repeated, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
"Yeah, the one that you said you didn’t sign for the Courts program." I took a step back, suddenly uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation. A week ago, I might have jumped at this chance. But now things had changed, a lot.
"Damien, I don't think-"
"We need to move quickly," he cut me off, stepping closer. "I'm worried about your safety, Cade. These people, the Regents, the Trivium, they're dangerous. You have no idea what they're capable of."