Chapter 32 #2
"I know exactly what they're capable of," I said quietly. "Better than you do." Damien's expression hardened.
"You’d be surprised," he spat out. "So what, you're just giving up? Accepting your fate as their plaything?"
"It's not like that," I said, though even as the words left my mouth, I wondered if I was trying to convince him or myself. "Things are better now. They're not going to hurt me."
"They already have!" he exploded, his voice echoing in the narrow alley.
"Jesus, Cade, have you forgotten what they did to you?
The 'punishment'? That fucked up hunt? They humiliated you, they violated you, and now what, you're falling for their act?
Their pretend kindness?" I flinched at the reminder of those dark days, but I stood my ground.
"It's complicated, Damien. Things have changed."
"Changed?" he repeated incredulously. "What's changed? The fact that you're sleeping with them now? What, you open your legs like a good little slut and they make everything go away with their magic dicks?"
"That's not fair," I said, anger flaring. "You don't know what I've been through, what I've learned-"
"I know you're turning into one of them," he spat. "A willing participant in their sick games. Just like all the other cunts from the Courts." The slur hit me like a physical blow.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said, his face twisted with disgust. "I thought you were different, Cade.
I thought you had principles, integrity.
But you're just as bad as the rest of them.
A slut for the Regents, spreading your legs for power and protection.
Tell me Cade, do they take turns, or do you let them fuck you all together? "
"Fuck you," I hissed, turning to leave. "I don't have to listen to this."
I had barely taken two steps when his hand shot out, grabbing me by the throat and slamming me against the brick wall. Stars exploded behind my eyes as my head connected with the rough surface, and I gasped for air as his fingers tightened around my windpipe.
"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his face inches from mine, unrecognisable in its fury.
"Not until you listen to reason." Fear coursed through me as I clawed at his hand, trying to pry his fingers loose.
This wasn't Damien, my friend who had helped me with calculus and who had looked at me with gentle concern.
This was someone else entirely, someone dangerous and unpredictable.
"Let... go," I choked out, my vision starting to blur at the edges.
"You're going to ruin everything," he snarled, pressing harder. "After all I've done for you, all the risks I've taken-"
"Cade? Oh my god, CADE!" Luce's voice cut through the roaring in my ears, and Damien's grip faltered for just a second, long enough for me to bring my knee up hard between his legs.
He doubled over with a howl of pain, releasing my throat, and I stumbled away from the wall, gasping for breath.
Luce was at my side in an instant, her arm around my waist, supporting me as my legs threatened to give out.
"What the fuck, Damien?" she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. Damien was still bent over, his face contorted with pain, but the look he shot me was pure venom.
"You’ll fucking regret this," he wheezed. "You're making a mistake, Cade. A deadly mistake."
"The only mistake I made was trusting you," I rasped, my throat burning with each word. "Stay the hell away from me."
Luce tugged me away, and I let her lead me out of the alley, my heart pounding, my legs unsteady beneath me. We didn't stop until we reached a secluded bench near the library, hidden from the main pathways by a row of hedges.
"Jesus Christ, Cade," Luce said, her face pale as she examined my neck. "What happened? Why were you with Damien?" I touched my throat gingerly, wincing at the tenderness. There would be bruises, angry purple marks that would be impossible to hide.
"He wanted me to help him find evidence against the Regents," I said, my voice hoarse. "To break the contract. When I refused, he... snapped." Luce's eyes widened.
"We need to tell Logan and the others. Now. Damien is clearly unstable, and if he's targeting you-"
"No!" I grabbed her arm, panic surging through me. "Luce, we can't tell them."
"Why the hell not? He just tried to strangle you!" I took a shuddering breath, trying to organise my thoughts.
"Because... because I was working with him before. Trying to find a way out of the contract. If Logan finds out I was planning to betray them, especially after everything that's happened..." Understanding dawned on Luce's face.
"You're afraid of what they'll do." I nodded, tears pricking at my eyes. "I was just trying to get away, Luce. I didn’t know how else to." Luce was silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on the bruises forming on my neck.
"Fine," she said finally. "I won't tell them.
But Cade, you need to be careful. Maybe you need to come clean with the guys.
" I nodded. I was terrified that they wouldn’t understand.
Not just because of the contract, but also because I realised that I actually gave a shit about these guys, and this would fuck everything up.