Chapter 24
T he car ride to the Courts House was excruciating. Every bump in the road, every subtle shift of Logan's body beside me sent waves of anxiety coursing through my veins. The events of the day played on a loop in my mind; the humiliation in the dining hall, Logan's forceful confrontation in the empty classroom, and now, the looming promise of spending the night in his bed. Each memory felt like a fresh wound, raw and throbbing.
I stared out the window, watching the familiar landscape of Regents University blur into an indistinct mass of shadows and lights. Logan's words echoed in my head, a constant, menacing refrain; "Tonight, you're in my room." Five simple words that carried the weight of an avalanche, threatening to bury me beneath their implications. I snuck a glance at him from the corner of my eye. His profile was illuminated by the fading daylight, all sharp angles and cold beauty. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, giving nothing away. How could someone so outwardly perfect be such a raging dick?
As we approached Courts House, my heart began to race. I hadn't been here since the night of the Hunt, which despite being only a few days ago, felt like a lifetime ago. I felt my palms grow clammy, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. This place, which should have been a sanctuary for ambitious students like me, now felt like a prison.
The car came to a stop, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The silence stretched between us, thick and oppressive. Then, almost without thinking, I reached for the door handle. My fingers had barely grazed the cool metal when Logan's hand shot out, wrapping around my wrist with bruising force.
"Not so fast, Princess," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. I froze, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. Slowly, I turned to face him, dreading what I might see in those hazel eyes. The look he gave me sent a shiver down my spine. It was hungry, possessive, and tinged with something that looked almost like anger.
"W-what do you mean?" I stammered, hating how weak and scared I sounded. "We're here. The meeting—"
"The meeting can wait," Logan cut me off, his grip on my wrist tightening. "We need to get something straight first." With his free hand, he reached out and gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the steel in his voice. "You belong to us now, Cadence. To me, to Ryder, to Cole. But right now, at this moment, you're mine. Do you understand?" I wanted to look away, to deny the truth of his words, but I couldn't. His eyes held me captive, just as surely as his hands did. I felt a war raging inside me, part of me wanted to fight, to scream, to claw my way out of this nightmare. But another part, a part I was ashamed to acknowledge, was thrilled at his words. The intensity of his gaze, the heat of his touch, it all sent a confusing mix of fear and desire coursing through my body.
"I... I understand," I whispered, the words feeling like a betrayal even as they left my lips. A slow, predatory smile spread across Logan's face.
"Good girl," he murmured, his thumb brushing across my lower lip in a gesture that was almost tender. "Now, when we go in there, you're going to act like the perfect Consort. You'll smile, you'll be polite, and you'll show everyone why I chose you. Can you do that for me, Princess?" It wasn't really a question, and we both knew it. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Logan's smile widened, and he finally released my wrist.
"That's my girl," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now, let's go make an impression."
He got out of the car first, and I took a moment to collect myself. My hands were shaking, and I could feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I blinked them back furiously. I couldn't cry, not now. I had to be strong, had to play the part Logan had assigned me. Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my clothes and reached for the door handle.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, Logan was there. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against his side. The heat of his body seeped through my clothes, and I had to suppress a shudder. His grip was firm, possessive, a clear message to anyone who might be watching; This girl belongs to me. We walked towards the entrance of Courts House, and with each step, I felt my resolve strengthening. I could do this. I had to do this. Survival meant playing by their rules, at least for now. I lifted my chin, squared my shoulders, and plastered what I hoped was a convincing smile on my face.
Logan's hand on my waist guided me forward up the path, his touch a constant reminder of my new reality. As we reached the threshold, he paused, turning to me with a look that was part warning, part challenge.
"Remember, Princess," he murmured, his lips close to my ear, "we have an impression to make. Even here." I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Logan's fingers dug into my side, not painfully, but with enough pressure to emphasise his point. Then, with a smooth motion, he pushed open one of the wooden doors, and we stepped into the foyer of Courts House.
Everything was just as I remembered. An overwhelming assault of sweet scents and pink everywhere. The first time I came here I had hated it, but now in contrast to the rich stuffy interior of the Covenant House, this seemed so spacious. For a moment, the foyer seemed empty, and I allowed myself to relax slightly. But then, as if summoned by our entrance, a group of girls appeared from various doorways, their faces alight with curiosity and excitement.
"Cade!" a familiar voice called out, and I turned to see Sylvia pushing her way through the small crowd. Her smile was genuine, her eyes sparkling with warmth that seemed out of place in this cold, formal setting. "I knew it! I just knew there was more to you than you were letting on!" she winked at me, and I tried to smile despite the turmoil raging inside me. I knew that the Consort position was actually one these girls wanted. Sylvia had told me that she planned to become the Consort for her boyfriend's house next year. I felt a rush of affection for Sylvia, mixed with a pang of guilt. She looked so happy to see me, so proud, and she had no idea of the truth behind the position. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Logan's grip on my waist tightened imperceptibly.
"Ladies," he said, his voice smooth and authoritative. "I am sure Cadence is happy to see you all again. But maybe if you could give her a little room, she is still a little nervous." The effect of his words was immediate. The girls, who had been crowding around us with eager expressions, took a collective step back. Their eyes darted between Logan and me, a mixture of awe and envy evident in their gazes. I felt exposed, on display, like an exotic animal in a zoo.
"Of course, Logan," Sylvia replied, recovering quickly. "We're all so happy for Cade." The other girls nodded in agreement, their smiles a bit too wide, a little too forced. I recognised a few faces from my classes and my short time in the Court house, girls who had never given me a second glance before. Now, they looked at me with a newfound respect tinged with fear.
"Alright, alright, you heard the man, give them some space," a new voice cut through the chatter.
I looked up to see Melody making her way towards us, her presence commanding instant respect from the other girls. She moved with a grace and confidence that I envied, her smile warm but her eyes sharp and assessing.
"Logan," she greeted, her tone surprisingly friendly. "I see you've brought our new Consort to us in one piece." Logan chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest and into my body where we were pressed together.
"Did you expect anything less, Mel?" I blinked in surprise at the casual exchange. There was a familiarity between them that I hadn't expected, a hint of shared history that made me uncomfortable for reasons I couldn't quite figure out. But then Melody had been the Consort of the Covenant House last year, so it was likely that was how she knew Logan. Melody turned her attention to me, her smile softening.
"Cade, I hope you're ready for an exciting year." I managed a small smile in return, finding my voice at last.
"Thank you, Melody. I'm... looking forward to it." Logan's thumb traced small circles on my hip, a gesture that might have looked affectionate to an outsider but felt like a warning to me. Play your part, it seemed to say.
"I hope Logan and the boys are being good to you," Melody said, her tone light but her eyes searching my face for any sign of distress. Before I could respond, Logan cut in smoothly.
"Oh, we're ensuring that she's very happy, aren't we, Princess?" His voice was honeyed poison, the endearment a mockery of affection. I felt my cheeks heat up, aware of the double meaning in his words.
"Yes," I managed to say, hoping my voice didn't betray the turmoil inside me. "They've been... very welcoming." Melody's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might press further. But then her expression cleared, and she clapped her hands together.
"Well, we should get started with the meeting. Logan, you're welcome to come back for Cade later if you'd like." I felt a flicker of hope at her words. The idea of even a brief respite from Logan's overwhelming presence was tempting. But my hope was quickly extinguished.
"That won't be necessary," Logan said smoothly. "I think I'll stay. After all, I want to make sure our girl gets off to a good start." Melody shrugged, though I thought I detected a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Suit yourself. Shall we head to the dining room, then? The other girls are waiting."
Melody led the way to the formal dining room, opening the door to reveal a long, polished table dominating the luxurious space, surrounded by high-backed chairs that looked more like thrones than simple seats. Crystal glasses and fine china gleamed in the soft light, and elaborate floral arrangements scented the air with a heady perfume. In my short time at the Courts, I had never actually been in this room and had always eaten in the kitchen. I was led to believe that the dining room was more for special occasions than regular dinner times.
Several girls were already seated at the table, their conversations dying down as we entered. I recognised Hannah and Megan among them and was surprised to see them both wearing a variation of the t-shirt that I was wearing, although Megan's was blue with the Syndicate logo on it, and Hannah's was Green with the emblem for the Archive. It hadn't even occurred to me to find out who else had been claimed that night. Now seeing these two, it made a lot of sense as to why Julia had been so pissed off. They had clearly arranged it so the three of them would be able to rule or whatever. I noticed that while Megan smiled at me, Hannah looked me up and down like I was some shit on her shoe.
"Ladies," Melody announced, her voice carrying easily in the large room. "Now that Cade is here, we can get started."
Logan guided me to a seat near the head of the table, pulling out the chair for me with exaggerated gallantry before stepping back and retreating to the corner of the room and pulling out his phone. As I sat down, I caught sight of myself in one of the ornate mirrors that adorned the walls. The girl staring back at me looked pale and uncertain, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination. I barely recognised myself.
"Now," Melody said, taking her place at the head of the table, "We have a lot to discuss about the upcoming events, and the next one is only a month away, so we have a lot of work to do."
As the planning got underway, I found myself struggling to focus. The other girls were discussing themes and costumes with an enthusiasm that seemed almost alien to me. But my mind was focused on the man that sat typing away on his phone, and what he had planned for me. I kept stealing glances his way and at one point, he looked up and met my eyes, raising an eyebrow with a smirk before nodding for me to pay more attention to the meeting. I shook my head and turned back to listen to Megan saying something about hiring a company to build the temporary haunted house.
"What sort of company would do that, stupid?" Hannah spat and Megan stuck her finger up at Hannah before shrugging.
"I dunno, what about a house building company?" Hannah laughed and muttered something under her breath. I couldn't hear what it was, but clearly it hurt Megan's feelings. I glared at Hannah before smiling at Megan.
"Do you mean a construction company?" I asked and her eyes lit up as she nodded.
"And who are we going to find at this short notice?" Hannah asked flippantly. I glanced over at Logan and smiled.
"Logan," I called out. He looked up from his phone, a surprised expression on his face. "Your father works in construction, isn't that right?" Logan narrowed his eyes on me. "I was sure I remembered my grandfather mentioning Bale Construction, that's your father, right?" I said quickly to explain how I would know. Logan nodded slowly.
"That's right, what of it?" he asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Well, Megan had the idea of building an actual haunted house in the square outside the University ballroom for the Haunted Halloween party. I think it's a great idea, but we would need some expertise." I explained and smiled at Megan as I did. Logan genuinely smiled and nodded his head as I spoke.
"I think that sounds like a great idea Megan," he said, causing her to blush. "And of course I would be happy to bring some of our men in to help make it a reality for you ladies.”
"Oh my gosh, really?" Megan squealed and Hannah shot daggers at me.
"We have the authority to go ahead, and the funds to pay for it," Melody said, excitedly. Logan shook his head and smiled at me.
"No need Mel, if my Consort wants it, then I am happy to cover the costs as a donation." His eyes never left mine as he spoke, and for the first time, I saw something like goodness in them. Like he was actually impressed with me. Frustratingly, my stomach did flips at the idea that Logan was proud. The room quickly descended into a flurry of excitement and the rest of the meeting passed in a blur as the girls started to plan everything, drawing Logan into the conversation about ideas and layouts. Logan moved to the seat next to me, placing his hand on my thigh as he added in his own input for what could be possible in the time we had. I learned that I would be working closely with Sylvia, who had been assigned as my assistant. The thought of having a friendly face around was comforting, even if I knew I couldn't fully trust anyone here.
As the meeting drew to a close, I found myself both exhausted and wired. The events of the day had taken their toll, but the knowledge of what was to come, a night spent in Logan's room, kept my nerves on edge. Part of me hoped that maybe he would be nicer to me after this meeting, but a bigger part doubted that was going to happen.
"Well, I think that covers everything for tonight," Melody announced, closing the leather-bound planner in front of her. "Do any of you have any questions before we wrap up?" I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. Logan's hand, which had been a constant presence on my thigh throughout the latter half of the meeting, gave a gentle squeeze.
"I think we've given us all plenty to think about for one night," he said smoothly, rising from his chair. "If that's all, we should be getting back to Covenant House." The other girls murmured their goodbyes, some casting envious glances my way, others looking at me with a mixture of pity and curiosity. As we made our way out of the dining room, Melody pulled me aside for a moment.
"Cade," she said softly, her eyes searching mine. "If you ever need to talk... about anything... I'm here, okay?" I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I needed to ask, but Logan's presence loomed large behind me.
"Thank you, Melody," I managed to say. "I appreciate that." She gave my arm a gentle squeeze before stepping back, allowing Logan to guide me towards the exit. As we walked through the grand foyer, I couldn't help but feel like I was leaving behind my last chance at normalcy, at safety.
The cool night air hit me like a slap to the face as we stepped outside. Logan's arm snaked around my waist once more as we made our way to the car.
"You did well in there, Princess," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. "I think you're starting to understand your place." I said nothing, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. My mind was racing, trying to process everything that had happened. As we reached the car, Logan opened the passenger door for me, his hand lingering on the small of my back as I climbed in.