Chapter 31
I woke slowly, my mind gradually surfacing from the depths of sleep. The first thing I became aware of was warmth, a solid, comforting presence at my back.
As consciousness trickled in, I realised I was nestled against Cole's chest, his arm draped loosely over my waist. The steady rhythm of his breathing tickled the back of my neck, and I found myself instinctively syncing my own breaths to match his.
For a moment, I allowed myself to simply exist in this cocoon of safety. It was a rare feeling these days, one I knew wouldn't last, but I clung to it nonetheless. I shifted slightly, and a new sensation made itself known. Cole's erection pressed against my lower back, a reminder of the intimate position we were in.
Heat flooded my cheeks, but surprisingly, I didn't feel the urge to pull away. Despite the sexual undertones, there was something almost... innocent about this moment. Cole was asleep, his body's reaction natural and unintentional. It was probably the least threatening sexual situation I'd found myself in since becoming the Consort.
I took a deep breath, preparing to carefully extricate myself from Cole's embrace without waking him. But as I opened my eyes, all thoughts of a quiet escape vanished. Ryder's face was inches from mine, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement as he crouched beside the bed. A jolt of adrenaline shot through me, and I jerked backward, slamming into Cole's chest.
"What the fuck?" I yelped, my heart pounding. Cole stirred behind me, his arm tightening reflexively around my waist. Ryder's lips curved into a predatory grin.
"Good morning, Poison," he purred, clearly enjoying my startled reaction. "Sleep well?" I scrambled to sit up, pushing Cole's arm away. He groaned, finally waking up to the commotion.
"What's going on?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"Your psycho friend is watching us sleep," I snapped, glaring at Ryder. "Like a fucking creep." Cole propped himself up on one elbow, squinting at Ryder. A lazy smile spread across his face.
"Pervert," he said, but his tone was affectionate, almost teasing. Then he flopped back down onto the pillow, pulling the blanket over his head. "It's too early for this shit."
Ryder chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Cole's hair through the blanket.
"Love you too, babe," he said, his voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.
I blinked, thrown off by the casual intimacy of their exchange. There was clearly more to the relationship between these men than I had realised. The dynamic shift left me feeling like an outsider, watching a private moment I wasn't meant to see.
"What are you doing here, Ryder?" I asked, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. "Don't you have classes or something?" Ryder's gaze snapped back to me, and I immediately regretted drawing his attention. His eyes raked over me, taking in my dishevelled appearance and the way my top had ridden up. I resisted the urge to pull the blanket up to my chin.
"I just got in a couple of hours ago, actually," Ryder said, his voice low and intimate. "Wanted to see you before I turned in for some beauty sleep." He winked, as if we were sharing some private joke. "Got to rest up for tonight, after all." A chill ran down my spine.
"Tonight?" I repeated, hating the way my voice wavered. "What's tonight?" Ryder's grin widened, showing too many teeth. It was the smile of a predator who knew its prey was cornered.
"Tonight," he said, leaning in close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek, "you belong to me, Poison."
My stomach dropped, a mix of dread and unwanted anticipation coiling in my gut. I knew this was coming, they had made it clear that I was expected to spend time with each of the Regents, and I had already spent the night with Cole and Logan. But the reality of it, of being alone with Ryder and his unpredictable moods, sent a shiver of fear through me. Ryder must have seen the panic in my eyes because his expression softened slightly. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear with surprising gentleness.
"Don't worry," he murmured. "I'll take good care of you." The tenderness in his touch was somehow more unsettling than his usual aggression. I didn't know how to react to this version of Ryder, and that uncertainty left me feeling even more off-balance.
Before I could formulate a response, Ryder leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. The gesture was almost paternal, completely at odds with the heated looks he usually gave me. It left me reeling, my emotions a confusing tangle of fear, anger, and something dangerously close to longing.
"Have a good day at school, Poison," Ryder said as he stood up. He stretched, revealing his toned abs. I caught myself staring and quickly averted my eyes, hating my body's involuntary reaction to him. "I'll see you tonight." With one last wink, he sauntered out of the room, leaving me staring after him in stunned silence.
For a long moment, I sat frozen, trying to process what had just happened. The room felt too quiet now, the absence of Ryder's larger-than-life presence leaving a vacuum. I could hear Cole's steady breathing beside me, already having fallen back asleep.
I flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as my mind raced. The knowledge that I would be spending the night with Ryder loomed over me like a storm cloud, dark and ominous. What did he have planned? And why did a small, traitorous part of me feel excited by the prospect?
I groaned, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes until I saw stars. This was so fucked up. I shouldn't be feeling anything but revulsion for these men who had essentially kidnapped me, who were holding my future and my family's home hostage. But the lines had become so blurred, the constant push and pull of fear and desire leaving me dizzy and confused.
I turned my head to look at Cole's sleeping form. In sleep, the hard edges of his face softened, making him look younger and more vulnerable. It was hard to reconcile this peaceful image with the man who had helped chain me to this life.
Knowing there was no way I was getting back to sleep, I carefully slid out of bed. Cole stirred slightly but didn't wake, and I found myself pausing to pull the blanket up over his shoulders. The gesture felt uncomfortably domestic, and I quickly stepped away, shaking my head at my own foolishness.
I padded silently to the door, glancing back one last time at Cole's sleeping form before slipping out into the hallway. The house was quiet, most of its inhabitants still asleep.
I made my way to my own room, my bare feet silent on the plush carpet. Once inside, I leaned against the closed door, letting out a shaky breath. I pushed off the door and headed for the shower, desperate to wash away the lingering feeling of Ryder's lips on my forehead.
The hot water helped to clear my head, but it couldn't erase the anxiety that had taken root in my chest. As I dried off and got dressed for the day, I tried to focus on the mundane details of my routine. Brushing my teeth, combing my hair, choosing an outfit that would meet the Regents' exacting standards, and fit with the damned t-shirt that there were multiple of, while still feeling like me. But beneath it all, a countdown ticked in the back of my mind. Hours until nightfall. Hours until I would be alone with Ryder.
A knock at my door startled me out of my thoughts.
"Cade?" Cole's voice called from the other side. "You ready?" I took a deep breath, steeling myself for another day of navigating this treacherous new world.
"Yeah," I called back. "I'll be right out." I gave myself one last look in the mirror, straightening my shoulders and lifting my chin. Whatever Ryder had planned for tonight, I would face it with as much dignity as I could muster. I had to believe that I was stronger than their games, that I could endure without losing myself completely. With that thought firmly in mind, I opened the door to face another day as the Consort of Covenant House.
Cole stood in the hallway, looking freshly showered and annoyingly alert. His mismatched eyes swept over me, and I fought the urge to fidget under his gaze.
"Sleep well?" he asked, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I remembered waking up in his arms.
"Fine," I muttered, brushing past him. "Let's just go." Cole fell into step beside me as we made our way downstairs.
"It's just us today," he said casually. "We've got a few classes together." I shrugged, not trusting myself to speak. The memory of Ryder's visit this morning was still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom that hung over me. What did it matter if Cole and I had classes together? It was all just a pretence anyway. I wasn't really a student anymore; I was a prisoner playing at normalcy.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught a glimpse of Ryder through the open door of the living room. He was sprawled on the couch, his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. He looked almost peaceful, the usual manic energy that surrounded him temporarily subdued. I quickly looked away, but not before Cole noticed the direction of my gaze.
"Try not to worry about tonight," he said softly, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back. The touch was meant to be comforting, I think, but it just reminded me of how little control I had over my own body these days.
"Easy for you to say," I snapped, stepping away from his touch. "You're not the one who has to spend the night with him." A flicker of something I couldn't place passed over Cole's face before his expression smoothed back into its usual mask of calm.
"Ryder can be... intense," he admitted. "But he won't hurt you. Not really."
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Right. Because emotional manipulation and sexual coercion don't count as hurt." Cole winced, and for a moment, I thought I saw a crack in his carefully constructed facade. But then he straightened his shoulders, his voice taking on the authoritative tone that never failed to send a shiver down my spine. "We should go. We don't want to be late for class."
I stormed across the quad, my fury radiating off me in waves. The crisp autumn air did nothing to cool my temper as I spotted Luce at our former usual table. I'd just come from a meeting with my maths professor, who'd informed me that Cole would be taking over my tutoring from now on, and I would no longer need to attend class. The audacity of it all made my blood boil.
"Can you believe this shit?" I snarled as I slammed my bag down on the table, causing Luce to jump. "Cole's arranged to take over my maths tutoring. They're literally trying to isolate me from everyone, even in class!" Luce's eyes widened, her hand freezing halfway to her sandwich.
"Cade, I-"
"No, don't 'Cade' me," I cut her off, my voice trembling with rage. "This is beyond fucked up. They're controlling every aspect of my life. I can't even talk to my friends anymore without their permission. Did you know Damien wasn't in maths class today? I bet they had something to do with that too." At the mention of Damien's name, Luce tensed visibly. It was a reaction I'd seen before, and it only fuelled my frustration.
"What is it with you and Damien?" I demanded, unable to keep the exasperation out of my voice. "Every time I mention him, you get all weird. What aren't you telling me?" Luce's eyes darted away, focusing on a point over my shoulder.
"It's nothing," she said, but her voice lacked conviction. "I just... Cade." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's complicated. There are things I know, things I can't tell you." I leaned back, studying my best friend.
"But you know stuff, right?" I asked "Like you grew up in all this?" Luce looked nervous as she nodded.
"Yeah, I mean I am, but I'm not at the same time," she admitted. "My dad hates it, actually. He didn't even want me to come to Regents in the first place." That surprised me, momentarily cutting through my anger.
"Really? I thought all the elite families were dying to get their kids in here."
Luce shook her head.
"Not my dad. He thinks the whole system is corrupt. The only reason I'm here is because of my uncle, Ryder's dad. He insisted that I follow tradition."
I leaned forward, intrigued despite myself.
"Why would Ryder's dad care about you going to Regents?" Luce shrugged, but there was a tension in her movements that hadn't been there before.
"Family politics, I guess. The Purcells have always been big on maintaining appearances. I don't mind the education, but I hate all the elite stuff. So does my dad."
I was about to press further when a shadow fell across our table. I looked up to see Cole standing there, his expression unreadable.
"There you are," he said, his voice deceptively casual. "I've been looking for you. We need to head back to the house." I felt a flare of anger again.
"I can't, I have class in an hour."
"It's Law class," Cole said. "Logan and Ryder aren't there today, so there's no point in you going. We can do some maths tutoring instead." I opened my mouth to argue, but the look in Cole's eyes stopped me. There was a hardness there, a warning. I knew pushing back right now would only make things worse.
"Fine," I hissed, standing up. I turned to Luce, forcing a smile. "Thanks for lunch. I'll... I'll see you around, I guess." Luce nodded, her eyes darting between Cole and me.
"Take care of yourself, Cade," she said softly.
As Cole and I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more going on than I understood. The secrets, the fear in Luce's eyes, the way the Regents seemed to control everything, it all pointed to something bigger, something darker than I had imagined.
We headed to the car, and we sat in tense silence as Cole drove towards the house. I refused to look at him, until I was ready to burst.
"So, you're my new maths tutor, huh?" I said, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. "Funny how that happened right after Damien offered to help me." Cole's jaw tightened.
"It's for the best, Cade. You need to focus on your studies, not get distracted by... outside influences."
I turned to face him.
"Outside influences? Is that what we're calling my friends now? Jesus, Cole, do you even hear yourself?"
Cole's eyes flashed with irritation.
"This isn't up for debate, Cade. Headmaster Williams has already approved the change. From now on, I'll be handling your maths tutoring."
"And let me guess, it'll be at the house, right? Where you can keep an eye on me at all times?" The words came out sharp, dripping with sarcasm.
"Yep," Cole said simply, not rising to the bait. "It's safer that way."
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Safer for who, Cole? Because it sure as fuck doesn't feel safer for me." For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something dark in Cole's eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual stoic expression. He pulled up to the curb and cut the engine.
"We should get into the house," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Logan will be wondering where we are." He got out of his side of the car, heading for the house.
I wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all. But what would be the point? They held all the cards, and I was just a pawn in their twisted game. So instead, I swallowed my anger and opened the car door and got out, slamming it behind me before storming up the path back to Covenant House, each step feeling like another nail in the coffin of my freedom.
As we approached the imposing structure of Covenant House, my frustration reached a boiling point. The weight of everything, the constant surveillance, the loss of my autonomy, the looming night with Ryder, hell even this damn fucking shirt I was wearing, crashed down on me all at once. Without thinking, I shoved past Cole and stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me with all the force I could muster.
The satisfying bang of the door was short-lived, however. As I stepped into the entrance of the main living room, I found myself face-to-face with Ryder. He was lounging on the couch, surrounded by a group of Covenant House members, all engrossed in what looked like an intense video game session. Ryder's eyes lit up when he saw me, a predatory grin spreading across his face.
"Well, well," he drawled, pausing the game despite protests from the others. "If it isn't my lucky charm. Come here, Poison. I could use a little extra luck for this next round." I opened my mouth, ready to tell Ryder exactly where he could shove his luck, when Cole burst through the door behind me. His hand clamped down on my arm, his grip tight enough to bruise.
"She's busy," Cole growled, his voice low and dangerous. Without waiting for a response, he dragged me towards the office, ignoring Ryder's amused chuckle and the curious stares of the other Covenant members.
The moment the office door closed behind us, Cole spun me around, slamming me against it with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs. His face was inches from mine, his eyes blazing with an intensity I'd never seen before.
"What the fuck was that?" he hissed. "Do you think you can get away with being so disrespectful?" The fear that had been building in my chest all day suddenly transformed into white-hot rage. I shoved against Cole's chest, surprising him enough that he took a step back.
"Disrespectful?" I spat. "You want to talk about disrespect? How about chasing me? How about forcing me into this fucked up situation? How about controlling every aspect of my life like I'm some kind of fucking puppet?" I was shouting now, months of pent-up anger and fear pouring out of me in a torrent. "You don't get to lecture me about respect when you and your psycho friends have taken everything from me! My freedom, my future, my body – it's all just a game to you, isn't it?"
Cole's expression darkened, a muscle twitching in his jaw. For a moment, I thought he might hit me. Instead, he surged forward, crushing his lips against mine in a bruising kiss.
I should have pushed him away. I should have slapped him, screamed, done anything to stop this. But as Cole's tongue swept into my mouth, dominating and demanding, I found myself responding with equal enthusiasm.
My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer as a desperate moan escaped my throat. Cole's hands were everywhere, sliding under my shirt, cupping my breasts through my bra. Then he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the large desk that dominated the room. Papers scattered to the floor as he set me down, his body pressing between my thighs.
"Is this what you want?" Cole growled against my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. "To be fucked right here on this desk? Is this the respect you want, Pet?" His words sent a jolt of arousal through me and I arched into him, seeking more contact. Cole's hand slid down my body, deftly unbuttoning my jeans and slipping inside.
I gasped as his fingers found my entrance, where I was already embarrassingly wet.
"Look at you," Cole murmured, his voice a mix of wonder and triumph. "So wet for me already. You act like you hate this, Cade, but your body tells a different story."
I wanted to deny it, to hold onto my anger and indignation. But as Cole's skilled fingers worked me closer to the edge, I found myself unable to form coherent thoughts. My hips rocked against his hand, chasing the pleasure he was offering.
"That's it," Cole encouraged, his free hand tangling in my hair and pulling my head back to expose my throat. "Let go, Pet. Show me how much you want this."
I was close, so close. The coil of tension in my belly wound tighter with each stroke of Cole's fingers. But just as I was about to tip over the edge, he suddenly withdrew his hand. I whimpered at the loss, my eyes flying open to meet his intense gaze.
"Beg me," Cole said, his voice low and commanding. "Please Pet, beg me to fuck you. Tell me how much you want it." For a moment, I teetered on the brink. Every nerve in my body screamed for release, for the completion only Cole could give me. But as I stared into his mismatched eyes, reality came crashing back. This wasn't about pleasure or connection. This was about control, about breaking me down until I was nothing more than a willing puppet for the Regents to manipulate.
With a herculean effort, I pushed Cole away.
"No," I said, my voice shaky but firm. "I won't beg. Not for you, not for any of you."
Cole stumbled back, shock and frustration warring on his face. For a long moment, we just stared at each other, both of us panting and dishevelled. Then, with a roar of anger, Cole grabbed the nearest chair and hurled it across the room. It crashed against the wall with a resounding bang, making me flinch. Without another word, Cole stormed out of the office, leaving me alone and trembling on the desk. What the hell had just happened?
"Well, well," a familiar voice drawled from the doorway. "That was quite a show." I looked up to see Ryder leaning against the door frame, a deviant grin on his face. How long had he been standing there?
"Fuck you," I spat, slipping off the desk. Ryder's grin widened.
"Is that an offer, Poison? Because I've got to say, after that little display, I'm more than ready to take you up on it." I felt my face flush with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"You're disgusting," I said, trying to push past him. Ryder caught my arm, pulling me close.
"Don't be like that, sweetheart," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. "Remember, you're all mine." I jerked away from him, my heart pounding.
"I'm not yours," I said, hating how weak my voice sounded. "I'm not anyone's."
Ryder just laughed, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Keep telling yourself that, Poison. Maybe if you say it enough times, you'll actually start to believe it."
As I hurried away, Ryder's laughter echoing in my ears, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing myself bit by bit. How much longer could I resist before I became exactly what they wanted me to be?