Chapter 34
I stared at the clock on the wall, watching as the minute hand crept closer to noon. Professor Matthews was still lecturing us about the importance of proper citation formats, but my mind was elsewhere.
The morning's events kept replaying in my head. Waking up in Ryder's bed, Logan's cryptic words, and that searing kiss against the coffee shop window. My body still tingled from where Logan's hands gripped me, his warning about punishment echoing in my thoughts.
As the class finally ended, I gathered my books slowly, deliberately taking my time. The dining hall loomed ahead like an executioner's block. I knew I should go, Logan had made it clear that attendance wasn't optional. But a part of me, the stubborn part that still refused to fully submit, wanted to test his resolve. Maybe I could just grab something quick from the coffee cart instead.
"Don't even think about it," I muttered to myself, remembering the dangerous glint in Logan's eyes this morning. "He already promised one punishment. No need to earn another." Though if it ended in another kiss like that one... Heat flooded my cheeks as my mind wandered back to the way his mouth had claimed mine, how his body had pressed me against the window, the raw hunger in his touch.
I shook my head, trying to clear away the arousal that seemed to surface whenever I thought about any of them now. It was getting harder to deny how my body responded to their dominance, even as my mind rebelled against their control. Logan's words from this morning haunted me yet again; "Why do I feel like we are the ones who have been claimed on our knees?" I still had no clue what he’d meant by that. Why did the memory of his vulnerable expression make my chest tight?
Stepping out into the hallway, I checked my phone. No messages yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time before one of them started demanding my whereabouts. My finger hovered over Luce's contact information. I missed my best friend, missed having someone to talk to who wasn't trying to own me. But after everything that had happened, I wasn't sure where we stood anymore. She seemed to know more about the Regents than she let on, and her cousin Ryder's involvement complicated everything.
"Just go to lunch," I told myself firmly. "Don't give them another reason to tighten the leash." The thought made me grimace. I was already living in their house, wearing their clothes, following their rules. How much tighter could the leash get? Based on last night with Ryder, I probably didn't want to find out.
I started walking toward the dining hall, my feet feeling heavier with each step. Students passed by in chattering groups, their normalcy making me acutely aware of how far my life had diverged from anything resembling normal. Just a few weeks ago, I'd been one of them, worried about grades and scholarships, not powerful men who seemed determined to break me.
The memory of Ryder's hands on my body last night sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. He'd pushed me to limits I didn't know I had, brought me to the edge of pleasure so many times I'd lost count. And yet, I hadn't begged.
That small victory felt hollow now, especially given how eagerly I'd responded to everything else he'd done to me. The way my body had arched into his touch, the sounds he'd drawn from my lips.
"Focus, Cade," I muttered, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. The dining hall was just ahead now. I could already see the ornate double doors, imagining the scene that awaited me inside. Would Ryder expect me to sit in his lap again? Would Logan's eyes follow my every move, cataloguing any hint of defiance? And Cole... sweet, dangerous Cole, who somehow managed to be both gentle and terrifying at the same time.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, making me jump. I pulled it out, expecting to see a demanding message from one of the Regents. Instead, it was a reminder about an upcoming assignment in Professor Williams' class. The normalcy of it almost made me laugh. Here I was, caught in some twisted power play with three dangerous men, and my phone was worried about homework deadlines.
I reached the doors of the dining hall, my hand resting on the heavy wood. Through the glass panels, I could see tables filling up with students. The Regents would be at their usual spot, holding court over their domain. My stomach churned with a mixture of dread and anticipation.
"Geez Cade, just fucking grow a pair," I whispered to myself, squaring my shoulders. I was about to push open the door when a strong hand grabbed my arm, yanking me sideways into an empty classroom. My heart leaped into my throat as I spun around, ready to defend myself. My fist was already clenched, ready to strike whoever had grabbed me, when I recognised Damien's familiar form. Relief flooded through me for a brief moment before freezing in my veins as he stepped into the light streaming through the classroom windows.
"Oh my god, Damien!" I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. His face was a road map of violence, angry purple bruises bloomed across his left cheekbone, a split lip had barely begun to heal, and a series of cuts decorated his forehead like cruel constellations. "What the fuck happened to you?" A bitter laugh escaped his damaged lips as he leaned against one of the desks.
"Why don't you ask one of your boyfriends?" he sneered, the words dripping with venom. "I'm sure they'd love to tell you all about it."
"Boyfriend? I don't have..." I trailed off as the memory hit me like a physical blow, Cole returning to Covenant House the other night, his knuckles raw and bleeding, that restless energy rolling off him in waves. I'd thought he'd been working out, taking his frustrations out on a punching bag.
"Cole did this to you?" The words came out as a whisper, horror and anger warring in my chest. "Why would he-"
"Why?" Damien cut me off, his laugh sharp and humourless. "Because apparently, I need to learn to stay away from what belongs to them. Your watch dogs are quite territorial, Cade." Rage bubbled up inside me, hot and fierce. Once again, the Regents were trying to control every aspect of my life, deciding who I could and couldn't interact with. As if owning my body wasn't enough, they had to own my friendships too?
"Damien, you shouldn't be here," I said, sudden fear replacing the anger as I realised the danger he was in. "If they find out you're talking to me..." I glanced nervously at the door, half-expecting Logan or Ryder to burst through it at any moment. "They're dangerous people. You need to stay away."
A scoff escaped him as he pushed off the desk, taking a step closer to me.
"You think I don't know how dangerous they are? That's exactly why I'm here, Cade." His expression softened slightly, concern bleeding through the anger. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't try to warn you? To protect you?" Before I could react, he closed the distance between us, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. The gentle touch was so at odds with his battered appearance that it made my heart ache. "I care about you, Cade. A lot. And I can't stand by and watch them hurt you."
"Damien..." I started, but his eyes lit up and he pressed on.
"We could leave," he said urgently, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. "Right now. I could take you somewhere safe, somewhere they couldn't find us. I could protect you better there." His eyes burned with intensity. "But I can't protect you here, not at Regents. There are too many corrupt people, too many in the Regents' pocket." The offer was tempting, so tempting it made my chest hurt. The thought of escaping, of being free from the Regents' control, their games, their punishments... But reality crashed back in like a bucket of ice water.
"I can't," I whispered, stepping back from his touch. "The contract... if I break it, my grandparents will lose everything. Their home, their savings, everything they've worked for their entire lives." I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in the pain. "I can't do that to them."
Frustration flashed across Damien's damaged features.
"Damn it, Cade!" he exploded, running a hand through his dark hair. "Can't you see what they're doing? They're using your grandparents to control you." He began pacing, his movements sharp and agitated.
"Don't you think I know that?" I snapped back, my own frustration bubbling over. "But what choice do I have? I won't sacrifice my grandparents' future just to save myself." Damien stopped pacing, turning to face me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"And what about your future, Cade? What about your safety?" He gestured to his beaten face. "This? This is just a warning. They're capable of so much worse." Then he began pacing again. He ran his hand through his hair in agitation as he looked at me.
"What I don't understand is why they've targeted you so specifically," he said, his voice dropping lower. "I mean, yes, the Consort role is important, but they're taking this to an extreme I've never seen before."
"Important?" I echoed, leaning against one of the desks. "I know it matters for their grades and graduation, but—" A harsh laugh cut me off.
"Oh, sweetheart," Damien shook his head, something dark and knowing in his eyes. "You really are in the dark about all of this, aren't you? The Regents, what they really are, what they're preparing for..." A chill ran down my spine at his tone.
"What do you mean?"
"Did you know that if they don't graduate with their Consort 'intact,' they can't get into the Trivium?" he asked, watching my reaction carefully.
"The Trivium?" I straightened up, recognition flickering through me. "You mean the foundation that sponsored my original scholarship? I don't understand why that would be so—"
"The Trivium Foundation is just a front," Damien cut in, his voice barely above a whisper now. "It's a facade for the real Trivium, a secret society that practically runs this country from the shadows." I couldn't help but scoff, even as unease settled in my stomach.
"A secret society? Come on, Damien. That's conspiracy theory territory. That kind of thing doesn't actually—"
"Doesn't actually happen?" His laugh was bitter, almost manic. "Tell that to my father. He was a high-ranking member of the Trivium until a few years ago." His eyes took on a haunted look that made my blood run cold. "Now he's rotting in one of their secret prisons, where they keep all the people they don't want the world to know exist."
I felt the colour drain from my face as I studied his expression, looking for any sign that he was exaggerating or making this up. But the pain and anger in his eyes was too raw, too real to be fabricated.
"You're serious," I whispered, my mind reeling with the implications. "But... how? Why?"
"The Trivium has its fingers in everything, politics, business, education. Why do you think Regents University is so prestigious? It's one of their breeding grounds, where they groom their next generation of power players." He stepped closer, his voice urgent. "And your three Regents? They're aiming for some of the highest positions in the organisation."
The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thin. I remembered Logan's casual displays of power, the way doors seemed to open automatically for him, how even the university administration bent to his will. I thought about Nicholas Bale's influence, about the way people whispered about the Regents with a mixture of fear.
"Oh god," I breathed, gripping the edge of the desk to steady myself. Damien's eyes took on an almost feverish gleam as he continued.
"That's why it's so crucial for them to graduate with the right honours. The Trivium doesn't just look at their academic performance, they evaluate how the Regents handle their Consort." He let out a derisive snort. "It's all about image, you see. They need to prove they can maintain the perfect family-man facade while doing their dirty work behind closed doors." My stomach churned as he spoke, each word adding another layer to the nightmare I'd found myself in.
"So, if they don't get into the Trivium..."
"They lose everything," Damien finished, a cruel smile playing at his split lips. "Poor little Logan won't be able to prove himself worthy to Daddy Dearest. All that desperate need for approval, all that posturing, it'll mean nothing if he fails." He began ticking off points on his fingers. "Ryder loses his shot at taking over his father's company, can't have someone unstable at the helm without the Trivium's backing to keep him in check." He paused, something dark and knowing crossing his features. "And then there's our boy Cole," he said, his voice dropping to an almost gleeful whisper. "Let's just say his downfall would be the thing of nightmares. I would know." The cryptic nature of his words sent a chill down my spine, but before I could ask what he meant, he pressed on.
"Don't you see, Cade? They're just using you. You're a means to an end, their ticket into the Trivium's inner circle. And if you don't fall in line..." His expression grew serious. "They won't hesitate to hurt you to protect their interests."
I slumped against the desk, my mind spinning with all this new information. They were ruining my life, threatening my grandparents' future, all for their own reputation and money? Anger bubbled up inside me, hot and fierce.
"I... I don't know what to do," I admitted, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of it all.
"Let me help you," Damien said, stepping closer. "If you're determined to stay, we'll need to be smart about this. Meet in secret, gather information. I can help you find a way out of that contract, or at least dig up enough dirt on them to keep you safe."
"It's too dangerous," I protested weakly. "If they found out..."
"Don't think about that now," he soothed, reaching for my hand. "Just lay low for the time being. I'll see what I can find out. Together, we could bring them down, Cade. Expose them for the corrupt bastards they really are." I pulled back slightly, uncertainty coursing through me.
"I'm not sure I want to get involved in all that. I'm just trying to survive this year..."
"Shh," Damien murmured, pulling me into a hug that felt too intimate, too possessive. "It's going to be okay. I won't let them hurt you anymore."
Standing there in his embrace, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was trading one dangerous situation for another. But what choice did I have? The Regents had me trapped, and now I knew just how high the stakes really were.
I pulled away from Damien's embrace, my head spinning with everything he'd revealed. "I need to get to the dining hall," I said, already running late. "They'll be wondering where I am."
Damien's face darkened at the mention of 'they,' but he nodded. As we stepped out of the classroom, I turned toward the dining hall, only to collide with someone.
"Oh! Cade!" Megan's voice was artificially bright as she steadied herself. Her eyes flicked between me and Damien, curiosity burning behind her perfectly made-up features. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," I managed, trying to keep my voice neutral. "Just heading to lunch."
"Me too, after I drop off this assignment," she chirped, waving a folder. "You'll want to hurry though, all the Regents are sitting together today. All three houses!" Her tone suggested this was some sort of special occasion, though her eyes held something that looked almost like pity. "See you there!" I forced a smile that felt more like a grimace.
"Yeah, see you soon." As Megan disappeared down the hallway, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to find a message from Ryder:
Where are you, Poison? My lap's getting cold ??
Anger flared hot and bright in my chest. I shoved the phone into my bag with more force than necessary, wanting to scream. As I did, I noticed a folded piece of paper that hadn't been there before. My stomach dropped as I pulled it out and unfolded it. The words were typed this time, but the message was clear:
You don't belong here. Leave now, or we'll make you leave.
"For fucks sake," I muttered, crumpling the note and shoving it back into my bag. This was too much, the Regents, the Trivium, these threatening notes, all of it.
The thought of walking into that dining hall, of sitting on Ryder's lap while various members of the three houses watched and whispered, made me want to vomit.
"You know what?" I said out loud to no one in particular. "Fuck it. Fuck all of it." I turned on my heel and headed for the exit, no longer caring about the consequences.
Let Logan punish me. Let Ryder throw a tantrum. Let Cole give me those disappointed looks that somehow hurt worse than their anger. I was done, done with their games, done with their control, done with this entire fucked up day.
I started walking, my strides long and purposeful, heading back to Covenant House. With everyone still in classes for the afternoon I could have a moment to process everything Damien had told me.
The weight of it all pressed down on my shoulders - the truth about the Trivium, the real reason the Regents needed me, the danger I was in. And now, knowing what I knew, every interaction with Logan, Ryder, and Cole would take on new meaning. Every touch, every command, every moment of forced intimacy would be coloured by the knowledge that I was just a means to an end, a stepping stone on their path to power.
"Survive," I whispered to myself as I walked. "Just survive." But deep down, I wondered if survival would be enough, or if I was already in too deep to ever truly escape.