Chapter 35
T he dining hall hummed with the usual lunchtime chaos, but from our position at the Regents' table, it all felt distant, like background noise in a movie.
I checked my watch again, 12:35. Cadence's English Literature class had ended thirty minutes ago, and her continued absence was beginning to grate on my nerves. My fingers drummed against the polished wood of the table, a habit I'd picked up from my father that I despised but couldn't seem to break.
"I'm telling you, David, your security protocols are child's play," Ryder was saying, his voice carrying that edge of manic glee that always emerged when he talked about his hacking exploits. "I could get through them in my sleep."
David Marshall, one of the Archive House Regents, scowled across the table. His perfectly pressed suit and wire-rimmed glasses gave him an air of scholarly authority that was somewhat undermined by the flush of irritation colouring his cheeks.
"You shouldn't even be trying to access our feeds, Purcell. There are rules about inter-house surveillance." Ryder's laugh was sharp and without warmth.
"Rules are made to be broken, darling. Besides," he leaned forward, his blue eyes glinting with challenge, "if your security was actually worth a damn, I wouldn't be able to break through, would I?" I tuned out their bickering, my attention drawn to Cole, who sat beside me appearing absorbed in some book. But I knew better, his posture was too rigid, his page-turning too measured. He was as aware of Cadence's absence as I was, probably more so given how protective he'd become of her lately.
"Logan," Julia's voice cut through my thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. She'd positioned herself directly across from me, her perfectly manicured hands folded on the table in what she probably thought was an elegant pose. "I was thinking about the upcoming Haunted Halloween House event. I heard that you are involved in the building of the house, and I have so many ideas that I would love to share with you." I forced myself to meet her eager gaze, maintaining the mask of polite interest that had been drilled into me since childhood.
"I'm sure whatever you plan will be suitable, Julia." The dismissal in my tone was clear, but either she didn't notice or chose to ignore it.
"But I know you would want to make it so good," she pressed, leaning forward slightly to give me a better view down her low cut top. "And since we'll be working so closely together this year..."
"I wasn't aware we'd be working together at all," I cut her off coldly. "Cadence is handling all Covenant House social obligations this year." The mention of Cadence's name caused Julia's perfectly painted smile to falter for a moment before she recovered.
"Oh, of course," she simpered, though I could see the hatred burning in her eyes. "I just thought, given her... background, she might appreciate some guidance from someone more experienced in these matters." Before I could respond, Lucas Chennel from Syndicate House let out a low whistle as their Consort walked over to the table and slid into the seat next to him, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek.
"Sorry, Professor Machelle wouldn't stop talking," she said with a groan. "But the assignment is all handed in on time." Lucas leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Good girl," he said, "I told you our study sessions would help you get the material."
I glanced over at Cole and saw him watching the two of them with a longing gaze in his eyes. I had a feeling that his image of tutoring Cadence looked something like this in his head. He glanced over at me and then looked back down at his book.
"How are you ladies getting on with your new positions?" Ryder asked and then waggled his eyebrows at Hannah, who was perched on Harrison's lap, "Although, from what I have seen, you are very into your positions."
"Ryder!" Hannah half yelped and Andrew, their head of house, mock glared at him.
"What the fuck dude," he hit Ryder's shoulder playfully as he laughed. "You better not be spying on our Consort."
"Who needs to spy," Julia sneered, "I walked into the library the other day to see her and David fucking in the stacks. And they weren't being quiet either." Hannah shot Julia a glare.
"Jealous?" she called with a lilt in her tone.
"As if I would be of you, slut," Julia snapped. She then looked over at me and I raised a knowing eyebrow. It was clear as fuck that Julia was more than jealous of Megan and Hannah getting the Consort roles, and practically livid of Cadence taking the role she expected to get. Julia huffed and stood up from the table.
"Whatever, I have better things to do than sit here with you losers." She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the dining hall.
"Well, I think you have settled in nicely, Petal," Harrison said, breaking the slight lull in conversation. "And I enjoy your positions very much." Hannah ducked her head, but I could see the pleased flush on her cheeks at Harrison's words. She'd taken to her role as Consort with an eagerness that bordered on desperation, accepting her position in the hierarchy without question. Beside her, Megan nodded enthusiastically from her place next to Lucas, one of the Syndicate Regents.
"It's really not so bad," Megan added, her voice carrying that note of forced brightness that made me want to grind my teeth. "Once you understand your place, it's actually quite nice. The privileges, the protection..." She trailed off as she caught my expression, shrinking back slightly. I couldn't help but compare their easy submission to Cadence's continued defiance.
Where Hannah and Megan had embraced their roles, finding comfort in the structure and protection it provided, Cadence fought against every aspect of it. She challenged our authority at every turn, tested our patience, and pushed our boundaries. And yet, something about her resistance called to something primal in me, made me want to break down her walls piece by piece until she surrendered completely. But then again, that was what attracted me to her. Would I have been happy without the challenge she provided? I doubted it very much.
"Where is your little rebel, anyway?" Kieran asked, his tone deliberately casual though his dark eyes gleamed with interest. As the lead Regent of Syndicate House, he never missed an opportunity to probe for weaknesses in other houses. "Trouble in paradise already?"
"She's probably just running late," Ryder answered before I could, though I noticed him checking his phone with a slight frown. "You know how these good girl students are with their studies. So... dedicated." The way he said 'dedicated' made it sound like a dirty word, and I saw Cole's fingers tighten slightly on his book.
We all remembered how ‘dedicated’ Cadence had been with Damien McIntyre during their study sessions last year. It was another reason why I felt like we had to keep a closer eye on her.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the table, broken only by the rustle of Cole turning another page in his book. I checked my watch again, 12:45.
Cadence's continued absence was becoming more than just an annoyance. It was beginning to look like deliberate disobedience. Ryder's phone buzzed, drawing my attention. He checked it quickly, his usual manic grin faltering slightly.
"She's... at the house," he said, sounding confused. The tracking app he'd installed on Cade's phone was just one of many ways we monitored her movements, though she didn't know about that particular invasion of privacy yet.
"What do you mean she's at the house?" Cole asked, finally looking up from his book. "She's supposed to be here. When did she go home?" Before Ryder could respond, Megan cleared her throat nervously.
"I, um, I saw her earlier..." she began, then stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as if she'd just realised she might be causing trouble.
"Saw her where?" I demanded, fixing her with a stare that had made stronger people than her crumble. Megan glanced uncertainly at Jake, who nodded slightly.
"Tell him, Meg," Jake commanded softly. "You know better than to withhold information from a Regent." Megan swallowed hard, then spoke in a rush.
"I saw her coming out of an empty classroom with Damien." The silence that followed her words was absolute. I could feel the other Regents watching us, gauging our reactions.
Cole's book snapped shut with an ominous thud. Ryder's usual manic energy had gone eerily still. And I... I could feel the careful control I maintained starting to slip, rage building beneath my skin like a gathering storm.
"Damien McIntyre?" I clarified, my voice coming out far calmer than I felt. "After being explicitly told to stay away from him."
"Maybe it was innocent," Hannah suggested weakly, then immediately shrank back as multiple sets of eyes turned to glare at her.
"Nothing involving Damien McIntyre is innocent," Cole said, his voice carrying an edge I rarely heard from him. The other Regents shifted uncomfortably, aware of the history there, but not privy to the full details.
"Well," Lucas drawled, clearly enjoying the drama, "looks like your little rebel needs a refresher course in the rules of being a Consort."
"Indeed, she does," I agreed, my mind already calculating the necessary steps. This kind of defiance couldn't go unpunished, not just for Cadence's sake, but for the reputation of Covenant House itself. The other houses were watching, waiting to see how we handled this challenge to our authority.
I stood up slowly, my movement drawing every eye at the table.
"Ryder, Cole," I said, not needing to elaborate further. They rose immediately, falling into step beside me. The other Regents watched us with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, knowing that whatever came next would set a precedent for how future acts of defiance would be handled.
"Give her hell," Kieran called after us, but I ignored him.
This wasn't about putting on a show for the other houses. This was about maintaining control, about ensuring that Cade understood exactly what was at stake here.
As we walked away from the table, I could hear the whispers starting already. By dinner, everyone would know that the Covenant House Consort had defied her Regents and had been seen with another man. The damage to our reputation was already done. Now it was time to contain it. If it had only been the three of us then that would have been different, but with the other Regent's in the know, we had to follow the set procedure. Which started with Headmaster Williams.
The walk to the administration building felt longer than usual, each step weighted with the gravity of what we were about to do. Ryder was uncharacteristically silent, while Cole's face had settled into the cold mask he wore when dealing with particularly unpleasant tasks.
I understood their reluctance. None of us had wanted it to come to this. The administration building loomed before us, its gothic architecture a reminder of the traditions and power structures we were bound by. Inside, the marble floors echoed beneath our footsteps as we made our way to Headmaster Williams' office. His secretary took one look at us and immediately pressed the intercom.
"Sir, the Covenant House Regents are here to see you." There was a brief pause before Williams' voice crackled through the speaker.
"Send them in." The heavy oak door opened silently on well-oiled hinges. Headmaster Angus Williams sat behind his massive desk, his silver hair and sharp features highlighted by the afternoon sun streaming through the stone framed windows. He didn't look surprised to see us. If anything, his expression suggested he'd been expecting this visit.
"Gentlemen," he greeted us, gesturing to the chairs arranged before his desk. "I assume this isn't a social call." I remained standing, Ryder and Cole flanking me like dark shadows.
"Cadence Turner has broken a direct order," I stated, keeping my voice level despite the anger still simmering beneath my skin. "She was seen meeting with another man in private, after being explicitly forbidden from contact with him." Williams leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. "I see." His pale eyes studied each of us in turn. "And you're here because..."
"We need official sanction for first offence protocol," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. Williams' eyebrows rose slightly. Ryder startled beside me. I knew he was struggling with this. Despite his obsessive tendencies and darker impulses, he'd developed genuine feelings for Cadence. The thought of what first offence protocol entailed clearly disturbed him.
"Wait, what! There has to be another way," Ryder spoke up, his voice alert. "We could handle this internally, keep it within Covenant House-"
"We can't," Cole interrupted, surprising us all. His mismatched eyes were hard as he stepped forward. "The other houses know about her defiance now. If we don't follow proper protocol, it'll be seen as a weakness." He turned to face Williams directly. "I agree with Logan. First offence protocol needs to be implemented." Williams nodded slowly, reaching for a leather-bound ledger on his desk.
"You understand what this means? What you will have to do? First offence protocol is... intense."
"We understand," I said, even as my stomach churned at the thought. The protocol had been designed generations ago, a way to break particularly rebellious Consorts quickly and thoroughly. It was rarely used anymore, most Consorts being far more compliant than Cadence.
"Very well." Williams opened the ledger, his pen hovering above the page. "For the record, state the offence."
"Cadence Turner, Covenant House Consort, wilfully disobeyed a direct order from her Regents by meeting privately with Damien McIntyre, a known person of interest." The formal words felt like ash in my mouth. I saw a slight eyebrow lift from Williams as I mentioned Damien's name.
"And you are requesting implementation of first offence protocol as outlined in section seven of the Consort contract?"
"We are." The words came out harder than I intended, my control slipping slightly. Williams made several notations in the ledger, his pen scratching against the paper the only sound in the oppressive silence of the office. Finally, he looked up at us again.
"I'll inform the necessary parties. You have four hours to complete the protocol once initiated." He closed the ledger with a definitive thud. "I don't need to remind you that failure to properly execute the protocol will reflect poorly on Covenant House and your future prospects."
"We understand," Cole answered when I couldn't quite find my voice. The weight of what we were about to do pressed down on my shoulders like a physical burden.
"Very well." Williams reached for his phone. "I'll make the arrangements. You should return to Covenant House and prepare. She'll need to be... receptive when the time comes."
We left his office in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The bright afternoon sun seemed almost offensive as we stepped outside, its cheerfulness at odds with the darkness of our mission.
Halfway to the car, Ryder suddenly stopped.
"Logan," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "Are we really going to do this to her? After everything..." He trailed off, running a hand through his hair in agitation.
"We don't have a choice," Cole answered before I could. "She needs to learn, Ryder. And it's better it happens now, under controlled circumstances, than later when the stakes are higher."
"Controlled circumstances?" Ryder laughed, but there was no humour in it. "There's nothing controlled about what we're about to do to her. We're going to break her, completely and utterly. And for what? Because she talked to Damien? I mean I hate that she did, but still, this?"
"Because she defied us publicly," I corrected him, finally finding my voice. "Because she made us look weak in front of the other houses. Because if we don't do this now, it'll only get worse." I turned to face him fully. "You know what's at stake here, Ryder. For all of us." The mention of our shared fate seemed to steady him somewhat. We all knew what would happen if we failed to properly control our Consort. The Trivium didn't tolerate weakness or failure.
"Fine," Ryder said after a long moment. "But I want it noted that I think this is a bad idea."
"Noted," I replied drily, already moving toward the car again. "Now let's go home. We have preparations to make."
The drive back to Covenant House was silent, each of us lost in contemplation over what was to come.
I couldn't help but think of Cadence, probably sitting in her room right now, having no idea of the storm that was about to break over her head. Part of me wanted to protect her from what was coming, to find another way. But I knew there wasn't one. Not anymore.
As we pulled into the driveway, I caught sight of her purple hair through her bedroom window. She was sitting at her desk, probably working on homework, looking so innocent and unaware. The sight made my chest tight with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
"Remember," I said as I cut the engine, "once we start this, there's no stopping until it's done. Are you both prepared for that?" Cole nodded grimly, while Ryder just stared up at Cadence's window, his expression unreadable. We sat there for a moment longer, steeling ourselves for what was to come. Then, as one, we stepped out of the car and headed into the house. The time for mercy was over. Now, we would show our little princess exactly what it meant to defy the Regents of Covenant House.