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EIGHTEEN
Morning. The first thing I’d done when I’d woken in the guest room, head pounding, was to check the door was unlocked. I wouldn’t have put it past Caiden to lock me in again. Thankfully, the door opened.
As the memories of last night assaulted me, I cringed. I showered as quickly as possible, and not even bothering to check my appearance, silently slipped out of the room and crept down the stairs, intent on leaving before anyone else made an appearance.
I made it to the front door without incident and reached to open it, but before I could make my escape, arms came around me, pi
“Not so fast,” a low voice hissed in my ear. “Where do you think you’re going?”
A chill went through me at Zayde’s threatening tone, but I steeled myself.
“Let go of me. King Caiden made it clear last night that he didn’t want me here.”
His laugh somehow managed to sound dark and sinister. “Oh no, sweetheart. You’re not getting away that easily. Let’s make one thing clear. I believe you’re not working with your mother, but I still don’t trust you. Trust needs to be earned.”
With that comment, he disappeared, just as silently as he’d arrived, and I was left by the door, staring after him.
I sighed. He was right, in a way. If I didn’t share this file with the Four, didn’t explain my reasoning for suspecting my mother had a hand in my father’s death, how could I expect them to just blindly trust me? They needed to see the evidence for themselves and come to their own conclusions. Mind made up, I headed towards the kitchen.
After a silent breakfast, during which only West was present, I entered the spy room, as I was calling it. The one with all the computers and camera feeds. I was in a bad mood, still pissed off about Caiden’s behaviour towards me, to be honest. I’d been worried about him last night, and I’d acted on instinct, trying to provide comfort. But as soon as I’d gone to him, he’d made it perfectly clear that sleeping with me had been a mistake.
So, as far as I was concerned, we were back to normal. Normal, meaning I’d have to ignore his hateful glares and asshole behaviour, unless a miracle somehow occurred.
Weston directed me to a large leather office chair, and I amused myself by spi
I pouted at him for ruining my fun, and he gave me an amused smirk.
Taken aback by the contrast in his behaviour from earlier that morning, I gaped at him but recovered quickly. “Why, Zayde, was that an actual smile?” I raised a brow.
“From Z? Never.” Cassius strode into the room and took the other chair next to mine, and Zayde leaned against the desk, his face already back to its usual impassive mask. “Morning, babe. How’s your head?”
“Fine. Ish. More importantly, how’s yours?”
“All good, thanks. I’m touched by your concern for me.”
I laughed. “Always. I’m thinking Kins will have the worst head this morning, out of all of us.” After all the shit with Cade, I’d been pissed off and agitated enough that doing shots with Weston and Kinslee had seemed like a great idea. Kinslee had also finished up the Prosecco (which had turned out to belong to a very unimpressed Jessa), and then West had ordered an Uber for her, while I’d stumbled up to the guest bed, my head swimming.
The last I’d heard from Kinslee, before sleep claimed me, was a drunken rambling text saying she was back at home, and she’d had the best night ever, and then waaaay too much information on West’s dick. Thanks, Kinslee.
To be completely honest? I’d wanted to leave with her the night before, still upset about the way Caiden had acted towards me, but Weston had convinced me to stay, telling me I’d regret it if I didn’t. He’d insisted that if I wanted answers, I needed the help of the Four. In my exhausted state, I hadn’t taken much persuading.
This morning, though, I was full of doubts.
The door opened and Caiden walked in, dark circles under his eyes, avoiding my gaze. Cassius stared between the two of us, confusion all over his face, as the tension in the room ratcheted up by about a thousand notches. Of course—he’d disappeared before Cade had insulted me and stormed off.
What the fuck? Cassius mouthed at me. I shook my head at him, trying to convey to him that now wasn’t the time or the place. He heaved a heavy sigh and glanced back at Caiden.
“You don’t look too good, mate. Here, take my seat.” Cass jumped up and moved across to me, pulling me out of my chair. That mischievous glint in his eye…I had a fairly good idea of what was coming next.
“You can sit on me, beautiful.” He collapsed into my chair and patted his thigh.
“No.” Caiden’s voice rang out, startling me.
Every single head turned towards him.
“Where’s the fucking popcorn when you need it,” I heard Zayde comment under his breath.
“No? Why not, huh?” Cassius stared at Caiden challengingly, and Caiden stared straight back, unblinking.
For fuck’s sake.
“Caiden, can I have a quick word with you?” I eyed him cautiously. “Please,” I added. I walked to the door and out into the hallway, hoping he’d follow me. Leaning against the hallway wall, I waited.
A few moments later he slipped out of the room and came to a stop in front of me. His expression was shuttered, but I saw the muscle ticking in his jaw, and his clenched fists.
“What was all that about?” I kept my voice soft and quiet, trying not to provoke him. “Do you have an issue with me and Cass?”
“There is no you and Cass,” he said roughly, planting his arms either side of me so he was all up in my personal space. Again.
“Why not?”
“Because I said so.”
“Well, I’m afraid that’s not a good enough reason.” My body was reacting to his proximity, shivers ru
I could feel his hot breath on my ear as he leaned even closer. “You’re not his.”
“I’m not yours, though, right? You made that pretty fucking clear last night.” I let some of my anger over his behaviour bleed through into my tone, but my voice still sounded breathy and lustful, even to my own ears.
“No. You’re not. How many fucking times do you need to hear it?”
“So you don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me, is that it?”
He looked at me silently for a moment, then shrugged, a quick, jerky movement. He lowered his thick lashes, his gaze darting to my mouth as I bit my lip, thinking hard. Should I say it? Fuck it. It’s not like I could make things much worse between us.
“You want to know what I think?” I waited until his eyes met mine before I continued. “I think you do want me. I think you’re lying to yourself.” I slid under his arm and stalked away from him, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
“What?” I snapped, my patience finally ru
“Stay the fuck away from Cassius.”
“He’s my friend. Unlike you, he can actually admit that he enjoys spending time with me.”
He laughed darkly, his grip on my arm tightening. “Don’t flatter yourself, Snowflake. He’d drop you in a second if I wanted him to.”
“Whatever you say.” I sighed. “Look, as low as your opinion is of me, I have no desire to cause trouble between the two of you. But maybe you should look at why you have such a problem with me and him.” I shook off his arm, and this time he didn’t stop me.