Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2)

by Caitlyn Dare

  “I feel the same,” I admit. “I tried to fight it… to tell myself I could ignore how I feel, but I can’t.” My hands curl into the hair at the nape of his neck.

  “You’re mine, Mia. No matter what.”

  His words wrap around me like a blanket. I want to believe him.

  God, I want to believe him.

  “I won’t be with him, Bexley. I won’t.”

  “It won’t come to that, I promise.” He kisses my head. “I’ll talk to Marcus. He knows more than he’s letting on, I’m sure of it. And maybe we should go and see James Jagger.”

  “James Jagger?” I sit up.

  “You know him?” Bexley frowns.

  “No, but I’ve heard that name.”

  “Your dad?” he asks, and I nod. There’s a memory hovering on the periphery of my mind, but I can’t quite reach it. It feels like I’m uncovering something though, the threads of this puzzle slowly untangling and revealing themselves.

  “Who is he?”

  “Ace Jagger’s dad. They live in Sterling Bay, but the Jaggers were originally from Gravestone. But Lilly, Marcus’ sister…she fled back in the day after falling in love with the wrong man.”

  “So you’re related?”

  “Yeah… James is my uncle, I think. Or my cousin? Fuck if I know, it all confuses the shit out of me.”

  “Oh my God,” I breathe.

  “Yeah, something tells me it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”

  “Do you think you can take me to see him? James Jagger, I mean?”

  “Shit, Mia. I don’t know. Kingsley is watching my every move. Sneaking here is one thing. But if we just up and disappear to go to Sterling Bay…”

  He has a point, but there has to be a way.

  “We can ask Channing and Sasha to cover for us.”

  “Whoa, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Concern glitters in his eyes. “I don’t want to do anything that puts you at risk.”

  “I’m already at risk,” I implore. “Every minute I’m with Cade…”

  “Fuck, don’t,” he grits out. “Just don’t. If I could take you away from here, I would. You know that, right? We could get in my car and just go.”

  “You can’t run from Quinctus.” I give him a sad smile. “That’s not how it works.”

  “But Hadley did. She got out.”

  “Wait a minute, Hadley Rexford? You know Hadley Rexford?”

  “Yeah. She lives in the Bay. My mom said it’s like a safe haven or something. To be honest, I was so pissed when I saw her, nothing really made sense.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Who, my mom?”

  “No, Hadley.”

  “Yeah, she’s good. She and her boyfriend are at Colton U now, living their best lives.”

  This new information has blown my mind. There are so many moving pieces, I don’t know which one to latch on to first.

  “We have to speak to James Jagger,” I say.

  “Mouse…”

  “No, Bexley, this is too important. If I’m going to find a way to get out of the Coglio with Cade,”—and I have to—“then we need to figure out how all this fits together.”

  And why Quinctus are so set on me being his prosapia.

  “Okay, okay. But you let me figure out how and when.” I frown, and his brow quirks up. “I mean it, Mia. I need to know you’re safe. As safe as you can be. No more taking unnecessary risks.”

  I press my lips together, because I’m not sure that’s a promise I can keep.

  “Mouse, I need to hear you say it.”

  I kiss him instead—hot, wet kisses that leave us both panting for more.

  “You’re not playing fair.” Bexley rolls me underneath him and runs his hand along my jaw and down to my throat. “In fact, I’d call it cheating.” He smirks, running his tongue along my neck. “And do you know what cheaters get?”

  “What?” I ask breathlessly.

  He rolls his hips, letting his hard cock slide against my slick pussy before slamming inside me.

  “Punished.”

  I wake with a knot in my stomach. In Bexley’s arms, I’d felt safe and cherished. But in the harsh light of day, I’m reminded that being with him is a fantasy. My reality is much darker.

  He left after loving my body again. It had been slow and sensual and intense. I came so hard my entire body quivered beneath him.

  I have fallen head over heels for Bexley Easton, and I know now it was foolish to think I could ever switch off my feelings for him. I didn’t promise him I wouldn’t keep searching for answers though, and he didn’t ask me again.

  I think, deep down, he understands I have to do this.

  Pushing back the covers, I start getting ready for classes. I’m almost dressed when my cell vibrates. A smile lifts the corner of my lips at Bexley’s message… but it’s quickly chased away when I realize it’s not Bexley at all. It’s Cade.

  Cade: Meet me outside in five. And wear comfy shoes.

  I quickly text him back.

  Mia: I have classes.

  Cade: Are you telling me no?

  I want to. I want to tell him I’m going nowhere with him, but a little voice in my head tells me to play the game.

  Mia: Fine. I’ll be right out.

  Cade: Good. And wear something sexy.

  I can just picture his smug smirk. Ugh. Just then, my cell vibrates again, and I dread to think what else he has to say. But this time my heart leaps.

  Cat: I can still taste you.

  I fight a smile as I text Bexley back. I tell him that I won’t be in class and not to worry and then silence my cell phone and slip it into my bag.

  Taking a deep breath, I shove my feet into my sneakers and grab a jacket and scarf and slip out of my dorm room. The last thing I want to do is spend the day with Cade, but after last night, I need to appease him.

  I need to protect Bexley.

  Cade is waiting for me, leaning against his car looking like he just stepped off a runway. His eyes drink me in as I approach him.

  “You look… good enough to eat.” His lip curves into a wolfish grin as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into his strong body. My hands go to his chest, trying to keep a safe distance between us, but he forces me closer. “I missed you last night.”

  I tense for a second but quickly brush it off, meeting his steely gaze. “I had to study.”

  “You do know all this,” he glances toward campus, “means nothing? Once you graduate, you’ll never want for anything ever again.”

  “If you think for a second I’m going to be some trophy wife who sits at home all day while my husband goes out to work, you are sorely mistaken.”

  His brow rises. It’s the first time I’ve referred to our future.

  “I like those words on your lips. Say them again…”

  I roll my eyes. “Where are we going anyway?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Cade…”

  “Relax, I just want to spend the day with you. Show you I’m not a complete asshole.”

  “You could have showed me that at the pool party, but instead you disappeared with Ashton and those girls.” I level him with a disapproving look.

  “Come on, baby, don’t be like that.” He runs a hand up my neck and cups my face. “They’re no one to me.”

  “And I am?” I lean in slightly, letting my mouth linger close to his jaw.

  “You are my prosapia, Mia. Mine.” His fingers dig slightly into my waist.

  “Then prove it.” I allow my lips to part as if I’m going to kiss him, but then I pull away and move around him to the car door.

  I’m playing with fire, I know that, but I won’t just lie down and take all his games and bullshit. I’m stronger than that—I have to be.

  Cade’s laughter follows me as I climb into the car and wait for him. When he slips inside, his eyes drill into mine. “I like this side of you.”

  “And what side would that be?”

  “Feisty�
� possessive… jealous.” His brow arches.

  I press my lips together and stare straight ahead, letting him think he’s right.

  Even if he couldn’t be further from the truth.

  After taking me to some fancy restaurant for breakfast, Cade drives me into the woods. For a second, I panic, but then the lake appears, the crystal blue water shimmering in the distance.

  “What is this place?” I ask Cade, noticing the lack of other people.

  “I like to come here sometimes.” There’s a vulnerability in his voice that surprises me, but I know not to drop my guard where Cade is concerned.

  “It’s beautiful,” I say, staring out at the serene sight.

  “Come on.” He shoulders the door and climbs out, coming around to my side. I quickly pull out my cell and send Sasha a text.

  The door opens and Cade holds his hand out for me. I take it, letting him help me.

  “I think I have a blanket back here somewhere.” He pops the trunk and leads me around the back of the car. “Oh look, a basket of goodies too.”

  My brows pinch. “A picnic?”

  “I don’t know what the fuck Mulligan packed.” He shrugs, and I fight a smile. This is more like the Cade I’m used to.

  I grab the blanket and he picks up the hamper, and we walk down to the water’s edge.

  “Have you ever done this before?” I ask.

  “Is that a serious question? I don’t usually need to work so hard for pussy.”

  “Nice,” I hiss.

  “Shit, Mia, that’s not… I’m sorry, okay? This is all new for me.”

  “Why bother?” I ask, sitting down on the blanket. “You’re going to take what you want anyway.”

  “True,” he smirks, “but Q suggested that maybe I need a softer approach with you.”

  “So this is all for Quinctus?” Disbelief coats my words.

  “It’s for you.” He gives me a sincere look. “I just needed a push in the right direction.”

  “You accept everything so easily.”

  “This life is all I’ve ever known. All I’ll ever know.”

  “Do you miss him? Your dad?”

  Cade freezes, his expression darkening. But then it melts away, replaced with sadness. “Yeah, I miss him. He was my dad, you know?”

  “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

  “I didn’t bring you here to talk about heavy shit, Mia. I thought we could spend some time away from Q and the Electi and all that stuff. Just you and me.” He stretches out on his front and leans up, cupping my jaw in his big hand. “You are so fucking beautiful.” His mouth fixes over mine and I’m paralyzed, afraid to breathe. I don’t want to let him kiss me, but I don’t have a choice.

  His tongue parts my lips, coaxing me into the kiss. I stuff down all my feelings for Bexley and detach myself. This isn’t that Mia, the Mia falling for a boy she can never have.

  This is the other Mia, hardened by lies and secrets.

  I open up for him, letting my tongue meet his in a slow, sensual kiss. My body stirs to life despite the repulsion coursing through me. It’s destabilizing.

  Pressing my hands to his chest, I inhale a shaky breath. “Let’s see what’s in the basket.”

  Cade drops his head to my shoulder and lets out a frustrated breath. “You can’t avoid me forever, Mia.”

  “Not avoiding,” I say, “just hitting pause. This is a lot to digest, Cade. You’re a lot.”

  “I’m trying here.”

  God, he’s delusional, but I don’t want to start a fight.

  I unpack the hamper. It’s full of baked goods and fruit, and there’s sparkling water. “Mulligan did good,” I say, helping myself to a cookie.

  Cade watches me savor every bite before pouncing on me. He pushes me down underneath him, staring down at me with hungry eyes. “I’m growing real tired of waiting, Mia.”

  Fear trickles through me. Gone is the guy who was trying, replaced by the monster who takes and takes and takes.

  “The Coglio—”

  “Is a formality. You gave it up to that fucker Bexley, so you’re already tainted. I think it’s time I got a taste of the pussy I’ll be tied to… forever.”

  My walls crumble as I tremble beneath him. “Not here,” I say, desperate to hear the bleep of my cell. Something—anything—to distract him. “Not like this,” I add.

  Cade bares his teeth like a predator about to attack his prey. He leans in, running his nose along my jaw. “Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t just fuck you right here, right now.” He grinds into me, showing me exactly how ready he is.

  “Because despite what you say, I think tradition is important to you.” I look him dead in the eye, hoping he can’t see the fear there.

  “Does this feel like tradition is important to me?” He claws at my skirt, pushing his hand underneath the layers and finding my panties.

  “Cade—” The words die in my throat as he pushes his fingers inside me roughly.

  Tears gather in the corners of my eyes, but I swallow them down.

  “You’re mine, Mia,” he whispers darkly against the corner of my mouth. “Mine to do whatever the fuck I want with.”

  Our faces are pressed so close I can barely breathe. But I can see the monster in his eyes. The beast living inside him.

  His fingers plunge in and out, setting a brutal rhythm that my body can’t fight.

  “No… God,” I breathe as his thumb finds my clit, applying enough pressure to make me unravel.

  “Good girl,” he drawls. “Give it to me, Mia. Show me you want this as much as I do.”

  A rogue tear slips down my cheek as my body begins to tremble, enslaved to his touch. But suddenly, Cade stops.

  “Fuck this,” he mutters to himself. His hand goes to his belt and he snaps it open, undoing his buttons.

  God, no.

  Not here.

  Not like this.

  Just then, the blare of his cell phone cuts through the air like a siren.

  “Maybe you should—” His hand goes to my throat and squeezes.

  “This is happening, baby. Right here, right now.” He works his cock free ,and I feel it against my thigh, thick and hard and ready to take something that isn’t his to take.

  But the ringing doesn’t stop. Eventually, he rips his cell out of his pocket and glances at the screen.

  “Who is it?” I ask shakily.

  “Channing.”

  Relief floods me. Sasha got my message. She got it and she got help.

  Cade narrows his eyes at me and then glances back at the screen.

  It stops suddenly, but a text message follows.

  “Fuck,” Cade mumbles to himself as he reads it, rolling off and sitting up. “Motherfucking fuck.”

  “What is it?” I ask, smoothing down my skirt.

  “We need to leave, now. Get your shit and let’s go.” He leaps up and storms off toward the car.

  I grab my purse, pull out my cell phone and quickly text Sasha.

  Mia: Thank you… thank you.

  17

  Bexley

  I sit on a bench outside the Henderson building waiting for Channing to appear after his last class of the day, staring down at my cell.

  At Mia’s last message.

  My grip on the phone tightens until I'm sure it's about to buckle under my fingers.

  Mouse: I won't be in class today. Don't worry, everything is fine.

  How can she say that and think I'm not going to worry? Especially when I learn who else isn't in class today.

  What has he done with her… to her?

  A million and one questions flash through my mind as images of him taking what's mine emerge faster than I can control, threatening to turn me into a version of myself I hate.

  Red hot fury stirs in my belly as I stare at my reply. She's read it. I can see the little ticks.

  But she never responded.

  "Fuck," I mutter to myself, dragging my hand through my hair and tugging until it s
tings.

  Just reply and tell me you're okay, I plead, staring at her previous words.

  "Hey," a familiar voice says before feet appear in my vision. "What's wrong?"

  "Kingsley's got Mia," I admit.

  "I know. Sash and I have it under control. Don't worry."

  "W-what?"

  "She's back at the house; she's safe. Don't worry. We won't let anything happen to her."

  "H-how? What did you do?"

  He drops his bag to the floor then lowers himself beside me.

  "He took her out to the lake. Gravestone Lake, not the one at the house. She'd text Sasha for help and I called him with some urgent Q news. He was back in a flash and left her at the house."

  "He's going to know you lied."

  "I didn't lie. Everything I told him was true. It just could have waited."

  I sit and consider his words for a few seconds.

  "Wait, how do you know Q news? I thought it went straight to Cade."

  A smile twitches at his lips.

  He looks at me, his eyes narrowing for the briefest moment as if he's trying to decide if he can tell me or not.

  "Not even Sasha knows this," he warns.

  "O-okay."

  "Q… they called me back in after our meeting on Sunday. Seems there might just be a way for me to get what I want."

  "Oh?"

  "I can't tell you the details. I shouldn't even be telling you this, but… but I know you're on my side."

  "I am," I say without missing a beat.

  "If I can get them what they need, then maybe, just maybe there could be a way for Sasha and I to be together."

  "They know about the two of you?"

  "Yeah, I told them everything."

  "Shit."

  “Pretty much their response. Phillip looked about two seconds away from killing me with his bare hands, but it is what it is, and I'll stand up for Sasha in any way I can."

  "She's lucky to have you, man."

  "We'll see about that. There's always time for this all to go very wrong."

  I don't respond. I can't. I know as well as he does how much is at stake right now.