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EVER
Istep through the towering doors of KnightsGate Manor, the echo of my confrontation with Lila, Sasha, and Cass ringing in my ears. The chill of the grand hallway seems to seep into my bones, a cold reminder of the choice I’ve just made. Around me, the Cardinals move with an air of ownership, their presence a stark shield against the whispers that follow us.
The coronation ceremony feels like a dream now, a nightmare that’s left its mark.
“Fuck,” I whisper, the single word tasting bitter on my tongue.
“Ever, what’s wrong?” Damien asks, concern etching his features.
This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a fucking crater, and we’re all staring down into its depths.
“We need to talk,” I say, steeling myself for the conversation ahead as shock ricochets through me like a bullet, leaving behind a trail of cold betrayal. “Is it true?” I demand.
The four men in front of me exchange glances. It’s Alistair who steps forward first, his sapphire eyes unflinching. “That was Robbie, Eric, and Stanley’s doing,” he states confidently as ifwe’re discussing the weather and not an act of arson. “You know this.”
“No, I know what you told me before you made me kill Robbie,” I hiss, my hands shaking with fury and something else. Terror, I think. An undying fear that what my friends said is true.
“Look at us, Ever,” Ben adds, calm as ever, his eyes meeting mine. “We told you the truth.”
But there’s a shift in the air, a change in their attitude that sends a shiver down my spine. They’re not sorry it happened. Not even close.
“We wanted you here, with us, in KnightsGate Manor,” Damien finally speaks, to my surprise. I thought it would be Alistair at the front of this charge. “You belong here, Ever. You belong with us.”
“Nothing else matters.” Alistair’s states.
“Nothing except you,” Ben murmurs.
“Only you,” Charlie says, his gaze on mine, burning with an intensity that both frightens and thrills me.
Their confessions, their obsession—it all washes over me in waves. The pieces fall into place, and I’m left standing amidst the ruins of what I thought was real. Yet, in this room, surrounded by these four men who covet me above all else, I find a twisted sense of belonging. They’d burn the world down for me, literally, and I can’t help the dark and morally wrong thrill that courses through my veins at the thought. But it’s too late for morals. They left me a while ago, and there’s no going back now.
I nod, not giving them anything else. They don’t need it, and neither do I. They are my shield, my fortress, and my whole existence, and I am irrevocably theirs.
The entrance hall suddenly feels too small, their eyes too intense. But it’s not fear that anchors me to this spot—it’s a revelation. The betrayal from Lila and the others outsidethese walls doesn’t cut as deep as I thought it would because in here, with Alistair’s unwavering gaze, Ben’s quiet strength, Charlie’s daring smirk, and Damien’s enigmatic presence, I find something unbreakable.
“Fuck them,” I spit out, surprising even myself with the venom in my voice. “They don’t matter. Not anymore.”
I see a flicker of satisfaction in Alistair’s eyes. “That’s right, Ever. You’re ours now.”
“Always have been,” Damien adds, his voice low and certain. “You are where you’re meant to be.”
“The rest is just noise,” Charlie murmurs.
Noise. My so-called friends, the expectations of the university, the weight of my last name—they’re nothing compared to the fierce protectiveness I see in the four faces before me. I’ve spent so long fighting for a place at KnightsGate, but maybe I was fighting for the wrong thing.
“Then let’s shut out the noise.”
Alistair nods, an impenetrable promise etched into his every feature. “We’ll keep you safe, Ever. From everything and everyone.”
Ben takes my hand. “We will protect you. Always. We’ll accept nothing less for our queen.”
Queen. The word sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not a title I was born into, nor one I sought out. But it’s mine now, claimed in the throes of passion and sealed with the promise of devotion.
“Then let’s play by our rules,” I say, feeling the power of my new position settle over me like a cloak. “No more playing nice. No more hiding.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Damien agrees, his grey eyes glinting with the thrill of the challenge I’ve laid down.
As I stand there, surrounded by the Four Cardinals, I know this is where my story really begins.
