Page 20 of The Devil's Trials

“You’re already our king,” Jude interjects gently, and the others nod in agreement, bowing their heads in respect.

“Very well, but you are my council.” I meet each of their gazes one by one. “You do not bow before me, you stand beside me.”

Blake shoots me a wink. “Long live the king.”

SIXCAMILLE

A few days later, with two nearly bursting suitcases in tow, my mom and Harper dropped me off at the departure doors, and I boarded an early-morning flight to JFK.

Had it been up to me, I would have fled Seattle the moment Dad suggested going to New York, but that would mean explaining why. Telling my parents—or at the very least Harper—that I saw Xander isn’t a door I want to open.

I never pictured myself living in New York City, but putting some distance between me and Seattle will be good. I have no delusions that the move will solve anything, but I hope it’s a step in the right direction.

There’s also the added bonus of having my housing expenses covered, though it would be a much sweeter deal if it hadn’t included the stipulation of moving into Noah’s buildingfor my protection. I guess I should just be grateful they didn’t make me move into his apartment.

Living in the same building makes it far too easy for him to show up at my door before sunrise, and I curse him out for the ungodly hour as I flip the lock and let him in the second morning I’ve woken up in my new place. At least he wasn’t waiting for me when I arrived with my suitcases. He gave me a couple days to settle in.

Today is my first training session. Noah texted me last night and offered to drive me to Ballard Academy this morning. I accepted for the sole reason that if I didn’t go with him, there’s a very good chance I would succumb to the anxiety swirling in my gut and bail.

“You could at least fake being happy to see me,” he says with a smirk as he closes the door behind him, leaning against it.

I squint at him, sleep still clinging to my muscles as I stifle a yawn. “I have never been and will never be a morning person. You’re lucky you have me vertical right now. My bed was extra cozy this morning.”

He pushes away from the door, coming closer. “If I wasn’t such a gentleman, I’d make a joke about getting you horizontal.”

Heat blossoms in my cheeks as I stare at him.

Did he seriously just say that?

Noah chuckles. “Relax, Cam. I’m only messing with you.” He lowers his voice. “You make it so easy.”

I shift back a step, rolling my eyes and grumbling, “It’s too early for this.” Not that any time is ideal for Noah’s blatant arrogance and generally annoying personality.

He gives me a once-over. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

Glancing down at my dark gray hoodie and black joggers, I shrug. “Something wrong?”

“I guess it’s fine.”

I shoot him a look. “What is it, Noah?”

He rubs his jaw, still looking at me. “You should wear something more form-fitting.”

I scowl at him, but before I can tell him to fuck off, he holds up his hands in surrender, imploring me not to snap at him like I so desperately want to.

“I’m not trying to be an ass. Honest. It’s purely a professional suggestion. Do you have a pair of leggings and a sports bra? Mobility is incredibly important.”

I swallow my annoyance at his ‘professional suggestion’ and nod. “Give me five minutes.”

He nods. “Tie your hair back as well. Preferably in a style that’s difficult to grab.”

“If you want to braid my hair, you should just say so.” The words are out of my mouth before I can clamp it shut.

“Don’t be cute,” he mutters, though I catch the quick twitch of his lips. “Hurry up. I want to beat morning traffic.”

When I come out of my room wearing a matching olive-green workout set with my hoodie tied around my waist and my hair French braided with the tail pinned underneath, I find Noah standing at the window.

“Ready,” I say, grabbing my water bottle off the counter in the kitchen. The whole apartment is basically one room, besides the bathroom and bedroom, which are separated from the main space with frosted glass doors. It’s much smaller than the apartment I shared with Harper inSeattle, but that’s what I get for moving to Manhattan. I remind myself for the hundredth time since I arrived that this isn’t permanent. Harper has been nothing but supportive, and leaving her at the departures entrance before my flight was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

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