Page 18 of The Prince of Power

I’ve learned through Sienna how dangerous rich people can be. Her dad faced no consequences. CPS didn’t even believe Sienna. Why would a man who has everything waste his timetormenting his child? No. It was just a spoiled rich girl who wanted attention.

Or at least, that’s how I imagine their thought processes went. I was the one who made the anonymous call in the first place.

I slow my steps and gently reach out, setting my hand on her arm. “It won’t be like that. I won’t let it get that far. But you need to understand… I have to do this. After what I heard, I can’t leave Rhett to deal with the fallout. If he doesn’tobey, as Damian called it, Rhett might be…in trouble.”

Sienna exhales sharply and glances around, then she grabs my wrist and tugs me off the path toward a cluster of towering oaks near the edge of campus.

“If you’re serious about this,” she says quietly, “you need to know something.”

I frown. “Okay…”

“Did I ever tell you about Cassidy Pearson? She was a senior at Ashford last year.”

I shake my head.

“Well, she used to date this guy Max—my lab partner’s older brother.”

I shift on my feet. “And?”

“Cassidy was obsessed with Max. They were inseparable. They even talked about getting married—at our age.” Sienna leans back against a tree trunk, arms folded. “And then Damian happened.”

My stomach tightens.

“She met him at some party. After that, she ghosted Max. Just dropped him. Left her friends. Barely spoke to anyone outside of Thornecroft.”

“That doesn’t mean?—”

“She wasdifferentafter,” Sienna cuts in. “Gemma, my lab partner, told me Cassidy wasn’t even herself anymore. It’s likeshe’d been…rewired. Gemma swore Damian did something to her. Hypnotized her or something.”

I snort. “Hypnotized her? Really, Sienna?”

She glares at me. “This isn’tmyopinion.”

I nod slowly. It sounds insane, and yet…I kind of get it. I experienced Damian’s magnetic pull at the party. But only for a moment. When I was far enough away from him, I was able to see it for what it really was. Attraction. Just the body’s animal response to a very good-looking man.

I would never abandon the people I love for it.

“The worst part is Damian didn’t even really want her.” Sienna’s voice is hard. “She became one of many. Apparently, he has a whole group of girls at Thornecroft that he has on rotation. Cassidy gave up Max forthat.” She shakes her head.

“Why are you telling me this story? I’m not the type of person who would do that.”

Sienna’s jaw tightens. “Because I’m worried there’s some truth to it. Maybe not the hypnotism thing, but something. He’s powerful. Really powerful.”

I cross my arms, but her words sink in anyway.

“There are other rumors,” she continues. “I heard his dad practically owns San Aurelia. The cops. The university. Everything.” She leans in, voice low. “If that’s true, he reallycouldmake people disappear. Any of the Big Four could.”

I lift my gaze to the hills above campus where Thornecroft looms, dark and enormous against the evening sky. You can see it from anywhere on campus—always there, always watching.

“I know what it feels like to be under a man’s power.” Sienna’s voice is rougher now. “And I’m terrified that’s where this is going for you.”

My stomach churning, I reach out and grab her hand. “That’s why you’re not coming with me. I’ll never let a man have that kind of power over you again. Not if I can stop it.”

Her eyes flash. “Excuse me?”

I nod. “I know at some point you’re going to insist on it. And I’m putting my foot down.

She glares daggers at me. “You can’t stop me.”

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