QUEEN OF THE RUINS: Born to Power. Crowned in blood

Kamara’s POV The drive was a quiet one as I watched the only place I’d ever known pass by. Every corner we turned reminded me of Mom, and saying goodbye was even harder because I wasn’t given the chance. It felt like she’d been ripped out of my world and replaced with silence, and silence was louder than any goodbye could’ve been. When the car pulled up, I stepped out, staring at the five-floor building in front of me. It looked completely ordinary, a quiet neighborhood, and average neighbors. Nothing like home. “Well, this should be fun,” I muttered. “Sophomore year across the country, away from everything I know… and in a shitty apartment.” Jace grabbed my backpack from the trunk and walked up the stairs without saying a word. We stopped on the third floor. He handed me the keys. I snatched them from his hand. “The new school’s just a few blocks away,” he said as I unlocked the door. Inside was a small but decent setup, a living room, a mini kitchen, and one door that

Jace’ POV The silence in the H-block office of New Coast lingered long after Mr. Mann left. Another deal closed and another set of threats neutralized. I didn’t say much, not that I ever did in those meetings. Just stood back and watched, memorizing every name and face that crossed his screen. Half of them would end up dead, the other half desperate. By the time I got to the apartment, the sun was already gone, replaced by the evening calm. I unfastened my jacket, grabbed the black-and-gold bag from the passenger seat, and climbed the stairs to her room. The gift had cost more than she’d care to know. But it was her father’s ideaa, one of his rare sentimental gestures. Custom perfume, rare vintage books, and a card he made me sign in his name. “Let her feel seen,” he’d said. As if that was enough to make up for everything else. I stopped in front of her apartment door and knocked. Once. No answer. Twice. Still nothing. “Kamara?” I called. Nothing. A cold flicker ra

Kamara “Amy?” Her grin widened, perfect teeth flashing under the chandelier light. “You remember me!” Unfortunately. I forced a small smile. “Hard to forget.” I remembered her from years ago, one of those endless summers when Dad dumped me at one of his associates’ estates, claiming it was “for my safety.” Amy had been there too. Her father was some business partner of his. I was thirteen, awkward, and alone; she was fifteen, confident, and already chasing every boy with a jawline. Especially Jace. I remembered her then, all giggles and fake innocence, hanging around him like a fly. It was sickening to watch. And Jace was never a fan. “God, you haven’t changed a bit. Still so serious.” She turned to me, still smiling too wide. “Can you believe we used to fight over who got to sit next to him during dinner?” I laughed awkwardly. “Yeah,” I said. “Those were great times.” Amy laughed, clearly missing the sarcasm. “You always were the quiet one. Guess that hasn’t

Kamara The next morning, pushing the memory aside. The backup had arrived by four in the morning. Now, sitting in the car, I kept my eyes on the road ahead, pretending I wasn’t aware of the silence pressing between us. I was going to college, anywhere that wasn’t near him. I couldn’t spend another minute close to this man, not with the weird thoughts my brain had started to form while we were locked together. It was the stress, I kept reminding myself. Just stress. “I won’t be able to pick you up today,” Jace said as soon as the car stopped in front of the gate. “I’ll send in someone else.” “Huh? No, you shouldn’t.” I blinked. “Huh? No, you shouldn’t.” He didn’t turn around, just adjusted the gear like he hadn’t heard me. I wasn’t fond of the idea of having a bodyguard never had been, but the thought of some random stranger shadowing me made my stomach twist. At least with Jace, I knew what kind of walls I was dealing with. “Why no?” he asked finally, glancing at me t

Kamara By the time evening rolled around, I’d convinced myself it wasn’t a big deal. Just dinner. Just Brian. Just a normal night. That was what I told myself as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the strap of my black dress for the third time. My reflection didn’t look convinced. My hair fell loose around my shoulders, a little messy from the rush of getting ready after classes, but I left it that way. I didn’t want to look like I was trying. Valerie had called earlier when I mentioned dinner plans. “With Brian?” she’d nearly shouted through the phone. “Kam, you’re insane!” “It’s just dinner,” I’d said again. “Dinner with Brian after what happened at the party? Yeah, super safe.” I’d laughed it off, but even now, her words lingered. The house was too quiet. Jace hadn’t been around since that afternoon, and the silence he left behind was worse than his presence. Usually, I could at least feel him somewhere nearby, that strange sense of safety wrapped in irr