Breaking The Cardinal Rule Novels & Stories

My mouth opened and closed like a fish taken out of water. Then, because my pride had apparently decided tonight was the perfect time to ruin me, I walked inside. He shut the door behind us. The click sounded final. A little too final. I tried not to think about that. “This is still a violation of Rule One,” I muttered, setting the flashlight on the dresser. Dominic loosened his cuffs and looked at me. “You made the rule.” “And you are breaking it.” “You walked in here.” “That was under duress.” “No,” he said, dry as ever. “That was under fear.”

I pointed out. He nodded. "The day I saw you was the first day I left the packhouse." I blinked at his revelation. No wonder his mother thought I was his mate the first time she saw me. Ambrose let out a heavy breath. "Third and last rule, I can break your rules if necessary. This rule, in particular, is unmodifiable, unchangeable and noneditable." I dropped the pen I was holding. I couldn't believe he made a rule like that! I stared at him, shocked to my wits because I have never expected someone to be this wise annoyingly wise! "That can't be!"

I managed to stutter a response, carefully avoiding any form of eye contact. There was no response from him. Everything seemed as quiet as a grave yard. I became puzzled. So, I decided to slowly turn around, only to stare directly into those alluring, deep blue ocean eyes I have ever seen. Hastily removing my gaze from him because I felt I had broken another rule. 'Keep your head down until you are asked to do otherwise'. That was the first rule, and I just broke it. How dare you raise your head and speak to the King without his permission?. That was a capital offence and would never go unpunished.

"Yeah. A rule that intrudes people's personal life is the same as stupid. What are you? God? If you were God, everyone would probably turn to pancakes for the tiniest sins they commit." "Serene." He clenched his teeth. The way he seemed angry, felt so much like he was going to hit me soon. "Before you began working here, the rules were intact. But, you decided to break the rules, yet you don't feel remorseful. Do you know how crazy that is? And how unprofessional it is?"

when I can not sleep. But this feels like winning. This feels like a man in scrubs, in a hallway, in a hospital, bumping my shoulder, in the small, specific, very specific way that is the entire thing. I think: Discreet is going to be the hardest rule we have ever broken. I think: we are going to break it constantly. I think: I am going to be a person who breaks rules. I am going to be a person who breaks rules with this man.

“It was under seal.” Noah’s eyes widened. “So they broke a rule.” “Yes,” I said quietly. “They broke a big one.” Noah swallowed hard. “Then that’s… good?” Good. The wrong word, but I understood what he meant. A broken rule creates consequences. “Yes,” I said. “It’s proof of desperation.” My phone buzzed—counsel. “We saw it,” counsel said immediately. “Do not engage. Do not report from your personal account. We’re moving through compliance channels. This is a violation.”

When she applied the stencil, her fingers smoothed over my ribs, pressing the design of wild roses and thorns into my flesh. “Look in the mirror,” she ordered. I turned. The purple lines curved beautifully along my side, following the line of my breast down toward my hip. It looked bold and dangerous. Maybe this could add an identity that had been missing from my body. Raven picked up her machine. The buzz filled the room like an angry wasp. “First rule,” she said, one hand firmly bracing my hip. “You don’t apologize for your reactions. Pain is honest. If you need to cry, cry. If you need to scream, scream. Your safeword is ‘red.’ Say it.”

But nothing happens, and no words exist. Groaning, Sebastian grabs my arm and pulls me out of the bar and away from the spectacle. I don’t talk at first, embarrassed that Sebastian had to come to my rescue tonight. But something comes to mind as I look back on the card game. “Was that last card going to be a King, too?” Sebastian doesn’t look at me. “Yes. Not everyone follows the rules that others respect. Some use the universe to their advantage.” I fall silent, my mind swimming with a collection of thoughts that I can’t control.

But his voice made me halt in my steps. “Also, don’t forget rule No. 3. I won’t forgive you if you break it. Go” he warned. I nodded, my mind racing as I swallowed hard. As I walked down the hallway towards the stairs, rule No. 3 kept on repeating itself in my head. “Never fall in love” that was the rule. But little did my father know that I had long broken the rule and the fear of what he might do once he found out, gripped me.