Rose Kaine

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CHAPTER 7

~Spring's POV~

When Eryx pulled up in the sleek black Range Rover in front of the school, I wondered if this was how my days would be from then on.

I slid into the passenger seat, stiff from the day's drama. 

I expected the usual silence on the ride home—Kaius at a meeting, Rhys off to rounds—but instead, Eryx hummed quietly to himself, shifting the gears with ease and definitely not in the kind of accident manner they all said I'd end up in.

My stomach tightened. He'd been so… soft earlier. Was it a show? A test? I didn't trust it yet.

The front door was ajar when we stepped inside, as one of the maids exited in a hurry.

I recalled that particular action from Spring's memories. The maids became like that when one particular little demon was around. 

My breath caught. Rose sat in the living room, legs crossed, lounging on the plush velvet armchair like she owned the place, still in her signature pristine uniform. 

The hem of her skirt was barely wrinkled. Her blonde hair fell perfectly around her shoulders. Her smug little smile said she knew exactly what I'd gone through today.

A familiar flame of anger roared up my throat when I recalled what she had done to Spring, making her fail a class. I forced myself to swallow it, steadying my shoulders. 

My brothers might be pretending. Until I knew whose side they were on, I wouldn't play into her game. I raised my chin and said, "Hello, Rose."

She tilted he rhead to teh side and immediately anger surged in her eyes as she rose to her feet and walked over to meet me.

Her eyes checked me out swiftly before bringing her gaze to my face, and she scoffed. 

"So here's teh feisty little whore. Let's see if you'll remain so when I am done with you."

Her smile sharpened. Without warning, she swung her hand and slapped me across the cheek.

Shock and heat flooded me. Reflex took over. I slapped her back—harder, with both hands. 

The crack of skin on skin echoed in the room. Rose's mouth fell open. She staggered but didn't fall.

A scream tore from her throat. Then the front door slammed—

"What the hell is going on?"

Eryx stood in the doorway, eyes wide. His gaze darted between us, his arms tensing at his sides.

Rose melted into the familiar role she loved best: victim. She stumbled forward and threw herself against Eryx's chest, wrapping her arms around him. "Eryx, punish her! She hit me first!" Her voice quivered with false fear.

Eryx wrapped an arm around Rose's shoulders, but he didn't pull her into a strict embrace. Instead, he released a soft breath and looked at me, his eyes calm. "Rose, what happened?" he asked, voice measured.

I drew in a cool breath. For a moment, I thought he'd side with her, that the old pattern would repeat. But then I saw something—an unreadable flash in his amber eyes. It gave me a sliver of courage.

Rose's grip tightened. "She—she just attacked me! I was sitting here, minding my own business—" She cut off into a whimper.

Eryx glanced at Rose, then at me. His arms dropped to his sides. "Spring," he said quietly, "tell me your side."

I drew myself up. "She slapped me for no reason." My voice was steady. "I came in, saw her here, and she—she hit me."

Rose flared, but Eryx held up a hand.

He looked back at Rose, gentle but firm. "If you'd walked into the living room and seen Spring first, you could have told me. But you chose to strike her. That's not acceptable." His voice held no accusation toward me.

Rose's mascara ran as tears—real or staged—streamed down her cheeks. She sniffled. "I'm sorry…" Her voice cracked on the last word.

Eryx turned back to me. He dove deeper into his coat pocket and pulled out a soft cloth. "Spring, go freshen up. Wash your cheek." His expression was warm—almost tender.

A pang twisted in my chest. He'd defended me.

Then he fixed his gaze on Rose, his tone shifting to quiet steel. "And you, Rose, stop starting fights. If you can't defend yourself, don't provoke others. If I get another report of you assaulting someone, I will take it to Father."

Rose choked on a sob, nodding vigorously. "I—yes, Eryx. I'm sorry. I won't do it again." She buried her face in the arm of the chair.

Eryx sighed—soft and heavy—then called my name. When I glanced at him, he gave me a small, reassuring nod. I turned and left the room, each step feeling unreal.

***************

Twenty minutes later, I stood in my bedroom, fresh from the shower and wrapped in a towel. Steam curled in the air. My cheek stung pleasantly—proof that Eryx's apology-signal had worked.

The door cracked open and Rose slipped in, eyes narrowed. Her uniform was gone, replaced by a loose silk robe. She didn't knock; she never did.

"I don't know what you did to the boys," she hissed once the door was fully open, "but you better watch your back. I'll make them hate you again, and then they won't protect you."

Her lips curled into a cruel smile. I let her ramble, drying my hair with a towel.

Finally, I turned, dropping the towel just enough to let her see I was calm. "Oh, Rose," I said, voice soft and teasing. "Bring it on."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

I let the towel slip to the floor and stepped toward her, wrapping myself in my robe. "A million fold," I said, voice low. "I'll repay every dirty deed you ever did to me. Starting with that fake love letter you sent."

Rose's face paled. She took a stumbling step back. "You—You can't… you have no evidence!"

I crossed my arms, chin tilted. "Am I right?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came. She swallowed hard and backed away until her shoulder hit the door. Then she turned and fled, robe swirling, tears shining in her eyes.

I closed the door behind her and walked to my desk. My phone sat on top, the box tossed aside. I tapped the playback icon on my recorder app. A clip from the living room, every harsh word she said, every threat, every lie—saved in my voice memo.

Rose's screams, Eryx's calm questions, her confession, her promise.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips.

"Bring it on, bitch."

I hit "Save" and set the phone face up on my desk, the red recording light blinking like the heartbeat of my new truth. Today, Spring Kaine wasn't invisible. Today, I held the power.

And this time, no one could take it away.