SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Water closed over Camille's head. Cold. So cold it burned

her skin. She kicked toward the surface, arms flailing, lungs

screaming for air. But something held her

down, hands gripping her ankles, dragging her deeper into the darkness.

She looked down. Rose stared back at her, grinning, her hair floating around her

face like seaweed. Beside her, Herod Preston, his

eyes flat and lifeless as a shark's. They pulled

harder. The pressure in Camille's chest built to unbearable levels.

She opened her mouth to scream, but only bubbles escaped as water rushed in..

Camille jolted upright in bed, gasping. Her

nightgown stuck to her skin, soaked with sweat. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Then the familiar outlines of her bedroom at the Kane mansion took shape in the darkness.

Just a dream. The same dream that had haunted her for months after Rose's betrayal. The one Victoria's training had eventually banished.

Until now.

Camille switched on the bedside lamp, chasing away the shadows. The digital

clock read 3:17 AM. She pushed back the tangled sheets and

moved to the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. Below, the estate's gardens

stretched out, security lights casting strange patterns across the manicured lawns. Beyond the gates, Manhattan glittered in the distance.

This was the third night in a row the nightmare had returned. Each time more

vivid. Each time harder to shake off.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Alexander's text: *Awake?*

How did he always know? Camille typed back: *Bad dream again.*

Three dots appeared immediately. *Coming over. Kitchen. Hot chocolate.*

A small smile touched her lips

despite the lingering dread from the nightmare. Alexander

had developed an almost supernatural sense for when she couldn't sleep. Since their visit to his childhood home, since

that first real kiss their connection had deepened into something that sometimes

frightened her with its intensity.

Camille pulled on a silk robe and padded barefoot down the mansion's

grand staircase. The

house was silent except for the occasional creak of settling wood and the

soft footsteps of security guards patrolling outside.

In the kitchen, she switched on a single light and filled the kettle. Alexander would

arrive in exactly twelve minutes. He always did, no matter

what time she texted. One of the many mysteries about him she

hadn't solved yet.

As she reached for mugs in the cabinet, a movement in the garden caught her eye.

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Chapter 106

Camille froze, staring out the window. Nothing but shifting shadows from the trees.

Yet something felt... wrong. The hairs on her arms stood up.

She moved away from

the window, suddenly aware of how exposed she was in the

lit kitchen. Victoria's training kicked in automatically. Assess the threat. Minimize vulnerability. Create advantage.

The kettle began to whistle. Camille switched it off and backed toward the pantry.

as her fingers found the light switch, the kitchen door swung open.

Just

"Security sweep is clear."

Camille

with relief at the sound of Alexander's voice. He stood in the doorway, his expression shifting from alert to concerned when he saw

crossed to

garden. Just shadows." Camille tried to smile. "The nightmares have

didn't look convinced. He

scanning the grounds with practiced eyes. "Security has been doubled since yesterday.

asked, resuming her preparation of hot chocolate.

her at

something. She

wait until the Grid

what?" The nightmare's lingering dread intensified. "Alexander,

the mug

been buying Kane Industries

Just over five

"A takeover

"Unlikely

sixty percent, and I recently purchased ten percent myself." Alexander held her gaze. “But it suggests

the Grid."

too small, too

around her mug,

started the same day Victoria discovered

"I didn't know about it, but somehow I...

dismiss this as superstition, as most

your conscious mind misses. Victoria's

to the breakfast nook, sitting across from each

the night pressed against the

26

Chapter 106

me about the nightmare,"

drowning. Rose is pulling me down.

with her." She looked

There's this sense of... running

of time."

Alexander

the table, taking her hand. The contact anchored her, driving back the nightmare's ghostly

should

engineering team found another layer of sabotage in

sophisticated than

installed by someone with higher security clearance than

"Who?"

Greene. Her

like a

had been

helped train Camille

of

whispered. "He's

apparent loyalty. Which makes the betrayal all the

away, no longer interested in its

Greene is working with

have a serious security breach. He knows everything, security protocols, the Grid

about..." She paused, a

about me. About who I

"Victoria has

communicating with Herod or Rose,

too late." Camille stood, suddenly

to move more aggressively.

wants to wait. Use Greene to lead us

we wait, they're planning something

her nightmare's urgency transferring to her

"The Grid sabotage. The

all connected, but

abruptly at the window,

into the darkness. The garden lights cast long

shapes that seemed to shift and move with

haven't uncovered yet?" she asked

so

at the window. "What are

about Rose," Camille

careful. Methodical. Her

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Chapter 106

took years

shook her head. "Victoria says he's

decade. People like that don't

"Victoria's releasing false information

a major partnership between

to make Herod react."

nodded. "Smart. But I'm

the refrigerator, pulling out milk to

the milk in a pan, her mind raced through

said suddenly. "When did

the counter beside her.

according to Victoria's

Rose connected with Herod," Camille noted. "Before the

"Yes. Which suggests...."

Camille finished.

of her connection

he followed her logic. "So

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