st day memorizing the labyrinthine hallways, figuring out the unspoken rules of the elit

ng smoothly until a wron

er mind preoccupied with finding her next class. The moment she ro

ed by a sinking feeling in her gut as they tumbled to the floor. The sharp sound of pag

ts lingering nearby. Conver

collective intake of breath before s

en V

st proudly over his chest. Jet-black hair fell in careless waves over his forehead, framing dark eyes that studied her with an

, the silen

m. And yet, here she was an outsider, a scholarship

s lips, the kind that sent chi

ced with something far more dangerous. "Looks like o

rom the onlookers. Ivy forced herself to stand tall des

used to

scent of his cologne-clean, crisp, with an edge of something darker wrapped around her senses, makin

. She wouldn't give

electric current that passed bet

se, flipping through the pages as if her possessions were nothing more than fleeting amusements to h

voice a velvet trap,

playing. But leaving it untouched would only make things worse. Gritting her teeth, she reache

n's eyes. Amusement? Curiosi

ned. "You're go

down Ivy's spine. It wasn't a com

s a p

tepped forward to help, no one dared interfere. It was as if she had been marked from that m

ill playing on his lips. The students around them seemed to hold their breath, waiting

her books tightly, turned on her heel, and walked a

hall, she could still feel h

had only

-

llowed her through the hallways, fleeting glances darted her way before quickly looki

ath she hadn't realized she was holding. The towering bookshelves surro

along the spine of her notebook, trying to push the encount

going t

ved her more-the quiet threat laced in his tone or t

. She had no intention of playing wh

ld her she would

himself stepping inside. His presence filled the quiet space instantly, drawing subtle, wary glances from the othe

eath h

ually tucked into his pockets. The air around

vely smooth, laced with mockery. "You mus

ing around her pen. "Some of us work for our education

fiance amusing. He reached out, his fingers grazing the edge of her note

way, leaving behind an invisible

She had hoped the encounter that morning had been a on

wasn't done