me B

r, for games, for the art of destr

e irritated him when he felt like exerting his control. The students of Ravenwood had long si

ght into his world and challeng

d

was

e didn't k

et is

amien's closest circle gathered in their private lounge-the

Velvet curtains lined the walls, deep and heavy, muting the outside world. Dark leather cha

les didn

ther di

shadows over his aristocratic features. His fingers played wit

mien carefully, "what's the d

aled slowl

nked as he swirled it, h

t, knowing laugh. "I have to admit, Vale, I've never see

ipple of amusement cutti

, "she's not as brea

itation burned i

aka

e was b

ight kind of pressure,

gaze, his dark eyes

wil

stion. It wasn'

as a

retched fo

rked. "I bet yo

oom s

rling her glass, her gaz

ing as he tapped the coin against the

rds we

ale never ig

n," she sighed, rolling her eyes, "we

his gaze locked o

eached for his drink, taking a slow sip, his fi

e a damn abou

t

t defiant gaze, with the way she had looked at

know who she w

th

s unacc

lbows resting on his kn

ien's mouth curle

leaming. "Alright. Let

it effortlessly. "If you win, you g

t any yacht- it was the Specter multimillion-dollar beast that Jaxon'

pting

n't care about

d about prov

ed. "And if

drink down. Unm

won

ed at the finali

that, the de

me had

Firs

tient when he

had done with so many before her. He could have made her cry within t

would be

amien

to watch hi

he did som

wai

e dining hall incident had been a fluk

, he ignored h

ances in t

ing re

th

in itself,

e she

ispers followed her a l

became vacant when people who had spoken to

seemed warm on the first day, grew

all, she n

group, laughing carelessly, never

infur

rif

-the open cruelty she had been expecti

the fourth da

ckm

dusk when Ivy foun

ry when she heard them-the quiet footste

't panic

hugging her books to her chest,

e academy was alway

, she w

d ahead of her, l

urned the corner,

the wall, his posture cas

somewhe

ulse

idn't let

a slow breath and

eepened. "T

. Too close. The scent of expensive cologne,

urmured, tilting his head slightl

books tightened. "

berate-and brushed a stray

don't be

. I was thinking the

thing flickered in his gaze-surpr

he l

rk. Dan

y," he

secret, like a sin-sent a slow r

going t

ing feeling, that she had jus