ng, lockers slamming shut. Elias barely heard any of it. His h

y

n't just how stunning she looked though she was impossible to ignore it was the way s

nked... he felt

g, half-laughing, half-warning. "Are you

ed, long and shaky.

he new girl? Dark hair, eyes like she could kill you

his bag higher on his sh

rin. "Terrifying? Mysterious? D

ldn't hide the smirk tugging at

y started down the hall. "You've never looked at

seven

ain teased.

e kept her face calm, her shoulders drawn tight. Dareon was al

g," he murmured wit

are," Nyxa r

And he sta

rd Elias's direction-he was disappearing into a c

she said

t say an

hinking t

shimmered like melting metal. "So, are we pretending this is norma

not crushing. I ju

e or to yourself, I

it m

jaw tight. "It does if it mean

answer. But because she was afraid that if she opene

lenty of boys who looked at her. Some were foolish eno

a conquest. He looked at her like... she matter

was

untouched. His eyes scanned the cafeteria aga

e he wanted to burn the entire cafeteria down

again," Kain said betwe

as said immediately,

. "You are s

d into his hands. "Wh

a girl. I

've never felt this way before. Like

y. "Sometimes, you just me

his brother. "You

usual teasing grin

say more, but he didn'

round her plate, not eating. Dareon leaned i

respond. Her gaze had drifte

... he

ant thing. But

ing in her chest. That smile had no rig

eon's eyes burned into h

happeni

his locker trying not to over

ew student. It wasn't like they'd even talked. But it felt lik

, she was there. Just a

fro

did

said anything. The hallway h

voice quiet and sharp like v

wallowe

ark hair behind her ear.

eah. I mean, y

g down, then back up. "Y

ew months

terd

led. "Well, welcome to Ashridge H

ed, faint but real

, then winced. "Sorry I didn

ser. Her eyes didn't shine they glowed

ly talk to peo

ugged. "M

etween them light,

ther?" he asked suddenly

nswer right

ka

, his fingers twitching like he wanted to claw som

girlfriend," K

ok at him. "She'

t she c

uld be a

ow. "You think y

glowing faintly gold. "You

on't know

a moment two predators

both tur

walked in silence. The sky was over

storms?"

ntly. "Only when

at him. "Y

do you

ed against his by accident. He flinched. Not in

said. "Something jus

said softly

ed at the

tomorrow?

ed, then no

watched her walk away like he

eet, Dareon watched the