Before I can think any further on it, the loud scrape of a chair pulls me from my thoughts.
Milo drops into the seat beside Octavia and casually throws an arm over the back of her chair, his hand briefly brushes her shoulder.
She immediately pushes it away.
His arm falls back without protest, and he only smirks.
Completely unbothered.
“What are you doing here, Markev?” Octavia snaps. “I really can’t find peace anywhere without you somehow appearing.”
“Miss me that much?” Milo replies easily.
Her glare darkens.
Before she can answer, more figures enter the dining hall.
My breath catches.
Hunter.
My heart immediately loses its rhythm the moment my eyes land on him.
I’ve always found it strange how he dines with us and lives in the dorm building beside ours despite being faculty.
But I suppose being part of the Ferrum Syndicate means the rules don’t really apply to him.
The atmosphere in the dining hall changes the moment they step inside.
Especially among the girls.
Some openly stare while others smile brightly in an obvious attempts to catch their attention.
Hunter notices none of it.
His eyes lock directly on me as he walks towards our table with that same calm confidence that somehow makes him even more intimidating.
My eyes travel over him for a brief second before I quickly look away and focus on the table instead.
Unfortunately for me, Hunter notices everything.
Which means he definitely catches me checking him out because a sly smile immediately appears on his mouth.
He takes a seat directly in front of me, and almost as if on cue, the rest of the food arrives.
I am grateful for the distraction.
I pick up my spoon and finally focus on my açai bowl, more than happy for something to occupy my attention besides him.
But even without looking at him, I can feel his eyes burn through the side of my face.
Arlo sits beside Ophelia, his expression edged as usual, though I catch something else there too.
Something that almost looks like longing.
“Viper,” Isaak says.
“Devil,” Adelaide replies, a flash of hatred crosses her eyes.
