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With a rough and deep voice, he said, “Say the word, Winters. For you, I’ll break every fucking rule there is.”

With that, he disappeared into the night, and Mira swallowed hard as everyone around her stared.

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Mira’s lips still tingled from the kiss when the world around her came back into focus.

Ella couldn’t stop smirking at her, while Oliver awkwardly cleaned his glasses on his shirt for the third time.

Students around them stared. Perhaps they could tell her what this all meant, because she had no idea.

“So.” Ella looked downright giddy. “I officially no longer believe you when you say there’s nothing going on between you two. Not that I ever did, but now I am grateful to be proven right.”

Her head spinning, Mira collected her coat and walked to the nearest exit, bracing for the cold winter air.

“He is besotted with you,” Ella continued, catching up with her.

“No, I think he saw it as a dare.” She had challenged Dawson by telling him he followed Obryn’s rules. He had chosen to prove her wrong in the most public way possible.

She flipped her coin and was back at the entrance to Ivercrest. Ella and Oliver popped up seconds later.

Ella groaned. “A blind man could see that he likes you. Back me up on this.” She shoved her elbow into Oliver, who once again looked so uncomfortable he might combust.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, very obvious.”

They passed through the gate, and Mira hoped students here hadn’t seen the kiss.

“It’s Aidric Dawson,” Mira reminded her friend. “It’s probably a game to him or something.”

“The way he looked at you when he walked across the foyer…” Ella fanned herself.

Somewhere, she could picture Aidric smirking. Bastard.

Her friend sighed. “At least tell me the sex is as good as that kiss looked.”

“Ella, please,” Oliver yelped, scandalized.

“Don’t be such a prude,” Ella scolded.

“I adore you, but if you mention the words sex and Dawson in the same sentence, I might have to put a silencing spell on you.”

Ella shrugged. “From what I saw in your office—”

Mira tried actively not to think about that. Nor the night in the library.

Oliver took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, as if that would make the conversation go away. “Spheres, help me.”

Ella laughed, enjoying his growing discomfort. In that regard, she would get along great with Aidric. “Taking off your glasses won’t shield your ears from this conversation.”

“Perhaps not, but I’m hoping I can pretend I’m not here.”

She waved a hand at her boyfriend. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic.”

“It is no exaggeration to say that, if this conversation continues, I will perish from high levels of mortification.”

Ella cackled. “Death by having to hear about Dawson’s cock?”

Oliver’s face fell into his hands, and he muffled a scream. Mira chuckled.