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Standing stock-still as students flow past me, I hear my own heartbeat in my ears.Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Ba-boom.I burn to shove him in the chest, to feel the hard muscles under my fingertips. I’d curl my nails in, claw his hot flesh till I drew blood. That would teach him a lesson.
His shoulders bunch and biceps flex as he casually picks at the food on the tray beside him, brows drawn in concentration. I glance down at his plate. He’s pushing his food into three distinct groups based on color. I frown, but briskly shake my head.
Focus.
I quickly check my surroundings for Roxie and her crew. Unlike any of these killers, the presence of one of those girls would make me pause.
Nope, she’s nowhere to be found.
I turn my attention back to Lucian, staring daggers at his face until he feels my presence.
His gray eyes lift to me. They glisten like polished steel.
His gaze rakes over me like a physical caress. His scent drifts over me, balsamy and warm. Lush, like a forest of cedar and pine.
Muttering, he returns to his food. He might have mumbled a greeting, but it’s hard to hear above the din of the cafeteria.
My rage seeps out of me. Doubt trickles in. Hedidacknowledge me…in a backpedaling way.
Shit, why is everything so complicated with him?
This is the moment of reckoning; I can either back away slowly and leave well enough alone, or I can take a stand.
I jut out my chin.
Remember the new me?
This is the new me and the new me will not back down.
A stand it is, then.
Clearing my throat, I glance around the table.
Every male has stopped talking and eating; their attention riveted on me.
Damn.
“Why are you here, Star? What do you want?” Lucian taunts.
Then one side of his lips tick up in a mocking smile.
It’s that smile—provoking and spiteful—which brings my fury roaring back and has me blurting out, “The deadline is tomorrow.Tomorrow.”
His eyes widen.
Ha!I smile smugly to myself. He didn’t expect me to confront him.
“You left me hanging for days,” I accuse. “No text. No picking up my calls. No nothing. And now you expect me to do it for you.”
I inhale deeply. “I won’t cheat, I won’t do it.”
I breathe it out slowly. “You better make time to work with me or else you’ll fail. And if you fail, you fail.”
My words came out no louder than a rasp, but he heard them.
Oh, did he hear them.
His face morphs into rage. His unyielding eyes flash silver. A snarl rumbles low in his chest, the printed crest of Empire Academy on his shirt swells and distends over his heart.
