Evaline:
I was reaching out to pick up the mask when I found him smiling, and it wasn’t the usual warm one he gave people.
This one... was different.
It was teasing. Amused. Like he was trying hard not to laugh.
Amused because of... ?
I blinked, unsure how to react, when he finally spoke.
"I never knew you were that talented in cosplay," he said, lifting the mask off the table with two fingers and dangling it gently. "But thanks to your ’precautions,’ there are fewer chances any of those students chasing after you would have recognized you."
My face heated instantly, but I wasn’t sure whether to be proud or embarrassed.
"I was just... being careful," I muttered, curling my fingers around the warm glass of water in my hands.
He chuckled softly and leaned back against the couch, his expression shifting into sothing gentler.
"Did any of them see your face?"
His tone was casual, but I caught the subtle tension in his jaw. The question wasn’t random. It mattered... because if soone had seen , then things were about to get even more complicated than they already were.
I took a mont to think.
"No," I said, more confidently than I felt. "I kept my hood up the entire ti. And I didn’t lose my mask until I was almost out of their reach. I don’t think anyone got a good look at . Besides, it was dark in there."
He visibly relaxed. His fingers tapped against the arm of the couch as he gave a small nod.
"Good."
We sat in silence for a few long monts after that. The kind that wasn’t uncomfortable, just... thoughtful.
The warmth from the honey water had begun to spread through my limbs, settling the worst of my tension. And as the adrenaline of the night slowly faded from my veins, I could finally think more clearly.
"Did you recognize anyone?" He asked suddenly, his voice low but alert.
I was about to shake my head when sothing flickered across my mind - a vague mory. A face. Two, actually.
"I didn’t catch any nas," I admitted, "other than Carson’s... but the two students I saw in the corridor this afternoon when I overheard that conversation, they were both second years. I know I have seen them before. And I think... I might recognize one or two of the students who entered the tower."
His eyes lit up with sothing sharp... purpose.
"That’s good. Really good."
He stood from the couch with renewed energy and began pacing in a tight circle, muttering under his breath before looking at again.
"Co to my office tomorrow evening," he said, suddenly all business. "After your shift ends at headquarters. I’ll have the digital files ready - the profile records for all second, third, and final years. We’ll go through them together. You point out anyone you saw. Even one ID could give us a thread to pull."
I nodded, slowly absorbing that we finally might have a lead to work on.
He moved closer again, crouching slightly to et my eyes. "And Evaline..." His voice dropped, almost into a whisper. "You can’t do anything like this again. Not without telling . Not without backup. You have to promise ."
I looked at him, really looked, and saw not the professor, not the Alpha... but a protector. The one who had already saved tonight.
"I promise," I whispered. "No more solo missions."
That seed to satisfy him. He exhaled and gestured for to stand.
"Co on," he said. "I’ll walk you back. You need sleep. And you have that internship shift tomorrow."
Together, we slipped out of the apartnt and into the quiet halls of the administrative building. He led through another hidden tunnel, this one narrower and damper. The walls were cool to the touch and lined with stone. The silence between us wasn’t awkward. It felt almost sacred, like sothing had shifted tonight between us for the better, sothing quiet but lasting.
When we finally stepped out into the small garden tucked behind the dormitory building, the world felt still. The clouds had rolled in thick overhead, masking the moon, and the air was bitingly cold.
Kieran stopped a few steps before the side dorm entrance and turned to face .
"I an it," he said, voice barely above the wind. "You scared tonight, Evaline."
I gave him a tight smile as I confessed, "I scared myself too."
He looked at , with sothing unreadable in his expression. Then, softly, he spoke, "But you were brave. And reckless. And that combination’s going to be the death of ."
My smile instantly beca bigger and I looked down at my shoes.
"I really do an it," I said, glancing back up. "Thank you. For saving ."
He was about to respond when sothing light and cold landed on my nose. I blinked.
Then another soft, weightless touch on my cheek.
I tilted my head up, and my lips parted with a gasp.
Snow.
Tiny white flakes were floating gently from the sky, swirling around us like feathers.
"It’s snowing," I breathed, holding my hand out as one flake lted on my palm. "The first snow."
He looked up as well, his face cast in the soft silver light reflected by the clouds. A few snowflakes were dusting his shoulders and the ends of his hair.
"Guess winter decided to arrive tonight."
"It’s beautiful," I whispered and looked down at him.
He gave a small smile and nodded. "It is." But he wasn’t looking at the snow.
We stood like that for another mont - him in silence, and grinning like a little kid seeing snow for the first ti.
Then, reluctantly, I took a step back toward the gate. "I should go."
"Yeah," he said softly. "I’ll wait until you are inside."
I turned back one last ti before stepping into the hallway. The snow was already falling faster now, catching on the edge of his coat, his hair, the tips of his lashes.
And for a second... I wished I could just stand out there with him. Forget the mystery. Forget the shadows and secrets and dangers in the dark.
But I had a long day at work awaiting . So I quickly headed to my dorm.
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