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~Valerie's POV~
"It's not a favour. It's just understanding from my perspective and not the world's view."
His jaw worked for a mont. Then he let out a humourless laugh. "You think he's doing this for justice? He's doing this for power, Valerie. They all are. The mont you take down a throne, soone else fights to sit on it."
I stayed silent.
He turned his head slightly, looking at . "You always do this," he said softly. "You care too much."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"When it gets you hurt," he said. "Yes."
The silence that followed was heavy, the kind that carried more than words could.
Finally, I said, "Maybe caring is what keeps from becoming what I'm supposed to hate."
His expression flickered, sothing unreadable passing through it, before he looked away again.
Inside, the faint sound of laughter drifted from Dominic's suite.
Dristan's hand brushed mine briefly before pulling back. "Co on," he said quietly. "Let's go back in before soone starts asking questions."
I nodded, forcing myself to follow him. But as we walked, my eyes lingered on the door we passed, the one with Dominic Harvey's naplate on it.
Bravo.
—
The ride back to the academy was quieter than I expected. The city lights bled into the night as they passed, flickering across Dristan's face—the golds, the silvers, and the fading blue—and for a mont, I forgot how to breathe.
He had one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting lazily between us.
His knuckles flexed every now and then, tendons shifting beneath his skin. It shouldn't have been captivating, but it was.
Everything about him lately felt magnified—the curve of his jaw, the way his hair fell into his eyes...
"You were too quiet back there," he said.
"Was I?" I murmured.
"You were." His tone softened. "It's the sa look you get when you're carrying sothing heavy and pretending it's nothing."
I gave a weak smile, staring out the window. "You overthink."
"Only when it cos to you," he said without missing a beat.
I turned to him then, just as he glanced at . Our eyes t for a second too long, long enough for my chest to tighten and my pulse to betray . I looked away first.
When the car rolled to a stop in front of my dormitory, the night seed to still around us. The air was crisp, the moon spilling silver light across the path.
It reminded of our first date when we kissed in his car—the one that got spiraling in school much later.
Dristan got out first and ca around to open my door, always the gentleman, even when he was trying not to be. I hesitated before stepping out, and when I did, he stood too close.
Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him and sll the faint trace of his perfu clinging to his clothes.
"Thank you," I said quietly, unsure if I ant for the ride, the dinner, or just… for being there.
He tilted his head slightly. "You don't have to thank for that, Valerie."
"Well, I still am."
I turned, but his hand shot out—fingers brushing against my wrist. The touch was feather-light, almost hesitant, yet enough to still in my place. I held my breath for a second there..
"Dristan…"
"I don't like how he looked at you," he said in a low voice, a little rougher than usual.
"Who?" I asked even though I already knew.
"Dominic Harvey," he said, almost spitting the na. "The way he spoke to you… the way his eyes lingered. I didn't like it."
"You think I did?"
"No," he said, stepping closer until his shadow rged with mine. "But I also think you underestimate how much that affects ."
His hand was still at my wrist, fingers grazing my skin in slow, thoughtless circles. Every brush of his thumb sent a slight jolt through . My heart thudded a little too loudly, and I prayed he couldn't hear it.
"Dristan," I whispered, not trusting my voice to hold steady. "We're outside." I almost facepald at my own stupid excuse.
I should be creating space between him and and sticking to Ace, but I gave the first stupid excuse that crossed my mind.
"I know." His lips curved, but his eyes burned—that dark, stormy blue that always made it hard to think straight. "And I'm not doing anything."
"Good."
He leaned in a little, close enough that his breath fanned against my cheek, warm against the cool air. "But you're thinking about it."
My throat tightened. "You're insufferable."
He smiled, that slow, knowing smile that made sothing twist low in my stomach. "You make it too easy."
I stepped back, barely, and his hand fell away from mine. The loss of contact felt too sharp. I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. "Goodnight, Dristan."
He inclined his head slightly, eyes tracing my face as if trying to morise sothing there. "Goodnight, Valerie."
I turned and started walking toward my dorm, every step calm, or at least pretending to be. But when I reached the door and looked back, he was still there, hands in his pockets, watching like he didn't want to leave.
For a mont, neither of us moved. The air between us humd, charged with all the words we didn't say and all the things we couldn't do.
Then he gave one last look, a small smirk, before turning and heading back to his car.
I stood there until the taillights disappeared into the dark, my heart still racing like he'd kissed even though he hadn't.
As soon as I was sure there was no one in sight, I made a beeline for one of the gardens, sowhere I could talk without anyone eavesdropping.
Quickly, I sent a ssage to my cousin, Storm, about needing his help urgently.
I never expected him to be available for a call, but when my phone vibrated in my hands, I exhaled deeply and picked it up.
"Hey, cuz. How are you?"
"Evening, Valerie. What's wrong?"
"Good evening, Storm. I… I need your help."
"Yes, I got that. So, spill. What do you need my help for?"
"To kill a man."
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