Darius never takes his eyes off me—whether I want it or not.
I felt him the moment we returned to campus. The bond pulled tight, alerting me to his presence even before I saw him.
He stood near the main building, arms crossed, watching as Caleb's car pulled up to the dormitories. His eyes locked onto me immediately, tracking my every movement.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the quad, turning the brick buildings amber-gold. Students moved between classes in clusters, their laughter and conversation creating a background hum that felt too normal, too ordinary for the tension crackling in the air. The autumn wind carried the scent of dying leaves and wood smoke from the dining hall's fireplaces.
"He's here," Caleb said quietly, following my gaze.
"I know."
"Want me to walk you to your room?"
"No. I can handle him."
But even as I said it, I felt the bond throb with Darius's emotions. Fury. Possessiveness. And underneath it all, hurt so raw it made my chest ache.
