He hadn’t raised his voice, but somehow, the weight of his words carried. He was watching them now, his expression casual as he leaned back in his chair.

  Jorvan scoffed, pushing back his chair as he stood, the wood scraping across the stone. He strode toward Varek with an air of entitlement, his sneer growing more pronounced. "And what would you know about earning a place here, Mudcrawler?" A collective gasp ran through the crowd, and hushed whispers spread like wildfire. Varek didn’t so much as blink about the insult. “Enough.”

  Kaelin rolled her eyes, exasperation flashing across her face. Without hesitation, she stood, walking over to Jorvan, and grabbed his shoulder, attempting to turn him away from Varek with a firm grip.

  Jorvan, a third-year student trained in combat since he was six reacted instinctively. His hand shot out as he turned and grabbed Kaelin’s wrist and twisting it, pulling her sharply against him. Fury flared in his eyes as he hissed, "You’re defending him? What, are you two lovers now? A Nerys stooping that low—pathetic."

  A small gasp escaped her as Jorvan’s grip tightened, his words searing into her pride,trying to ignore the pain that shot up her arm. Heat crawled over her cheeks, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, defiant. "Who I choose to be with is none of your concern, Jorvan. Let. Me. Go." she grit out between clenched teeth.

  Varek lazily brushed the crumbs from his hands, exhaling a sigh as he patted his Flare and she gradually retreated. Still seated, he moved with sudden precision—one hand wrapping around Jorvan’s wrist in an iron grip until her let her go, the other sliding to Kaelin’s hip, pulling her onto his lap with effortless control. His storm-gray eyes locked onto Jorvan’s, voice low and unwavering. "Like she said, it's her choice."

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  While Jorvan stomped away, muttering another insult, Varek leaned in closer, his breath warm against her temple, a gesture that felt far too intimate for having just met. He plucked a piece of fruit from the plate, his fingers deft and unhurried, before holding it up for her. Too stunned to protest, Kaelin parted her lips, and her breath hitched as her mouth brushed his fingertips.

  "We've got to stop meeting like this, Starling," he murmured near her ear, the name laced with amusement. "I can't always save you."

  Heat curled low in her belly as he pulled her slightly closer, his arm still loosely wrapped around her waist.

  A hundred thoughts raced through her mind. She should have pulled away. She should have said something biting and clever. Instead, she sat there, heart pounding, mouth dry.

  Why did he keep getting under her skin like this? Why did her body betray her when he got close? She wasn’t some lovestruck girl—she was Kaelin Nerys. She didn’t get flustered. Not by anyone.

  And yet, her fingers trembled where they rested on his chest, his arm still loosely wrapped around her waist. "I'm not—" she started, but he pressed another piece of fruit to her lips. The sweet scent of starberry filled her senses, and as the burst of flavor coated her tongue, she groaned softly. Juice dribbled over his fingers, and without thinking, she caught his wrist, guiding his hand to her mouth as she sucked the juice away.

  The moment stretched between them, tension threading thick in the air. Varek just sat there not moving a muscle.

  Liora cleared her throat. “Alright, well, this has been fun to watch,” she said brightly, grabbing Kaelin’s arm. “But we have actual things to do today, don’t we, Kaelin?”

  Kaelin's eyes snapped to her. “Right. We were going to see the Moonbloom in the greenhouse.” Almost guiltily, she glanced back at him. Liora pulled her up, tugging her toward the exit. But as they stepped out of the hall, Kaelin couldn’t resist one last look over her shoulder.

  Varek was still watching her. He popped a piece of starberry into his mouth, his lips curling into an infuriatingly smug grin. Then he winked, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying how flustered she was.