Lori had woken early, splashed cold water on her face, and studied her reflection in the small mirror above her desk. Dark circles still shadowed her eyes—she hadn't slept well, not since Iva had dropped the bomb that had shattered her world into pieces.
But today, she had told herself, today she would focus. Today she would be normal. Today she would attend her classes and take her notes and pretend that her fated mate wasn't the most intimidating man on campus.
She had almost believed it.
After her breakfast with Iva, she walked into her next class of Magic Defense.
The classroom was half-full when she arrived, students scattered across the wooden benches, their voices low and sleepy. Lori found her usual seat near the middle—close enough to see the board, far enough to avoid the pro
