Zara POV
The morning air felt crisp, carrying the faint scent of rain from the night before. I pushed open the heavy oak dorm door, already bracing myself for whatever the day would throw at me. And then I saw him.
Zarek. Leaning casually against the doorway as if he owned the morning itself, his jacket slung over one shoulder, that smug grin plastered across his face. Of course, he was here. Of course, he wouldn’t miss this.
“Good morning, Blackwood,” he said, voice low and teasing, almost theatrical, as if announcing me to the world. “The newest celebrity of Blackwood Academy.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Can you stop? This isn’t funny!”
He didn’t move, didn’t even flinch. His grin widened. “Oh, it’s funny. It’s hilarious. Everyone already knows who you
