Enzo
Blair carriedher bag as she followed me outside and across the courtyard. The pinks and reds of the setting sun burned into the sky around us.
My jaw hurt from clenching it harder with every step.
I was breaking every rule I’d ever set for myself.
I’d kissed her. I was spending my free time with her. Hell, I was spending all my time thinking about her.
When I first saw Blair, she was alone and unprotected. I viewed that as a weakness.
But now? The thought of anyone else standing beside her created dark thoughts in my head. Because if someone was going to be by her side, it was going to be me.
Even in my first year, when having a Fawn felt like owning a shiny toy, I’d never become attached like this.
Truth was, deep down, I hadn’t even liked those Fawns. They’d been nothing more than a convenience.
Blair was supposed to mean nothing to me, like them. Yet here I was, making sure she slept and taking her out in public with me.
I led her past the greenhouse and toward the edge of the woods.
The farther we walked from campus, the quieter everythinggot. When the small cemetery came into view, that same lost look was on Blair’s face.
While I’d managed to be a bit more patient with Blair, the girl was still so damn slow. I reached back, caught her hand, and tugged her forward beside me.
When she fell in step next to me, I should’ve dropped her hand, but I kept them interlaced as we walked between tall headstones, their polished surfaces just as meticulously cared for as the tunnels below us. Saint Vale’s greatest contributors were buried there.
Gravel crunched below our feet, and we didn’t stop until we reached the hidden garden. A small gate stood between two narrow stone columns at the entrance.
Saint Vale’s crest was carved into each one withHortus Electaebeneath it.
The Garden of the Chosen One.
I pushed the gate open, and we entered the garden, where a building sat at its center.
Blair’s innocence showed as she slowly turned in a circle, taking in the garden in awe.
I had to admit, the place was nice.
It was secluded from campus, and the most peaceful spot at Saint Vale. Small fountains bubbled between winding stone paths, iron benches, and flowers that stayed colorful all year-round.
We followed the path into the thick of the garden, passing a pair of doe statues standing watch along the walkway before we reached the First Benefactors Building.
According to Saint Vale’s history, the First Benefactors Building was the first structure on campus, where the original four families had once lived.
Now, they claimed it served as a place to preserve the university’s history and was always locked because that was a lie.
Only the Current Sons, Elders, and Fawns had access to this building.
The Elders and Current Sons’ entrance sat on one side. Itconnected to the underground parking lot. The Fawns’ entrance was on the opposite end, the one facing the gardens.
Blair kept opening her mouth like she wanted to ask me something, but the question never came. Her hand squeezed mine when we neared a door.
I gave it a squeeze back, then let go and reached into my pocket to pull out her access card.
Back when there was no technology, they used skeleton keys, but we’ve progressed beyond that, thank God. Now, everyone had their own access cards.
“Here.” I handed her the card. “This is yours. Don’t lose it.”
