“I’mnota princess.” Her foot taps on the hardwood, not at all doing her counterargument any favours.
“Close enough,” I drawl, lifting to my feet and slowly crossing the room. I hadn’t paid much attention in the mansion’s kitchen, but she’s about Anastasia’s height, which, according to my sister, is average for a woman. Still, she’s shorter than me, though Ana claims I’m simply tall.
Coming closer was a mistake. Why did I? When my nostrils flood with peach and vanilla, it becomes a horrifying fact this will be my immediate future. There’s no escaping it when her scent will travel back home with me, probably clinging to my clothes for months to come.
Blyat.
Her teeth snap together, like a little chihuahua—all energy in a small form. “As I was saying, I don’t?—”
“Want me here, I get it,” I cut her off with a wave of my hand. “Seems it’s not an option for the time being, and we both have a job to do. Go about your life and pretend I’m not here. Attend classes, be a good student, do your homework. I promise to stay in the background. You won’t even notice I’m here.”
Her eyes scan me, her form slumping on her next exhale. “Why’d you agree to do this?”
“For Vanessa.” A partial lie. “Same question. Why did you ask for me?”
“Zeno was insistent on protection.I, someone with zero training, got away from his soldiers. If Z’s ‘internal issue’—whatever the fuck that means—is as bad as he claims, I wanted someone trustworthy. I got kidnapped under his guys’ watch, while you took a bullet for me.” Her gaze flicks to my shoulder, which sometimes still aches if leaned on. She licks her lower lip, and when she speaks again, it’s without the venom, reminding me of the woman who sat by my bedside. “You saved my life, Lev. During a terrifying moment,youwere the safe one. Maybe that’s a trauma bond or something, but either way…that’s why.”
Papa would be proud. Not for saving a Mancini—no, he’d probably kill me for that—but for showing my worth outside of my knowledge of technology. For using my strength from surviving prison for something he’d deem useful. By saving Serafina, and putting aside Vanessa’s relations with Zeno, we solidified this alliance.
And make no mistake: saving Serafina was probably the worthiest use of said strength. Saving her means she’s here, flickering between glaring and acceptance. She gets to remain alive, unharmed, and attend the school of her dreams.
She rolls her lips before more of the tension winding her body loosens. “Thanks for agreeing. You didn’t have to.”
I tip my head in a silentyou’re welcomebefore returning to the couch.
“You’ll stay out of my way?”
“That’s what I said.” Serafina is clearly one of those people who insists on fact-checking everything.
Her teeth scrape over her bottom lip, and for a second, I question my latest words. They were blunt, maybe a bit crass—rude, I think. I’m not very good with conversing, but the last thing I want is to be mean to her.
With a flick of her hair that makes her scent even stronger, she turns for her room, returning only seconds later with a purse slung over her shoulder. Without looking my way, she walks to the door, leaving me to scramble after her, cursing.
She’s supposed to stay inside and not send my panic skyrocketing on day one. Won’t she have enough time outside these four walls in a matter of days?
“Where the hell are you going?”
“Didn’t realize I needed to ask permission to go out.”
“No, but a head’s up would be nice.”
She huffs, tilting her head to stare at the ceiling for a moment. I follow the path, finding nothing. Strange behaviour.
“Textbook shopping. Most people will probably be doing it tomorrow, so I’d rather get it out of the way. Besides, my friend texted. She finished moving in too, and it’ll be good to see her.”
If shopping now means less people—less noise—her plan is solid.
“Makes sense.” I cross the room to my bedroom. “Two minutes. Let me grab my things.”
Seconds later, the door slams shut with a very purposeful thud that tells me exactly how she feels about waiting. With a sigh, I root through my bag for my gun, strapping it tothe holster on my lower leg. Not that anyone on campus will probably attack, but I’d rather have the safety, considering it’s so rare to go anywhere without a weapon.
Once strapped, I head out of the dorm, locking the door. Every person who steps in my way is cursed as I rush down the stairs, skipping the suffocating small box of the elevator. I reach the bottom at the same time it dings, and the doors slide open. Serafina walks out, spotting me instantly, her wide eyes flicking to the stairs and back.
Despite my agreement to give her space, I grab her arm and haul her closer to my chest, her peach shampoo doing ungodly things to my insides. Doing my hardest to not breathe, I lower my face by her ear so only she hears me.
“I’m here for your protection, not to be a deterrent on your fun, so be nice. No matter how many times you attempt to leave me behind, I’ll always catch up. Make that attempt your one and only.”
“It’s only the campus bookstore. I’ll be nearby a lot of people.”
