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“Fantastic,” I say sweetly. “Living the dream.”

Alexei’s eyes flick to my face, then away. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel him cataloging every micro-expression I’m failing to hide.

I hate how perceptive he is.

Dimitri shoves his tray toward me. “Eat something. Your face is red.”

“It’s bloodlust. Mind your business before it picks a target.”

I’m halfway through another fry when the room pulls that annoying little collective freeze people do when someone important walks in.

Conversation falters, heads swivel, and suddenly nobody knows how to mind their own damn business.

I don’t need to look to know who just walked in.

My system has become embarrassingly proficient at identifying him before my eyes ever get involved.

Dimitri notices too. His gaze cuts toward the door, and his expression hardens. “What’s he doing here?”

I keep my eyes on Kento as he moves through the dining hall.

“Probably came to infest us with his presence,” I say, my voice dripping venom. “Like a plague rat.”

Alexei’s gaze shifts between Kento and me. “He was in the boxing area too. I saw him.”

Dimitri tilts his head, but his eyes are still tracking Kento across the room. “He shouldn’t be here.”

I sigh and lean back in my chair, forcing my expression into something bored. “Maybe he’s stalking you, Dima. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

It’s a lie.

A blatant, obvious lie.

Kento didn’t come here for Dimitri. He came here for me. But the lie isn’t entirely unbelievable, because a while back, Kento blew up Dimitri’s car in a parking lot while demanding to know where Rei was. It was dramatic. Lucky for everyone, I was there, and I managed to save the day.

I try not to look at him, but my gaze keeps drifting back to him like a compass needle that’s broken and only points toward disaster. He’s standing near the far wall now, talking to someone I don’t recognize.

And then his eyes cut to mine.

“Ilya.”

I blink and drag my attention back to Dimitri. “What?”

“Stop looking at him like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to kill him.”

“I do want to kill him.”

“We talked about this. You can’t,” Dimitri says, pointing his fork at me. “Kento is off-limits. If he gets hurt, Rei will be sad. And if Rei is sad, I have to deal with it. So no murder.”

I tilt my head, considering. “What if I just cut his eyes out? That’s not technically killing him. He’d still be alive.”

Dimitri stares at me. “No.”

“Why do you always have to ruin my fun, Dimaaa?” I whine.