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“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” Riley said with a posh accent before bursting into giggles.

“It’s true! Lukas and I have never had sex!” She ran a hand through her hair in frustration and lowered her voice as she tried to calm down. “I’ve never had sex with anyone, for that matter. I’m a virgin.”

“Well, so am I, but still… You’ve found your Korren—” Riley paused, looking over Blaire’s head. “Hooo-lyyy shit.”

Blaire turned at the sound of a throat clearing to find Lukas and Aiden standing behind her. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Lukas looked ready to tear the head off something as he stared at Blaire. She didn’t know what his problem was, but he would grind his molars into dust with the way he worked his jaw. Was he angry? No, she recognized the look in his eyes. She’d seen it before in the cafeteria when he tried to kiss her. But he didn’t want to kiss her now, right? That would be weird. She didn’t understand at all. Blaire looked away from his intense stare.

At least Aiden had the decency to look embarrassed about eavesdropping as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from Blaire, not meeting her eyes.

Blaire looked down at her loafers. So they heard her proclamation about her sex life. Well, lack of one. Not that she felt embarrassed about it or saved it for marriage. She’d just never felt that urge before. She felt proud she managed to fend off Caleb as long as she had to keep her virginity, and it wasn’t like she ever had a boyfriend to share that with if she did have the urge. Either way, she didn’t want to make it a big deal by broadcasting that personal struggle to everyone who knew her.

“They didn’t hear anyyything,” Riley said while glaring at the two guys. “Right?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Aiden said, taking Lukas’s arm. “We, uh… need to get to class.” He pulled Lukas—who still hadn’t moved—toward the classroom and disappeared inside.

“My brother can do good things sometimes.”

The hallway began to empty in anticipation of the bell. Riley bent down to pick up her messenger bag when Blaire slumped against the lockers, exhaling.

“So, speaking of sex… I’ve been having these weird dreams.”

“Dreams?” Riley immediately dropped her bag.

“Yeah… sex dreams. About Lukas. It’s been happening every single night since those guys attacked and he saved me.” She blushed and looked toward the classroom door. She needed to talk to someone about it because she didn’t know how to handle the intensity.

Riley put a hand over her mouth to hide her large smile and obvious excitement. “It could be the bond beginning to take.” She sounded way too giddy.

Blaire opened her mouth to respond, but the bell interrupted. Sighing, she grabbed her backpack from the floor and walked with Riley into class.

Once inside, they sat in their assigned seating, which put Blaire between Aiden and Riley and in front of Lukas. She didn’t dare look back at him.

Riley spoke up. “So, Blaire, I was thinking maybe we could go into the valley to catch a movie after school tomorrow. You haven’t been out since you started here, right?”

“No, I didn’t know I could leave.”

Aiden chuckled. “Of course you can. You’re not a prisoner here. You can leave whenever you want.”

The academy didn’t feel like a prison. She knew what it felt like to live in a prison. Not a real one, but it may as well have been. She shuddered. She wanted to put the past behind her so badly, but the entire world outside Blackthorn felt like a jungle full of man-eating tigers. She’d been assured she would be safe here, but no guarantee had been given for her security outside the academy grounds in Wilcox territory. Was it safe to go out? She needed to know.

“He doesn’t mean to move away, though,” Riley added in a rush. “I don’t think any of us want you to go.” She glanced back at Lukas briefly. “So yeah, movie. Wanna go?”

“Will it just be us?” Blaire twisted her hair up and clipped it.

Riley motioned in Aiden’s direction. “Aiden can come.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, thank you so much for allowing me into your special girls club.”

Blaire giggled and he winked at her. She blushed.

“So, you in?”

“Um… sure? I guess.” Blaire opened her English book. It would be nice to get away and have the chance to forget about the fact she now attended a school full of Vasirian, expected to bond with one of them. She still hadn’t fully wrapped her mind around the meaning of that. She leaned toward Riley and whispered so the others couldn’t hear her, “Will it be safe?” She gave Riley a pointed look.

“Oh… well…”

Riley turned in her chair and faced Lukas.