"So you're just going to pick on a girl?"
Vireleith's voice came from behind. Calm. Flat. "Why don't you pick on someone your size?"
Yvaine turned fast.
He was standing there. Just a towel around his waist. Water still dripping from his hair. Chest bare. And his abs? She didn't have to touch to know how solid it was. She tried not to look below his waist where the towel was. Don't look, Yvaine.
Gods.
So this was what she'd bumped into that night.
Lucien rolled his eyes. "And you are?"
Vireleith walked forward, slow. "Come on. Let's play. You like picking on people, right?"
Yvaine moved out of the center, clutching herself tighter. Her skin burned from shame.
Lucien sneered. "What, you gonna freeze me?"
Vireleith laughed. Just once. Sharp and low. "I could."
His hands shifted. Claws. Icy mist crept from his fingers.
The floor turned pale. Frost spread like roots.
Yvaine's breath hitched. She knew that cold.
Of course he was a frosthowl.
One of the wolves gifted with ice in their blood. Power in their bones. Her mother was one.
Yvaine would've given anything to be one too.
But she wasn't. She was just… wolfless. Frozen. And not in a good way.
Lucien glanced at his friends. "It's three against one."
Vireleith didn't flinch. "Try me."
Lucien took a step forward. The frost spread faster. Thicker.
Right then—
RRRRRIIIINNNGGG!
A sharp alarm echoed through the school.
Then a voice through the speakers:
"All students are to return to their dorms. Room inspection begins in forty minutes."
Lucien cursed under his breath.
One of the guys with him whispered, "We need to move."
Lucien's eyes locked with Vireleith's one last time.
Then he tossed the torn clothes to the ground.
"Not worth it," he muttered, and walked out. The others followed.
The door slammed behind them.
Silence.
Yvaine dropped to the floor. Her whole body was shaking.
It was still cold. The tiles. The air. Everything.
Vireleith walked over and knelt beside her.
"You okay, pup?" he asked.
She nodded weakly, lips trembling.
Then she looked up at him. "Can you… please… let the ice fall back?"
He blinked. Then let out a short laugh. It was soft. Kinda nice.
"Right. Sorry."
The cold eased. The air warmed.
Yvaine let out a slow breath.
Her fingers finally stopped shaking.
Yvaine sat there, arms still wrapped tight around herself.
He crouched beside her, quiet for a second. Then, "Sorry about your uniform. Lucien's a dick."
She let out a weak sound. Maybe a laugh. It didn't fully make it out. "I don't know why he's bent on killing me."
"He acts like that with everyone. Thinks the world should bow just 'cause he's a Silverwolf."
Right. Silverwolves.
Top of the pack. Strongest of them all.
Born leaders. Born arrogant.
"We've met before, haven't we?" He asked.
Yes. You held me against your beautiful chest and your scent lives rent free in my head.
But Yvaine didn't say that. She cleared her throat. "Yeah. In front of the Esix Hall."
He nodded, then smiled a little. "Well. This isn't exactly a better way to meet."
He held out his hand. "I'm Caelan Vireleith."
She took it slowly. "Yvaine Theolux."
He looked at her for a second longer. "Yvaine… exotic. Never heard it before."
She looked down. She was still shaking a bit.
He noticed.
"Shit, sorry." He quickly took off the towel.
Yvaine's face reddened and she looked away.
He laughed. "Relax. I'm not naked."
He tossed the towel to her. "Here. Take it."
She reached for it, muttering, "Thanks."
Now he was in just briefs. Great. She was definitely not looking again.
Okay, she peeked once. But just once.
"Let's get you out of here," he said.
She snorted. "How? My uniform's in pieces, I'm half-naked, and I'm in the boys' bathroom… with a boy."
Her brain added: a gorgeous boy.
He didn't respond. Just walked to his locker, grabbed his uniform jacket, and pulled something from the pocket.
A small silver marble.
He slammed it against the floor.
A soft crack. A low hum.
A small portal opened—just wide enough for two.
"Shall we?" he asked, looking back at her.
Yvaine stared at it, then at him.
Should she?
She hesitated.
Then took his hand.
He pulled her in.
___
The portal let them out into a room—cold and blue.
Like, really cold.
Yvaine stepped in, pulling the towel tighter around her.
The walls were a soft gray-blue. Two beds sat on opposite sides, both bigger than what she and Zully had in Wolffire East.
Caelan rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry about the cold. The whole dorm's like this."
"No problem."
He looked around, then at her. "We need to find you something to wear so you can head back."
He was still in just his briefs. Barefoot. Zero shame.
"This should do," he said, handing her a hoodie and sweatpants.
"Thanks," she said, taking them.
He turned away, grabbing his own clothes while she slipped on the hoodie and sweats.
They were soft. A little big. And smelled like him.
Gods… why did he have to smell so good?
When he turned back, his eyes did a quick scan—probably to make sure she was dressed.
"You should, uh… probably get going. It should be twenty minutes left now."
"Yeah," she said.
Yvaine didn't want to leave.
The door opened.
Another boy stepped in. Same silvery-blue hair, but shorter. Not as broad. Still handsome.
He blinked. "Oh—sorry. Didn't realize you had company. I'll leave."
Caelan quickly said,"uh.. you can come in. She's leaving now. Zayven, this is Yvaine. Yvaine, meet Zayven."
"Hi," Yvaine said, adjusting the hoodie. "Nice to meet you."
Zayven smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Yvaine. You're pretty."
She blinked. "Thanks."
Caelan nudged him. "Flirt."
Zayven grinned. "Ignore him, alright. I just love pretty girls."
Caelan raised a brow. "And you've got a girlfriend. Your deadly Shadow Wolf girlfriend."
They all laughed.
Maybe the whole school wasn't filled with jerks after all.
Zayven plopped on Caelan's bed. "Speaking of girlfriends, Ash and I went to the morgue today. They still haven't moved Solera's body."
Yvaine froze.
Zayven kept talking. "I think she was stabbed a few times before her throat got slit."
Caelan frowned. "You know better than to snoop around a murder case."
Yvaine swallowed hard.
Zayven just shrugged. "You know Ash loves digging into stuff. All Shadow Wolves do."
A voice came over the school speakers again.
"Final reminder: ten minutes left before student dorm inspections begin."
Yeah. That was her cue.
Caelan looked at her. "I'll walk you back."
Zayven stood. "Can I come too?"
Caelan opened his mouth, ready to say no—
But Yvaine laughed. "Sure."
They got to her dorm room.
Yvaine stopped in front of the door. "We're here."
She turned to the boys. "Thank you for walking me back. And… for the clothes."
Zayven put a hand on his chest. "Wow. And me?"
She smiled. "Thank you too, Zayven."
Caelan pushed his hair back, suddenly looking unsure. "I'll, uh… see you around, Yvaine."
"Yeah," she said.
She turned to open the door. It was locked.
Of course.
She knocked twice.
Zully opened the door. She had pink face mask on. Immediately she saw the boys, she activated her flirt smile. Typical Zully.
Yvaine blinked. "Uh… this is my roommate, Zully. Zully, Caelan and Zayven."
Zayven gave a lazy wave. "Hi, Zully."
"Hi, boys," Zully purred, dragging the word out.
Yvaine didn't wait.
"Okay bye now," she said quickly, pushing Zully inside and shutting the door.
The second the door clicked, Zully turned, arms crossed.
"Girl, what the heck? Who were those yummy-looking Frosthowls? And what happened to you after dance class?"
Yvaine groaned and dropped onto her bed.
Zully's eyes narrowed. She pointed.
"Hold on. Where's your uniform? And what are you wearing?"
Yvaine didn't even look up. "They belong to Caelan."
Zully gasped. "What? What happened? How did you meet? Why does he have you in his clothes?"
Yvaine buried her face in her hands. "It's a long story."
Zully dropped to the floor, sitting cross-legged in front of her.
"Well, good thing we've got time before dinner," she said, grinning. "Start talking. Especially how you went from meeting him to borrowing hoodies. Popcorn, please!"
A bowl of popcorn appeared as she snapped her finger.
Yvaine sighed. "Lucien pranked me again."
Zully rolled her eyes and shoved popcorn into her mouth. "Of course it starts with that handsome jerk."
________
The alarm rang out loud. Sharp. Jarring.
Yvaine jolted upright.
A second later, a voice echoed through the walls.
"All students, report to the main courtyard immediately. This is not a drill."
The alarm kept blaring.
Zully groaned from the other bed, dragging her face mask off. "Dear gods, but it's midnight."
"I hate this school," Yvaine muttered with a yawn.
They both got up, slipping on sweaters over their nightdresses.
The hallway was already full. Doors creaked open one by one. Sleepy students stepped out, some barefoot, some with blankets. They all groaned and murmured.
"What now?" someone said.
"Probably another inspection," another answered.
Yvaine didn't think so. Something felt… off.
She glanced at Zully. "This better not be one of those 'surprise bonding' drills again."
Zully gave her a look." I'll bond my fist with someone's face."