Chapter 7

The hum of fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead as I nestled into the corner of the library, surrounded by stacks of worn books and thick, old carpeting. My go-to study spot was tucked away from the main area, and I’d come here countless times to escape reality, get lost in a good book, and avoid anything—or anyone—that might disrupt my peace.

But tonight, I couldn’t shake the unease curling in my stomach. No matter how many times I tried to bury myself in my notes, my mind kept drifting back to them.

Jaxon, with his cryptic apologies and haunted gaze. Darius, with that dark intensity that pulled at me in ways I couldn’t explain. They were like two forces colliding, each as dangerous as the other, each clawing their way into my mind without permission.

I sighed, flipping my notebook shut and pinching the bridge of my nose. Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe my mind was running wild, looking for answers where there weren’t any. After all, this was Redwood University, not some gothic nightmare, and I was here to start over—not get caught up in whatever strange game they seemed to be playing.

“Viv!”

I nearly jumped out of my skin as Lila appeared at my table, her red curls bouncing as she plopped down in the chair across from me.

“Jesus, Lila!” I hissed, clutching my chest as I tried to slow my racing heart. “You scared the life out of me.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” She grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Guess you were pretty lost in thought, huh?”

“You could say that.” I glanced away, the knot in my stomach tightening. Lila was one of the only friends I’d made here, and while she was practically my opposite with her endless energy and blunt honesty, there was something comforting about having her around.

“What’s up with you tonight?” she asked, leaning forward with a curious gleam in her eyes. “You look like you’re on edge or something.”

“Do you ever get the feeling this place is… I don’t know, hiding something?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I instantly regretted it. I didn’t need to pull her into whatever was swirling through my head.

Lila laughed, tossing her curls over her shoulder. “Viv, every university has secrets. Trust me. But that’s half the fun, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… fun.” I forced a laugh, though my chest felt tight.

She squinted at me, studying my face with a playful frown. “Okay, I have to ask. This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain tall, dark, and broody guy I saw you leaving the library with the other night, would it?”

I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. “It’s complicated.”

“Oh, is it ever.” Lila leaned in, grinning like a cat who’d cornered a mouse. “Come on, spill. I want all the juicy details. Who is he? And is he single?”

Her enthusiasm was almost infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the nerves coiling in my stomach. “I don’t know much about him,” I admitted. “His name’s Darius, and… well, he’s… intense.”

“Intense?” Lila’s eyebrows shot up, her grin widening. “Girl, that sounds delicious.”

“It’s not like that,” I muttered, though a faint blush crept up my cheeks. “He’s just… complicated. And there’s something about him. Like he’s keeping secrets.”

Lila scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Well, duh. The best ones always are.”

She didn’t get it. And how could she? I barely understood what was happening myself, let alone how to explain it. But still, the words slipped out before I could stop them.

“It’s more than that. It’s like he’s… watching me. Like he knows something I don’t.”

Lila tilted her head, studying me thoughtfully. “Maybe he’s just into you. Ever think about that?”

“Maybe,” I mumbled, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that Darius’s interest wasn’t as simple as attraction. No, it felt like he was waiting for something. Or like he was trying to protect me—from what, I didn’t know.

As Lila started chattering about some party coming up, my attention drifted back to the shadows at the edge of the library. I swore I saw a figure lurking there, watching us. But when I looked closer, there was nothing. Just an empty space where I could have sworn someone had been standing.

“Vivienne?”

I blinked, snapping back to the present. Lila was staring at me, a frown tugging at her lips. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, giving her a weak smile. “Just… tired.”

She shrugged, accepting my answer, though I could tell she didn’t quite believe me. “Well, make sure you rest up. And don’t forget about the party tomorrow night. You’re coming with me, no excuses.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved her off, but my mind was miles away.

Because as I glanced back toward the shadows, my pulse quickened. Darius was there, half-hidden behind a bookshelf, his eyes dark and unreadable as they fixed on me.

Our gazes locked, and my heart stuttered. He looked like he wanted to say something, to come closer, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, watching, his presence filling the air with a heavy, magnetic pull that made it hard to breathe.

“Viv?” Lila’s voice broke through the fog, and I tore my gaze away, forcing myself to focus on her.

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” I said again, though my voice was barely more than a whisper. “I’m fine.”

But as Lila rambled on about her plans for the party, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being pulled into something I couldn’t escape.

Because every time I looked back, Darius was still there, watching, waiting. And I didn’t know whether to feel afraid… or exhilarated.