Chapter 31 There wasn't . And somehow , that stung more than it should have . I cursed the delusion that allowed me to feel hope . " You've been staring at that page for ten minutes , " Drake said from the desk to my side . " You're either in love or losing your vision . " I didn't glance up . " You've been talking for five . You're either bored or desperate to be helpful . " He scoffed . " You need a fight . Come down to the training yard , get the brooding out of your system . " " No. Underclassman exams are today . The grounds are closed . Even you should know that . " " That's tragic . I was hoping to knock some sense into you . " " Your form's garbage . Would've been a waste . " His chair creaked as he slumped back in surrender , and that's when I noticed Zane , leaning at the window , thumbing through his phone . No girls . No smirking commentary . No shallow complaints about his hair or the council snacks . Just him . Still . Focused . Which , frankly , was more alarming than anything he could have said . " You lose a bet or something ? " I asked , arching a brow . Zane glanced up , a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth , though it never reached his eyes . " Just checking something . " " Like what ? " He pocketed his phone . " A friend . " I blinked . " You have those now ? " " Don't sound so shocked . Even I perform the occasional good deed . " " That what you're calling it ? " He rolled his eyes and pushed off the ledge . " Relax , Saint Callum . I'm not rewriting the heavens . I helped Liora out . That's all . " Something in me went still . " You what ? " " She was getting railroaded . Nearly expelled . It was so funny , I nearly let it happen . " " But you didn't . " Chapter 31 +15 BONUS " Nope . " He dusted off his jacket . " It was too fun watching her throw their own rules back at them . And the look on her face when I came through the window ? Pure gold . " " So she's ... taking the exam today . " " Yep , " he said , grinning . " That's why I'm heading there . I want to see the ending . " " You have an exam this afternoon . " " I'll skip . " " You'll skip ? " He stretched , casual as ever . " I don't need the grade . And this is more entertaining ." " You're skipping your exam to watch her ? " He glanced over his shoulder , unreadable . " Why not ? You jealous ? " I said nothing . " Toby ," I called . The younger student leaned into the doorway . " Yes , sir ? " " Cover for me . " Toby blinked , confused . " Uh ... yes , sir . " Zane let out a low whistle as I caught up with him . " Didn't think you'd actually follow . That curious ? " " No , " I said . " I just don't trust you not to set something on fire . " " I'm the model of subtlety ." " Tell that to the chair you incinerated last semester . " He shrugged . " That was a dare . " We walked the rest of the way in silence . But inside , I was restless . I told myself it was caution or duty or concern . Anything but what it actually was , the need to see her again , and the hope that maybe I hadn't been entirely wrong . When we got there , the hallway outside the examination room was quiet , but there was tension in the air , like the building itself was holding its breath . Through the glass window of the classroom , I saw her . Liora sat at the front of the room . Her expression didn't waver . Her hand moved steadily over the paper , the pencil held between her fingers like it was simply an extension of her . Chapter 31 +15 BONUS The teacher , one of Bianca's favorites , hovered over her like a vulture . I didn't like the way his eyes followed her every movement . I liked even less the way he whispered something to the assistant standing beside him , both of them frowning . " She's going to be accused , " I muttered . Zane nodded . " Probably . " " Of cheating ? " " Yep . " " But she's not . " " Nope . " " How do you know ? " " Because I've seen her notes . And because she's smarter than most of us . " I watched her for another moment , this strange mix of resentment and admiration tightening in my chest . I had spent so long hoping she was someone else . Someone worthy of being my equal . She was wolfless ... and that shouldn't matter , but it did . Yet here I was . Watching . Waiting . She handed in the test with the same quiet confidence that made everyone underestimate her , before it happened . The accusing , and Liora holding her head high , with no blood or nobility to back it . Zane shoved his hands in his pockets . " Still think she's just a girl you can forget ? " I didn't answer , because in truth , I had no idea . Chapter 32