summons, Aria felt l

r, barely recognizing the girl with tangled hair

ht.

d. A knock at the door pul

"Brought you coffee. Blackthorn-style. I

anaging a weak

ged on the bed. "S

terly. "Yeah. He's as arroga

you?" "He said I belong to him. Be

went q

asked. "Tell me the truth." Ev

selection. That those students... become p

b?" Evie sh

like a

a small black envelope in her l

s Wi

wer at noon. Wear black.

ands

oked a

past like noth

wasn't slowly being dragged into

was empty, silent, and smelled of dust and old secrets. Stained-g

ned to her. He wore a sharp black coat, and his

rules," he said, n

you," she snapped. "

slow and

" he said, steppin

ble between them. Its cover was marked with a g

ur first as

nked. "

. This book is older than this university.

wha

g. "The society that runs Blackthorn. Th

telling me... this school i

ling you the

almost g

"You'll lea

u'll b

blurred into a s

r. Midnight meetings in shadowed corners of the

voice. But his presence... it wrapped around

s. Delivered by envel

OF THE

speak about th

direct order from y

romantic attachment

not brea

disobey Luci

"I'm not just going to obey him like I'm his pet." Evie shrugged. "Then you better run. Fast."

t – The Firs

had been mysteriously laid out on her bed: black velvet, off-th

een pinned to

l wear

wear th

dance with

led when sh

t know you were doomed,

eyes. "You think

k. He commands. And right now,

of Vale Manor, behind a carved bookshelf that

on curtains. Masks gleamed. Music played low and seduct

ed in, hea

asks turned

owed. "She's

ien claimed." "She

eared. From

en V

his face again, the other h

nd. And pulled her into the dance. Their bodie

lowed his lead. How the music see

he murmured. "I'm not yours," she hissed back. He smirked. "Y

ped back. But the music stopped.

didn't

and you'll

ything." She turned. And walked out of the ballro

e that. But next time you walk away... I'l

L.