Elliot was taken aback by ze''s response, "Mira doesn''t really strike me as the type to be drawn to Riverside University."


    ze scratched his nose, "Well, either way, she''s on board now."


    Elliot nodded, deciding not to push further. As he was about to leave, his eyes caught the magazine Patrick was holding and paused, "Is that an academic journal?"


    Patrick nced down and nodded, "Yeah, borrowed it from Mira. It''s thetest issue."


    "Thetest issue?" Elliot''s curiosity was piqued, and he didn''t rush off, "Mind if I take a look?"


    Patrick handed over the magazine reluctantly, adding in a low voice, "She only lent it to me for a few days."


    ze blinked. He didn''t recall Mira mentioning any borrowing time limits.


    Elliot shot Patrick a look before flipping through the magazine. He stopped short when he saw the author''s name on the first paper.


    Was this written by his young student?


    Noticing Elliot''s odd expression, Patrick called out, "Professor?"


    Elliot snapped back, feeling a twinge of jealousy. He handed the magazine back


    to Patrick, saying, "Make sure you learn a thing or two from her!"


    With that, he left theb.


    Patrick stood there, stunned, "ze, did the professor sound a bit sarcastic to you?"


    "Yeah, kinda," ze replied, noting the professor''s use of ''your'' when talking about Mira.


    Patrick looked at the magazine in his hands, still open to the page Elliot had been reading.


    Now he got why the journal, usuallyte to reach their country, was with Mira so


    soon.


    ze followed Patrick''s gaze and, after a moment, let out a silent "Wow."


    **


    That afternoon, James showed up right on time to pick Mirabe up from school.


    "Did you run into any trouble today?" James asked, holding the car door open for her.


    Mirabe leanedzily against the door frame. She''d received a little pick-me-up earlier, so she seemed her usual self, "Nah, just the regr monthly drama for us girls belongs to


    With a shrug, she climbed into the car.


    James''s lips twitched slightly.


    They soon drove away from the school.


    Inside, Mirabe fiddled with her phone, asionally ncing out the window.


    There it was again—a tail.


    Just likest night.


    Mirabe narrowed her eyes and put her phone aside.


    James had already noticed the ca shadowing them since they left. Seeing Mirabe''s gaze in the side mirror, he realized she was onto them too.


    He pushed the elerator, picking up speed. After switching on the autopilot, James grabbed his phone to text Wyatt on Messenger.


    "They''re after me," Mirabe stated calmly, taking her eyes off the window.


    James paused, "How do you know?"


    Mirabe leaned back in her seat, not bothering to hide anything, "I ran into them yesterday."