<h4>Chapter 428: Zoning Out in Alpha’s ss</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    By the time the sun rose on Friday, it felt like the entire Academy had somehow found a new reason to whisper again - and, of course, I was that reason.


    Draven’s little disy in the dining hall the night before - the one where he made it kind of clear that I was off-limits - had two very different consequences.


    First, it worked.


    No one approached me anymore. Not a single overly confident senior, not a group of curious second years, and definitely not that pastry-offering senior who had made it a habit of showing up during meal times. The air around me was now clear of awkward approaches, nervous stammers, and random smiles.


    It was... peaceful.


    I could finally breathe without someone calling my name or tripping over their words to talk to me.


    <fn1467> Official source is Find?Novel</fn1467>


    But of course, nothing good ever came without a price in this ce.


    Because the <i>second</i> thing Draven’s stunt aplished was turning Sylvia Grand - Nadine’s best friend and Draven’s number one admirer - into an even bigger nightmare than before.


    She had always been cranky where I was concerned, her bitterness sharpened sincest Sunday when I came back to the Academy... with Draven.


    That alone had made her re daggers at me every time we crossed paths, but now? After his public interference at dinner? She looked ready to murder me.


    I had spotted her twice already this morning, both times with her arms folded across her chest, whispering furiously with Nadine. Their eyes kept darting toward me as if I were some kind of forbidden secret they couldn’t stop poking at.


    Honestly, I didn’t even care anymore.


    If ring and whispering behind my back made them feel better, so be it.


    At least no one was asking for my number.


    So yes, maybe I had been furious with Draven the previous night for ambushing me in the tunnel - along with his brothers - and driving me half-insane with frustration and heat... but now? I couldn’t even bring myself to stay mad.


    He had made my life easier, even if his method was ridiculously possessive.


    Though, I couldn’t say the same about the curious gazes still following me everywhere I went.


    The stares hadn’t stopped. If anything, they had gotten worse.


    Students were whispering more than ever, their interest reignited after the dining hall incident. Apparently, having a Thorne brother rescue me from an innocent conversation had elevated me back to being the Academy’s favorite gossip topic.


    Blessing and curse, that’s what Draven’s meddling did.


    At least at homest night, things hadn’t spiraled further.


    When Kieran, Oscar, and Draven had taken me back to the house after that whole... tunnel incident, I had honestly thought I was done for. But to my surprise, the moment we had crossed the threshold, they had acted like nothing had happened.


    They hadn’t even mentioned it.


    No smugments. No teasing. Not even a knowing look.


    With River away for the night because of work, the other three just went about their night as if making me nearly copse under theirbined jealousy in a secret tunnel was nothing more than my dream.


    By morning, they were all normal again.


    Breakfast had been filled with casual chatter. No one brought up what had happened underground.


    It was as if I had imagined the whole thing.


    Which... I didn’t know how to feel about.


    Relieved? Maybe.


    Annoyed? Definitely.


    I sighed, tapping my pen against my notebook as my thoughts circled endlessly.


    I didn’t even realize I had been zoning out until a sharp knock jolted me.


    My eyes flew up... and I froze when I saw Kieran standing right next to my desk.


    He wasn’t smiling. He never did when he was teaching. But right now, his eyes were especially sharp.


    "Miss Evaline," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet room like a de. "Would you like to share your thoughts with the ss, or are they more interesting than my lesson?"


    My heart dropped.


    Every head turned toward me.


    Nadine snickered, and a few others joined her, trying (and failing) to hide theirughter behind their hands.


    I blinked rapidly, trying to piece together what I had missed. "I-I’m sorry," I stammered. "I was just-"


    "Zoning out," he finished for me. His tone didn’t rise, but there was a distinct edge of authority in it that made my stomach twist.


    I nodded quickly, my cheeks burning. "It won’t happen again, Professor."


    "See that it doesn’t."


    And just when I thought that was the end of it, he added calmly, "Find me in my office after yourst ss of the day."


    The room went dead silent.


    Even Nadine’sughter stopped.


    I blinked at him, stunned. "Sir-"


    He turned back toward the board before I could even finish. "That will be all," he said, resuming his lecture like nothing had happened.


    I sank into my seat, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.


    Mallory, sitting to my right, leaned over and whispered, "What was that about?"


    I shook my head, still mortified. "I don’t know."


    Next to her, Kyros raised an eyebrow. "You must have done something to annoy him."


    "I didn’t!" I whispered fiercely, though even I didn’t sound convinced.


    The rest of the ss passed painfully slowly, every tick of the clock echoing like a countdown to my doom.


    By the time the final bell rang for thest ss and everyone began packing up, I could feel my nerves eating away at me. I gathered my things in a daze, ignoring the curious looks from my ssmates.


    Ria gave my shoulder a quick squeeze before leaving. "Good luck," she whispered, half teasing, half sympathetic.


    Thanks, I thought bitterly. I’ll need it.


    - - -


    I stood outside his door, taking a deep breath to steady myself before knocking.


    "Come in," came his calm, unmistakable voice.


    I pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    The room was neat, as always. Kieran sat behind his desk, ncing up as I entered. His expression was unreadable.


    "Close the door, Evaline."


    I did.


    Then I stood there awkwardly, clutching the hem of my uniform zer like a shield. "I-I wanted to apologize for earlier," I said quickly. "I really didn’t mean to-"


    He held up a hand, silencing me.


    "I’m not nning to lecture you," he said simply. "At least, not right now."


    I blinked, confused. "...You are not?"


    He shook his head, standing up and walking around the desk until he was right in front of me. He stopped close enough that I could feel the faint hum of our bond between us - a quiet, steady heartbeat that made my chest tighten.


    "No," he said. "You areing with me."


    I frowned. "Coming with you? Where?"


    His lips quirked slightly, the faintest trace of amusement flickering through his otherwise calm face.


    "You’ll see."


    And before I could ask another question, he picked up his suit coat, gestured toward the door, and said, "Let’s go."


    I blinked,pletely thrown off. "Wait-what about my apology? The ss-"


    "Forget it."


    "Kieran-"


    He turned just enough for our eyes to meet, his gaze softening in that subtle, unreadable way that only he could manage. "Just follow me, love."


    I stared at him, my confusion melting into reluctant curiosity.


    Somewhere deep down, I knew arguing wouldn’t work. Not with him.


    So I sighed, and nodded my head.


    And with that, he pushed the door open, holding it for me.


    Whatever this was, I had a feeling my evening was about to get a lot more interesting than I had nned.