He was definitely not looking for a silky black haired girl with the most beautiful eyes ever. Nope not looking.
That was the lie he kept telling himself.
But Devin knew better.
It was between classes, and the corridor near the courtyard was unusually quiet for midmorning. Most students had already made their way to the assembly hall. The distant hum of announcements buzzed faintly over the intercom.
And then he saw her again.
She was standing near the lockers, alone, head slightly down, arms folded—waiting. Or maybe hiding. Devin wasn't sure which.
The moment stretched.
He took a breath and started toward her, rehearsing something neutral in his mind—Are you alright? or You bumped into me yesterday. Something casual. Something that wouldn't sound like he'd been thinking about her nonstop.
But just as he drew near—
Silva.
Damn whyyyyy
She came striding down the corridor like she owned it, which in her mind, she probably did. Devin caught her presence out of the corner of his eye, just before the collision happened.
Shoulder. Hip. Intentional.
She bumped into Elora with a force that sent her stumbling backward.
Anger burst through him as Elora's figure swayed
Devin moved without thinking.
His hand shot out.
He caught Elora by the arm before she fell, steadying her.
Electricity.
And that same pulse from the day before returned—alive, electric. Not magic. Not force.
Recognition.
His skin tingled where it touched hers.
Elora looked up, startled. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to speak but hadn't found the words.
Neither had he.
Silva's voice cut through the air like a knife wrapped in velvet.
"There you are," she said to Devin, sidling between them as if the touch hadn't happened. "I've been looking for you. Are we still walking to the front gate together?"
Devin didn't move.
Didn't answer.
His eyes were still on Elora.
And hers were still locked on his.
She felt like raw power.
Then Silva turned toward Elora.
The change in her tone was immediate.
"You should be more careful," she said flatly. "These hallways aren't for wandering. You're lucky Devin's always so... helpful."
Something in her smile twisted.
Devin's hand dropped away from Elora's arm, but not quickly.
He didn't speak, he bit into his lips to stop himself from cussing her out.
He did need to control himself.
Silva noticed.
She wrapped her fingers around his wrist possessively.
He pulled his hand away, his last restraint threatening to break.
"Not now, Silva," he said.
The words were quiet.
Controlled.
But final.
Silva blinked, caught off-guard.
Then, as if remembering her script, she turned on her heel and walked a few steps ahead, clearly expecting him to follow.
He didn't.
Why would he.
He turned to Elora.
Met her eyes one more time.
And gave a nod—small, respectful, but unmistakably for her.
Then he walked away, leaving Silva fuming in his wake.
Chapter Fifteen: The Quiet Between the Sparks
Part Three – Devin's POV
"Damn," Elias said, falling into step beside Devin with a lazy grin, "that was a bold move, even for you."
Devin didn't glance at him. "Not in the mood."
Elias only laughed. "Yeah, yeah, not in the mood. Still, it takes a certain kind of iron to ice out your future wife in broad daylight."
Devin stopped walking.
He turned his head slowly. "She's not my wife."
"Not yet," Elias said, completely unfazed. "But your dear old dad seems to think the Barnes merger is as sacred as the family crest. And you just gave your betrothed the cold shoulder. That's going to stir the bees."
Devin resumed walking. "It was necessary."
"Oh, sure," Elias drawled, catching up. "Very noble. Very stoic. You brushed past her like she was part of the architecture. And all because…" He leaned in. "...you caught feelings for a girl who smells like tree sap and mystery?"
Devin didn't respond.
He didn't have to.
Because right then, as if summoned by their words, Silva Barnes emerged from the hallway ahead, flanked by her usual two perfectly curated shadows—head high, expression unreadable, the very portrait of affected grace.
She didn't look at them.
Didn't acknowledge them.
Didn't even pause.
She just passed—slowly, deliberately—her perfume lingering like roses dipped in venom. Her bees followed, synchronized in their flattery and distance, each of them pretending not to glance back.
"Aw," Elias said, turning to watch them go. "She's pouting."
Devin exhaled, long and sharp.
Elias chuckled louder. "She really thinks you care that she's ignoring you?"
Devin didn't smile.
He just said, flat and cold, "Perhaps she did."
"Oh, don't get all cryptic on me now," Elias said, clapping him on the back. "That girl's been acting like she owns you since we were twelve. This might be the first time someone reminded her you're not a damn heirloom ring to be slipped on when convenient."
Devin's silence was the only reply.
"And here I was thinking the biggest conflict this semester would be failing rune translation," Elias continued. "But now we've got a jealous socialite, a girl made of moss and moonlight, and you in the middle like a very confused storm cloud."
Devin gave him a sidelong glance. "
But the feeling of Elora's presence stayed with him.
Even after the echo of his footsteps faded.
Something about her refused to be left behind
_____________________
"Damn," Elias said, falling into step beside Devin with a lazy grin, " I heard something juicy happened today but damnnnnn... that was a bold move, even for you."
Devin didn't glance at him. "Not in the mood."
Elias only laughed. "Yeah, yeah, not in the mood. Still, it takes a certain kind of iron to ice out your future wife in broad daylight."
Devin stopped walking.
He turned his head slowly. "She's not my wife."
"Not yet," Elias said, completely unfazed. "But your dear old dad seems to think the Barnes merger is as sacred as the family crest. And you just gave your betrothed the cold shoulder. That's going to stir the bees."
Devin resumed walking. "It was necessary."
"Oh, sure," Elias drawled, catching up. "Very noble. Very stoic. You brushed past her like she was part of the architecture. And all because…" He leaned in waiting for Devin's reply.
Devin didn't respond.
He didn't have to.
Because right then, as if summoned by their words, Silva Barnes emerged from the hallway ahead, flanked by her usual two perfectly curated shadows—head high, expression unreadable, the very portrait of affected grace.
She didn't look at them.
Didn't acknowledge them.
Didn't even pause and swayed sassier than ever before
She just passed—slowly, deliberately—her perfume lingering like roses dipped in venom. Her bees followed, synchronized in their flattery and distance, each of them pretending not to glance back.
"Aw," Elias said, turning to watch them go. "She's pouting."
Devin exhaled, long and sharp.
Elias chuckled louder. "She really thinks you care that she's ignoring you?"
Devin didn't smile.
He just said, flat and cold, "Perhaps she did."
"Oh, don't get all cryptic on me now," Elias said, clapping him on the back. "That girl's been acting like she owns you since we were twelve, besides we are childhood besties you can try to..you know.... if its a bit of feeling. This might be the first time someone reminded her you're not a damn heirloom ring to be slipped on when convenient."
Devin's silence , then followed by a icy glare was his reply to his stupid friend.
"And here I was thinking the biggest conflict this semester would be failing rune translation," Elias continued. "But now we've got a jealous socialite, and a super bitter one at that "
"Hell yeah it's going to be fun"