The Heir Arrives

Mara had developed a simple rule during her time at Larkin College. Whenever a day began peacefully, it was usually preparing to become somebody else's problem. Unfortunately, that somebody was often her.

The realization arrived while she was walking across the central courtyard carrying a stack of books and a cup of coffee she had acquired through entirely legitimate means.

The snow from earlier in the week had begun melting beneath a rare stretch of winter sunlight. Students moved between buildings in thick coats while conversations drifted across the pathways in scattered waves. For once, the campus felt almost normal. Which should have warned her.

Beside her, Nora adjusted the strap of her bag and frowned at the schedule on her phone. "I still think the retreat is a terrible idea." Mara nodded immediately. "Thank you." "I didn't say I agreed with your theory that we're all being transported into the mountains for ritual sacrifice." "You don't know that we're not." Nora laughed. "Normal people don't hear the words leadership retreat and immediately assume murder." Mara shrugged. "Normal people survive horror movies for approximately seven minutes."

They crossed the courtyard toward the business building. The closer they got, the more Mara noticed something unusual. Students were gathering near the entrance. The atmosphere carried a familiar energy. The same energy she'd seen when Celeste entered a room. Or when Alaric walked through campus. The energy of people paying attention to somebody important.

Mara immediately became suspicious. "I don't like that." Nora followed her gaze. "What?" "That." "What is that?" "I don't know yet." "Then how do you know you don't like it?" "Experience." Nora opened her mouth, paused, then nodded. "Fair."

A black sports car rolled to a stop near the front steps. The vehicle alone probably cost more than several houses back in Bramble Creek. A second later, the driver's door opened. A tall blond man stepped out. He wore expensive clothes with the casual confidence of somebody who had never looked at a price tag in his life. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes despite the weak winter sunlight.

Students immediately began whispering. Mara heard the name before she understood who they were talking about. "Joel." "He's actually here?" "I thought he stopped attending." "Apparently not." The blond man removed his sunglasses and glanced around the campus like a king inspecting territory.

Mara disliked him instantly. Not because she knew anything about him. Because he looked exactly like the type of person who believed rules were optional. Years of experience had taught her that people like that were exhausting. Nora groaned softly. "Oh no." Mara looked at her. "You know him?" "Everybody knows him." That answer did not help.

Mara continued walking. "Should I?" Nora hesitated, then sighed. "That's Joel Rutledge." The surname sounded vaguely familiar. Mara searched her memory. Something connected to business, advertisements, news articles and a lot of money. "Am I supposed to be impressed?" "No." "Good."

They continued toward the entrance. Ahead of them, Joel laughed at something one of his friends said and tossed his car keys to another student without even looking. The other student caught them automatically. Mara stared. "Did he just delegate parking his own car?" Nora nodded. "Unfortunately." "Remarkable." "What?" "I've never seen somebody outsource walking before."

Nora nearly choked laughing. Several nearby students looked toward them. Unfortunately, Joel looked too. Their eyes met briefly. Mara expected nothing. Maybe a glance, a moment. The end of the interaction. Instead, Joel's attention lingered. His expression shifted slightly. Not recognition but evaluation. The kind people used when deciding whether something interested them.

Mara disliked that too. She immediately resumed walking. If rich people wanted to stare, they could do it from a distance. The business building stood only a few steps away now. Unfortunately, fate had once again mistaken her for a volunteer. "Mara Vale." She stopped. Nora closed her eyes. "Please don't." "Don't what?" "Whatever you're about to do."

Mara turned. Joel Rutledge stood several feet away. Up close, he looked exactly as annoying as she had expected. Possibly more. "Can I help you?" Mara asked. A few nearby conversations died instantly. Joel smiled. The expression carried the polished confidence of somebody accustomed to winning interactions before they began.

"I've heard a lot about you." Mara considered that, then nodded. "My condolences." Several students immediately looked alarmed. Nora covered her face. Joel blinked. For the first time since approaching, he looked slightly uncertain. The reaction lasted less than a second. Then his confidence returned. "You're funny." "No." Mara adjusted the books in her arms. "I'm late."

She started walking again. Joel stepped sideways. Not enough to block her path completely. Just enough to be irritating. The move reminded Mara of a goat she once knew. The goat had eventually lost an argument with a fence. "People say you've caused quite a few problems around campus." Mara looked up at him. "They make it sound accidental."

The corner of Joel's mouth twitched. Several students nearby appeared horrified. Others looked entertained. Apparently this wasn't how conversations with Joel Rutledge usually went. That sounded like a Joel problem. "I think we got off on the wrong foot," he said. "We haven't gotten on any foot." His friends laughed before they could stop themselves. Joel's smile disappeared. Very interesting.

Mara had spent enough time around difficult people to recognize wounded pride. Back home, it usually appeared right before somebody made a bad decision. She had a feeling Joel Rutledge made a lot of bad decisions. "Look," he said, "I'm trying to be nice." "Then you're doing significantly better than some people I've met."

The compliment sounded genuine. Which somehow made it worse. A laugh escaped from somewhere behind them. Joel glanced toward the crowd. The movement was subtle. The irritation wasn't. Mara noticed immediately. The problem wasn't that he wanted attention. The problem was that he expected it. And expectations were fragile things.

"I'm heading to class," Mara said. "So am I." "Congratulations." Joel stared. Mara stared back. Around them, students had completely abandoned any attempt to appear busy. The entire courtyard felt invested now. Finally Joel smiled again. This time the expression carried challenge instead of charm. "Maybe we'll see each other around." Mara nodded politely. "Statistically possible." Then she walked away.

Nora followed so quickly she nearly tripped. Neither looked back. They made it halfway across the lobby before Nora grabbed Mara's arm. "What was that?" "What was what?" "That!" Mara frowned. "A conversation." "You just antagonized Joel Rutledge." "I didn't antagonize him." Nora stared. "Mara." "I was perfectly civil." "You practically declared war." "That's dramatic."

Nora pointed toward the entrance. "That man has never heard the word no in his life." Mara shrugged. "Then today was educational." Behind them, Joel Rutledge remained standing near the doors watching her disappear into the building. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, the encounter irritated him far more than it should have. Nobody dismissed him. Especially not some scholarship student from the countryside.

A slow smile appeared on his face. For the first time since hearing Mara Vale's name, he found himself genuinely interested. Across the lobby, Mara suddenly sneezed. Nora frowned. "Bless you." Mara rubbed her nose. "Thanks." A strange feeling lingered briefly between her shoulders. Like trouble had just learned her schedule. She hated when that happened.