Chapter 7 Bloom

As I walked toward the campus exit, my eyes searched the crowd for Ivy. I spotted her just before I reached the gates. She was standing with Cassian and Kai. I slowed to a stop. Ivy was laughing as she talked about something. Cassian still wore that same cold, unreadable expression, but his attention was fixed on her in a way I couldn't explain.

A sharp wave of jealousy twisted in my chest. It felt as though I'd left someone precious to me in the territory of the most dangerous predators alive. By the time the three of them started walking away, Ivy noticed me and waved enthusiastically.

I hurried over. "I thought you didn't know them," I said, unable to hide the edge in my voice. "Is something wrong?"

Ivy flinched. She looked away, shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, and straightened her shoulders.

"Bloom, relax. Everything's fine," she said, her voice just a little too bright. "We just ran into each other. They asked a couple of questions, that's all. We introduced ourselves."

As she finished speaking, I noticed her fingers tightening against the fabric inside her pockets. Her eyes kept drifting toward the direction they'd just left, as though she wanted to make sure no one was watching us.

The sudden stiffness in her posture sent a warning straight through me. "Are you sure?" I asked, frowning. "You look like you're trying to get away from someone."

A practiced smile appeared on her face, but it never reached her eyes. "I'm okay. Just tired." She linked her arm through mine. "Come on, let's go."

I let it drop. "Dinner's still a while away," I said. "There's a really cute café nearby. Want me to show you?"

"Absolutely."

Five minutes later, we stepped into a cozy little café tucked just off campus. Books covered every wall, warm amber lights hung from the ceiling, and soft music floated through the room. It immediately felt peaceful. Ivy's energy was contagious.

For a little while, I forgot everything that had happened that day. When she asked about me, I figured I could tell her some of my past. Nothing that was truly secret. Besides...

For reasons I couldn't explain, I felt like I could trust her.

I started telling her about the camping trips I used to take with my parents. Then I moved on to the night we'd been attacked. I had just begun describing how they fought to protect me.

Then a familiar scent drifted toward me. Blueberries. Juniper.

I looked up. Cassian and Kai had just walked through the front door.

The expression that flashed across Ivy's face was impossible to miss. Surprise. No...

It looked more like the panic of someone who'd just been caught doing something they weren't supposed to. "Oh..." she said, forcing a little too much cheer into her voice. "Aren't those the guys I met earlier?" She lifted a hand. "Hey! Over here!"

Cassian's icy blue eyes settled directly on me. His expression remained distant, almost indifferent, as if we'd never met before. Kai, on the other hand, walked over and practically dropped into the empty chair.

"So this is where you two ended up?" he said with his usual easy grin. "What a coincidence."

I caught the meaningful look he exchanged with Ivy. Like they were sharing some silent joke. Cassian took the only remaining seat. Right beside me. Thankfully, he kept a respectful distance.

I still had no idea why his scent affected me the way it did, and I wasn't convinced I'd be able to control myself if he got any closer.

Part of me wanted to lean in and breathe him in. The other part wanted to throw my shoe at his head. How could one scent make me want two completely opposite things?

Before anyone could say another word, a waiter appeared at our table. He smiled politely at Kai and Cassian. "What can I get for you, gentlemen? And..."

He leaned slightly toward me. "Looks like you're out of coffee, beautiful. Want a refill?"

I never got the chance to answer. Cassian's entire demeanor changed. The hand resting on the table curled into a tight fist.

"Lean away from me," he said, his voice like solid ice. "You seem awfully comfortable brushing against me just to get closer to her."

The waiter froze. "I... I was only trying to help."

Cassian looked at him. Just one look. The poor guy visibly shrank under it. A low growl vibrated deep inside Cassian's chest. Quiet enough that only I could hear it. But impossibly powerful.

The strange uneasiness I'd been carrying all day exploded into shock. A shiver raced through me. Heat pooled low in my stomach. Please don't notice.

Cassian spoke again, his voice barely louder than a whisper, each word edged with restrained menace. "I assume you've heard me."

His eyes never left the waiter. "Take a few steps back, then bring us our coffee. If that's too difficult, send someone else."

"O-Okay... I understand." The waiter disappeared almost instantly.

Cassian subtly drew in the air through his nose. If you weren't paying attention, you would've missed it. One corner of his mouth lifted. Damn it. Please don't tell me he smelled my reaction.

Silence settled over the table. When his gaze found mine again, the deep blue around his pupils looked darker. Wilder. Kai rubbed the back of his neck.

"Cass... don't you think that was a little much?" He was clearly trying to ease the tension. Across the table, I caught the faintest smile tugging at Ivy's lips before concern quickly replaced it.

Cassian ignored the question. Instead... Under the table... His leg deliberately brushed against mine. Not an accident. A warning. Possessive. While everyone else resumed talking, I sat there completely stunned by the unexpected gesture.

Ivy looked at me. "You don't have to tell us," she said gently, "but I'd really like to hear the rest of your story."

I blinked. For a second, I had no idea what she meant. Seeing my confusion, she smiled.

"You were talking about your parents."

Every head at the table turned toward me. Kai smiled warmly. "If it's not too personal, I'd like to get to know you too."

He pointed his thumb toward Cassian. "Of course, after our resident caveman's performance, I'd understand if you didn't exactly feel like get naked around us."

Cassian's head snapped toward him so fast that Kai immediately threw both hands into the air.

"I meant get naked emotionally. About your story!" he blurted. "Not... you know... being naked!"

Poor guy.

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Cassian looked at me with such genuine confusion that I laughed again.

"I'm sorry," I managed between laughs. "But you're looking at me like a newborn puppy right now. I couldn't help myself."

I wiped at the corner of my eye. "Has no one ever laughed around you before?"

"Of course they have." His voice was calm. "I've heard plenty of laughter."

"And I can assure you..." His eyes locked onto mine. "...I've made women make sounds far more interesting than laughter."

His gaze held mine with such overwhelming intensity that my smile vanished. It took me a second to recover. The pulse low in my body certainly wasn't helping.

A deep, quiet chuckle rumbled from his chest. His eyes made one thing painfully clear. He knew exactly what he'd done to me. I'm such an idiot. Seriously. Why am I reacting like this? I've had relationships before. I'm not inexperienced. Stop acting like a hormonal teenager.

Thankfully, Ivy rescued me. "So..." she said softly. "Are you going to tell us the rest?"

I drew in a slow breath. Lowering my eyes to my hands folded on the table, I nodded. "I can. It's not really a secret around here anyway."