Chapter 3

Lydia became the top student in our year faster than anyone expected. Within a month, her name was everywhere at Saint Orphia's.

Lydia loved being at the center of clever people. It made her feel powerful. But one thing bothered her: I was not isolated.

Now I had the Glamour Gift. My name had appeared three times on the academy gossip board, and someone had drawn my portrait in the Mirror Hall with the words the most beautiful new blood in Saint Orphia's written beneath it. And still, the girls spoke to me.

"Eleanor Vale. I'm taking you to the Crimson Cellar after class. Private room. Music. Fresh blood. You coming or not..."

A lazy voice came from the classroom door, and the room quieted almost at once. Cassian Voss stood outside with one hand in his pocket.

No one at Saint Orphia's wanted trouble with the Vosses. Cassian's father owned half the nightclubs, blood lounges, gambling rooms, and illegal fighting pits in the lower district. The professors pretended Cassian was just another student, but everyone knew better. Cassian looked straight at me.

In my first life, Cassian had pursued Lydia with the same reckless intensity. Lydia had loved it. She sat behind him on his black motorbike, and walked through school as if Cassian's violence belonged to her.

When other students annoyed her, Cassian frightened them. She had thought that made her the heroine of a dark romance. To everyone else, she had simply been cruel. I had no intention of repeating her mistake.

Cassian walked into the room and stopped beside my desk. He placed both hands on the wood and leaned down, blocking the light.

He was handsome, rich, and dangerous in the way that made girls whisper until he looked at them for too long.

"Well..." he said. "Don't make me ask twice." I closed my book. "I'm going home after class."

Cassian was used to being obeyed. My refusal embarrassed him, and the watching eyes only made it worse.

"Careful, Eleanor," he said, his voice dropping. "I'm being nice because I like you. Don't mistake that for patience."

No one spoke, not even Lydia. She sat three rows away with bright, interested eyes, clearly waiting to see what I would do.

"Cassian," I said softly, letting my voice tremble just enough, "why would you say that to me..."

His anger stopped at once. For a second, he looked completely lost.

"I didn't..." He straightened. "I wasn't threatening you." I blinked, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

The mood in the room changed. A moment ago, everyone had been afraid of him. Now that fear had sharpened into judgment, and it was pointed at Cassian instead of me.

In my first life, I had seen Cassian lose his temper countless times.

He was arrogant, violent, and spoiled, but there was one thing he never knew how to handle: a girl crying because of him. Especially in public.

He ran a hand through his hair and cursed under his breath. "Fine. Don't come. It's not a big deal." His tone turned awkward. "Just don't cry."

I did not answer. I gathered my books, covered my face, and hurried out of the classroom before the tears had time to dry.

A gilded cage was still a cage, and a pretty bird fed by its master would never learn the shape of the sky. Lydia wanted to become the genius everyone worshipped. Fine. Let her enjoy the applause. I had no interest in becoming someone's favorite songbird. I intended to grow talons.