The morning air at Kingston carried the crisp bite of early winter, leaves skittering across cobblestones as students hurried to classes. Layla’s satchel swung against her hip, her fingers curled tightly around her notebook. She could hear Roman’s voice before she saw him, casual, teasing, a familiarity that pulled at her chest in ways she hadn’t expected.“Late?” he called as she stepped into the quad.“Not late,” she said, but her voice was sharper than intended. “Just… focused.”Roman’s grin faltered only slightly. He stepped closer, the autumn wind catching his hair, making him look more effortless than anyone should at this hour. “Focused, huh? That’s new.”Malachi appeared almost silently from the opposite path, hands in his coat pockets, his expression unreadable but eyes sharp, calculating. The air between the three of them was electric, each aware of the unspoken pull and push, the invisible scoreboard they were now all trying not to acknowledge.“Layla,” Malachi said smoothl
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