The next morning was different.
Lucian wasn't acting cold—or flirtatious. He was... protective. Like he knew my secret changed everything, yet he didn't hold it against me.
But Vale?
He stared at me like he knew something too.
Vale: "I traced the feed Ravan was broadcasting to."
I: "And?"
Vale: "It wasn't Kael."
Ryker: "Then who the hell was it?"
Vale: "Someone called… 'The Red Mirror.'"
Lucian: "That name's not in our system."
Vale: "Because it's not part of this university. It's above it."
That's when Kael entered our room without knocking—again.
Kael: "You're all going on a field mission. Infiltrate the Maze District. Find the Red Mirror's contact. Bring him in."
I: "Us four?"
Kael: "Five. You'll have a guide."
The door opened behind him.
Tall. Muscular. Piercing silver eyes.
A smirk that could kill and a presence that made my chest tighten.
Kael: "This is Darius. Mafia prince of East Sector. Your temporary partner."
Lucian's face darkened.
Lucian: "You've got to be kidding."
Darius: "Miss me, darling?"
Lucian: "Not even in hell."
---
Darius: "Heard there's a girl hiding in the academy. Bet she's cute."
His eyes locked with mine for a second.
I looked away. He was dangerous.
Charming, smart, ruthless—and too observant.
Ryker whispered to me as we boarded the transport:
Ryker: "Is it just me, or is he too smooth?"
I: "He's mafia. They train in charm like we train in knives."
---
The Maze District lived up to its name.
Twisting alleys. Red neon signs. No logic in its layout. The perfect place to get ambushed—and we did.
Boom.
A flashbang exploded just as we turned the corner. I rolled behind a trash container, clutching my ears. Shadows moved in.
Darius was already in the middle of the chaos, smiling.
Darius: "Showtime."
He moved like a panther—graceful, brutal.
I didn't even see the knife he threw, but I heard the scream it caused.
Lucian: "Left side!"
I turned just in time to see a sniper above.
I: "I'll take him!"
I climbed a rusted fire escape, using the edge of my boot to boost up—my movements still more agile than a guy's, but I couldn't hide that forever.
As I took down the sniper, I heard a whistle behind me.
Darius.
Darius: "You're not what you pretend to be, sweetheart."
I: "Neither are you."
He smirked again.
Darius: "Touché."
---
After the dust settled, we found a metal briefcase on one of the fallen men.
Vale: "Encrypted. But this logo…"
He ran his fingers over the symbol: a mirror cracked in half with an eye in the center.
Vale: "Definitely Red Mirror. This is a message."
Ryker: "Or a threat."
Lucian looked straight at me.
Lucian: "Either way, they're after you now. And we protect our own."
His words were soft. Serious.
And for the first time, I felt like maybe… just maybe… I wasn't alone.
But I also knew this:
Darius knew something.
And he wasn't going to keep it quiet forever.
---
End of Chapter 31