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I stared after her long after she retreated, mentally coming to terms with the fact that I’d, once again, been thrust into an unpleasant situation. Where was Julian? He’d undoubtedly ensure that Finn wouldn’t hover about.

It wasn’t until Finn took over Ms. Protean’s abandoned seat that the spell broke.

“What are you doing here?” I hissed at him.

When had he become so quick and sneaky, anyway? There had been no forewarning of his arrival, no time to run away, like when I fled from Damen. And besides, this had been grating on my nerves for a while. But where were all the people?

How was it that every time Finn managed to corner me, nobody else was around?

“Stop glaring at me.” Finn leaned back in his chair. “I’m not here to bother you. I’m only here to protect you from them.”

My skin prickled at his words.

Them? Who was ‘them’? Why did I suddenly feel a sense of déjà vu?

“Oh, Finn! You beat me here!” An unfamiliar man poked his head around the opening of my little cubical. “Why do you always need to be like this?”

My pulse picked up. Who was he? Sure, he looked respectable enough with his curly, brown hair and modest dress. But it was a fact that many people who looked nice weren’t.

Take Finn, for example. Even though he was attractive, he was also a liar.

Before panic could grip me, the stranger glanced at me, and our gazes met.

Time stopped. Sharp hazel eyes bore into mine, almost seeing through me. It reminded me of the first time I’d seen Bryce.

It was my first class, and I’d been nervous and alone. I’d wanted to avoid attention, so I’d sat in the middle of the lecture hall. Too close, and professors would notice you. Too far, and other students would try to socialize. Neither were options I preferred.

The class had barely begun, and he walked into the room. Tall, dark-haired, and handsome. He carried himself with a confidence I would never possess. It was like he knew he was the most important person in the room. As soon as I spotted him, I knew he was trouble.

Professor Hamway introduced him as one of her graduate students. He was studying for his doctorate. Bryce was a botanist; I should have found him fascinating from that information alone.

But it didn’t matter what he studied or the subject of his thesis. All interest fled when, as Professor Hamway spoke, he turned his attention from her.

And he looked directly at me.

It took me five seconds to hate Bryce. I was startled at first and then scared. But why would I feel afraid? Someone who liked plants couldn’t be all bad.

There was a challenge in his eyes. It was uncharacteristic, but I’d been hit with the sudden desire to defeat the graduate student known as Bryce Dubois. I wanted to show him I was a force to be reckoned with.

But I was a coward and looked away from him instead. It felt like I’d lost something important, and it was all his fault.

This person now—this experience—was similar to that moment.

Yet it was different this time. It was easier to hold my ground. I’d stopped breathing, but I wasn’t afraid. He was like Bryce, formidable. And not someone I’d usually challenge.

But I wouldn’t lose.

“Okay, I’m done.” The stranger blinked and glanced toward Finn. Finn raised his eyebrow but didn’t seem surprised. The man stepped into the cubical and leaned against the opening.

“Brayden!” Bryce peeked from the place that Brayden had abandoned. “How could you just give up?”

Brayden shrugged. “Because I’m not an idiot.” He looked between Bryce and me, and despite the situation, I couldn’t hold back my annoyed glare at my arch-nemesis.

My expression must have amused Brayden, who grinned at Bryce. “I’m not going to enter a challenge I can’t win. If you had an ounce of self-preservation, you’d submit.”

Bryce looked crestfallen. “But our plan—”

“It’s a stupid plan,” Brayden said, examining his fingernails. “Besides, I like her already.”

Did he already like me? That was interesting because, even though we’d just met, I liked him, too. He had no problem calling Bryce out. He didn’t stare at me in the same rude manner.

“Are we going to be friends?” I wondered, unsure how to take this bizarre turn of events. How could I be friends with someone related to that arrogant man? Were you even allowed to befriend your subordinates ?

“No.” Brayden stepped closer, grasping my hands. “We’re going to be best friends. I can see the possibilities now.”

I already had four best friends, even though they’d been behaving oddly. But it felt like the friendship between Brayden and me wouldn’t be the same.

“You don’t want to be her best friend,” Finn grumbled. “It makes you vulnerable, and she wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.”

I narrowed my gaze at him. Who was he to trash-talk me in front of my minions?

“I’m going to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what you’ve been up to, nor do I care. That’s Bryce’s concern,” Brayden told Finn as he nodded toward Bryce. “But if you think you can waltz into our world and do whatever you want, you’re sadly mistaken.”

Finn’s mouth snapped shut.

“And your brother is no better.” Brayden wasn’t finished. “What makes him think he can order me around? Someone needs to inform him I’m not his research monkey.”

I’d been watching in silence, unsure where to interject. But at this declaration, my pulse raced.

He was insulting Damen, and I couldn’t ignore it. This beautiful friendship might already be dead, and I didn’t want that. Brayden was a good person. He didn’t listen to Bryce, and he hated Finn. He had been fantastic so far.

Why did he have to open his mouth?

Brayden missed my glare. “The next time I see him, I’m going to tell him—”

“He was doing research for me,” I interrupted. “I’m the one who dragged everyone into this situation.”

“Oh.” Brayden’s eyebrow rose. “Well, if it’s for you, that’s okay.”

Perfect. We were in a better place already. Now, to divert his anger toward the correct person. “It’s all Finn’s fault. He wouldn’t help me.”

Finn groaned, covering his face. “Not this again.”

“Don’t worry,” Bryce said, leaning against the cubical wall. “Anthony and I have it under control.”

“Wow, they even sicced Anthony on you.” Brayden shook his head, his clear gaze almost pitying. “My, aren’t you in trouble?”

“Shut up, Bryce,” Finn hissed at the other man, ignoring Brayden. “This is between us, not him.”

“It could be worse,” Brayden continued. “At least Julian isn’t a part of this.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Bryce chimed in. “Julian has made it clear that he’s involved. He’s the one who asked us to watch him, and we’re reporting to him. It’s highly inconvenient. I do have a class to teach.”

“Don’t get so full of yourself; you’re not even a real teacher.” Finn scowled.

I watched the three of them, wary. What were these implications that Julian was scary?

Julian was a kind, gentle person, even though I held hopes that he’d beat the crap out of Finn. But this level of foreboding seemed rather dramatic.

I had to ask.

“Why would Julian’s involvement be a bad thing?” I asked Brayden—the most trustworthy one. “What would he and Anthony do to him?” Why was I beginning to feel bad for Finn? “What are you talking about?”

“Never mind, Bianca.” Finn closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. “Are you ready to leave now?”

No. I wasn’t. But this did remind me of my other query.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked Finn, ignoring the others. “Are you stalking me again? I’m surprised no one has come and yelled at us for talking in a library yet.”

“Why would anyone yell?” Brayden interjected. “It’s not like we’re bothering anyone.”

I shot him a dubious look—it was midafternoon. Where were all the people?

“You don’t know?” Brayden seemed to pick up on my doubt, his voice unsure. “He said you looked like you wanted to work and that you had anxiety near others. So, he closed this floor. We came because Gloria ignored the memo.”

I watched Brayden suspiciously. “Who?”

“Shut up, Brayden.” Finn kicked his shin. The guilt in his actions had answered my question.

I couldn’t hide my shock. Finn had manipulated the situation? Was it his fault we were alone? “What is he talking about? What about everyone else? Don’t they need to study?”

Finn refused to look at me, glaring at the floor instead. “Who cares about other people.”

“Finn!” I gasped, appalled.

“Hold on a moment.” Brayden was holding his leg, but his attention was on me. “You don’t know?”

I didn’t like not knowing things. “What don’t I know?”

“She doesn’t know!” Bryce joined in, alarmed. The smugness had vanished from his expression, and he looked almost human. “You said you were friends for over ten years!”

“What don’t I know?” I repeated. This was the worst. Once again, I had no choice but to depend on Bryce as a source of knowledge.

But it was Brayden, not Bryce, who began to answer. “I’ll tell you what you don’t know. Finn—”

“All right, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. It’s time to shut up now.” Finn stood up, brushing off his pants. “We have places to be.”

“No.” I glared at Finn. “You shut up. I want to know.”

“There’s no time.” Finn shrugged. “Julian is waiting for you. Maybe if you meet with me—talk to me—I’ll tell you.”

Wow, he drove a hard bargain. “Maybe—”

“How do you know Julian is waiting for her?” Bryce mused, watching Finn suspiciously. “Are you monitoring him too?”

“No.” Brayden raised his pointer finger. “He feels the weight of his impending doom.”

“Neither, you idiots,” snapped Finn as he nodded toward the space behind Bryce. “He’s standing right there.”

My gaze shot to the end of the aisle, where Julian was leaning cross-armed against the bookcase. His frame was half-shrouded in shadow, but it was still easy to see that his focus was entirely on Finn.

His expression was almost terrifying.

“Julian!” When had he gotten here? I’d completely lost track of time. “Why are you standing way over there?” After all, we were clearly having some privileged meeting in my cubicle. He should have joined us.