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Noting the landmarks around the shop, I walk out onto the balcony and touch the amulet at my neck.

My wings spring free, sprouting through the suit without a single tear, and I leap into the air.

Catching a wind shear, I glide to the far end of the commons, then bank to the right towards the arts building.

They nestled the little beanery I identified between the theater and the gallery, so I pull my wings back to descend slowly as I approach.

When I land, the magic of my mother’s amulet helps me slip my appendages back in gracefully and walk towards the door without missing a beat.

I open the door, take off my sunglasses, and stride in with confidence.

I’m not here to throw my weight around, but I can’t let anyone see me sweat, either.

I look at the menu board before I lower my gaze to see the barista behind the counter.

Holy. Mother. Forking. Shit.

The guy behind the counter is beautiful, and I don’t say that lightly.

His long blond hair is pulled back in a ponytail, but somehow, it doesn’t look douchey.

Paired with his patrician features and thin silver framed lenses, he projects the air of a student, but not a new one.

My guess is a grad or doctoral student and this is his side hustle.

The muscled forearms and powerful hands tell me he’s not just a bookworm, so I ponder what discipline this lithe, gorgeous supe is studying.

When I finally drag my eyes back to his, the aqua color of his is mesmerizing.

“Can I take your order, ma’am?”

Yikes. That destroyed my brief fantasy.

“Um, yes, sorry. It’s been a long day. I’d like a triple espresso and a club sandwich, please.” I feel my cheeks heating not because I was staring—he’s got to be used to it—but because I got caught checking out one of the students.

It’s not forbidden at State U, but I am the murdering bitch with ice in her veins that’s here to destroy everything the university stands for.

Or, so the article in the State U Review said last night.

There’s no way this gorgeous coffee-serving man doesn’t recognize me and I’m sure I’ll get an earful about my evil ways once he’s done making my order.

In fact, I should continue watching to make sure he doesn’t mess with my food for revenge.

Yeah, that’s why I want to watch him.

“I don’t blame you for coming here. It’s not one of the campus hot spots. Mostly we get professors, arts kids, and the occasional normie who wants to hide from the masses.”

I blink, realizing he’s nailed my reason for choosing this shop without even trying. “I think it’s rather cozy.”

“You don’t have to pretend, Dean LeCiel.

” His pretty eyes meet mine again and I feel that heat creeping up my spine.

“I’m aware of how contentious your appointment was.

It doesn’t bother me, honestly. I’ve been a student through much of your ex’s reign and since the music department was of little concern to him, I don’t have any allegiance to the former administration. ”

Definitely a doctoral candidate. His thesis is probably massive.

Covering my mouth as the unintended double meaning of my words occurs to me, I wait until the urge to giggle like a teenager fades.

It would be extremely unprofessional of me to comment on his…

attributes… especially since that kind of bullshit helped bring Magnus down.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not wondering now…

“Dean? Hello?” The hot barista is waving his hand as he looks at me curiously.

“I’m sorry to be so rude. I didn’t catch your name?”

There we go. That sounded totally normal.

“I’m Slade,” he replies with a slow smile.

That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, and I wonder if he might be part Fae. Not giving me his real name is part and parcel with them, and so is the ethereal beauty. “You may call me Morgana when I am here. I think titles are dreadfully stuffy, but…”

“Set boundaries early because you have mutinies to deal with.”

Frowning, I tilt my head. “You aren’t reading me with magic, are you, Slade? Even during my ex’s time, that kind of invasion of privacy wasn’t allowed.”

“No, no!” He stops making the sandwich and gives me a sheepish look.

“I inferred it. I mean, I don’t run with the undergrads or the popular crowds, but I hear things.

It wasn’t hard to figure out that you’re at the hole in the wall shop so you don’t have to be on stage while you eat or that you’re going to make big changes because of all the charges against the former dean. ”

I nod, observing him. “I believe you, though I probably shouldn’t. Betrayal hides in obvious places; I’m living proof of that.”

His features look sharper as he smirks. “There are those of us who don’t believe what you did was unjustified, Morgana. Living here at State U will provide you with plenty of evidence to give the Council that will mitigate your actions.”

“That’s both my desire and my deepest fear, Slade. There’s only so much bad PR this place can take before the Council shuts it down and moves on.”

A coffee cup and a plate with my sandwich slide across the counter as he murmurs, “You’ll have to decide if that’s what you want when the time comes.”

“I know.”