Page 20 of The Drama King

"Meaning?" Dorian asked.

"We can definitely destroy her academically and socially. But psychologically..." Corvus trailed off, searching for words. "She's tougher than I expected."

Dorian's gaze sharpened. "Explain."

"She has more emotional resources than our typical targets," Corvus said carefully. "Breaking her completely might not be worth the effort."

"So she's got a backbone," I said with a shrug, playing my expected role despite my growing curiosity. "Big deal. We push harder." The words came automatically, the script we always followed.

"Or we could try something different," Corvus suggested, surprising both Dorian and me. "Instead of destroying her, what if we redirected her? Used her abilities to our advantage?"

Dorian raised an eyebrow. "You want to recruit her? That's new."

"I'm just considering all options," Corvus said defensively.

I laughed, though it felt hollow. "A scholarship Omega in our circle? That's a first." The idea wasn't as ridiculous as I made it sound. If she was truly exceptional, why not? But questioning our usual approach wasn't my place.

"I'm only analyzing the situation objectively," Corvus insisted, his tone heated.

Dorian watched him for several uncomfortable seconds, then turned back to his notes. "Keep going with what we've been doing for now. Get more information about her weak points. I'll see what I can learn during our first rehearsal."

"Understood," Corvus said, returning to his notebook.

"One more thing," Dorian added with false casualness. "What did you think of her as an actress? Is she any good?"

Another unexpected question. I watched Corvus carefully, wondering just what had happened during that scene study.

"She's talented," Corvus admitted after a moment. "Natural instincts, good technique. With the right training, she could be exceptional."

"As I suspected." Dorian made a note in his file, smiling slightly. "Her raw ability is undeniable."

The conversation shifted to showcase logistics, but my thoughts stayed on this scholarship Omega who had somehow managed to impress Corvus. Part of me wanted to see her for myself, to understand what made her different.

But another part—the part that still remembered what happened to the last scholarship student who'd caught Dorian's attention—hoped she'd transfer before the showcase. For her sake.

I picked up my phone again, scrolling aimlessly while questions circled in my mind. Was Corvus right? Could she be an asset rather than a target? And if so, what did that mean for our carefully constructed hierarchy?

I glanced at Dorian, studying his profile as he leaned over his notes. The sharp line of his jaw, the intensity of his focus—the same qualities that had drawn me to him since we were kids running wild on neighboring estates. The same qualities that made him dangerous to anyone who challenged him.

His eyes suddenly flicked up, catching me watching him. That knowing smirk appeared, the one that always made heat rush through me despite myself.

"Something on your mind, Oak?" he asked, voice low.

"Just thinking about the showcase," I lied, breaking eye contact.

"Mmm." He didn't believe me. He never did. "I'm calling it a night. That workout earlier did me in."

The invitation wasn't spoken, but hung in the air between us all the same. That was how it always worked—Doriansuggesting, never asking directly, and me following his lead like I had since we were eighteen and I'd had nowhere else to go.

"Yeah, I'm pretty beat too," I said, stretching for effect. "Those new free weights are no joke."

Corvus didn't look up from his notes, well accustomed to our unspoken arrangements. He'd been witness to this dance for years, always choosing to ignore the subtext of our exchanges.

As we gathered our things, I couldn't help wondering if this scholarship girl knew what she was up against—not just Dorian's calculated cruelty, but the complicated loyalty that kept people like me by his side despite everything.

More importantly, why did I suddenly care?

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