The day wound down, the academy bell chiming its release. Xavier didn't linger—he and Oliver slipped out, ignoring the gawks and whispers, and headed for the only place Xavier actually wanted to be that night.
The Midnight Club.
Its neon glow wrapped around them as they walked through the entrance, bass-heavy music vibrating under their feet. The atmosphere was thick with smoke, laughter, and the kind of chatter that always circled around money, power, and the dangerous promises of both.
Xavier didn't flinch at any of it—he cut straight toward the private hall, Oliver tagging along with a grin. They pushed into the familiar room Angel liked to claim as her own, its walls lined with sleek holo-screens and bottles that cost more than some people's cars.
