Savanna woke up gasping, heart pounding, sheets twisted around her legs. She glanced out the window.It wasn't even dawn yet. With a sigh, she sat up.
This was the fourth time this week. The same dream. Always the same dream.
They were at a ball, dancing, laughing. And just as she reached for him .He vanished. Just like that.
She pushed her hair out of her face and sat up straighter. The dorm room was quiet. Too quiet. Her roommate was still asleep, blissfully unaware of everything.
Savanna looked back at the window. Something or someone moved so swiftly she thought she'd imagined it.
Valeria Academy was strange. Very strange. But this dream felt like something else entirely.
And the boy in it...
She needed to know who he was.
Why did he haunt her dreams?
And most of all . Why was he always watching her?
Sleep was out of the question now. She got out of bed and readied herself for class, even though it wouldn't start for another two hours. She headed to the library.
On the way, she felt it.Someone following her. But oddly, she felt no fear.
She knew it was him.
Whatever his name was.
She stopped walking. So did he.
She turned to face him. He didn't flinch. Didn't hide.
There was something in his eyes , something like pain, longing. And something else.
He looked at her like she was a treasure.
Like he couldn't bear to look away.
He stood tall, unblinking, gaze unreadable.
Savanna turned again and continued toward the library. He followed.
She didn't fear him like she should. And she didn't understand why.
He could be a stalker, for all she knew.
But somehow, that felt like the most absurd thought she'd ever had.
She remembered the way he'd caught he'd two days ago, when she tripped on the library's old carpet. He'd appeared out of nowhere, arms steady, eyes intense.
It took him a heartbeat too long to let her go.
He looked like he wanted to say something.
But he didn't.
Savanna picked up the book on wands and spells, but she couldn't concentrate. Her thoughts kept drifting until a sudden sting made her yelp in pain.
Hunter was beside her in an instant.
"Are you okay? What happened? Do you need to see the healer?"
He spoke so fast, Savanna didn't know which question to answer first.
"Savanna, why did you scream?" he asked, his forehead creased with worry.
Instead of replying, she asked, "What's your name?"
He didn't answer.
"You know my name," she continued. "So it's only fair that I know yours."
Hunter looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language.
Savanna sighed. "It's just a paper cut, that's all. Now will you answer me?"
She looked at Hunter. His body was rigid, and he seemed like he wasn't even breathing.
Savanna reached out to touch him, but he stepped back and walked out of the room.
She stared after him, confused.
How could he disappear so fast?
"Savanna!" someone called.
She recognized the voice to be Mira's.