The storm didn't wait for morning.
It slammed against the academy's old windows like a giant fist, rattling the glass as if the whole building wanted to speak. Or scream.
Aria barely slept. Her mind kept replaying what happened in the east wing hallway — Killian grabbing her wrist like she was something fragile he could break… and Lucien appearing behind her, quiet but furious, like a shadow sharpening itself.
Two storms.
One outside.
One inside her chest.
By first period, the air in the school felt heavy, humid, crackling like static. Students whispered more than usual. Too many eyes watched her. Some with confusion. Some with fear. Some with interest that felt… wrong.
She hated it.
But nothing felt as wrong as when she opened her locker and a folded note fell out — but not paper.
A scrap of old, stiff parchment, like it was torn from a forgotten book.
A single sentence was written in spidery black ink:
"STOP LETTING THEM PULL YOU APART."
Her pulse slowed.
Then sped up.
No signature.
No initials.
No clue.
Just… a warning.
She looked over her shoulder instinctively.
Killian stood at the end of the hall with two of his friends, leaning on his locker like he ruled the corridor. His eyes weren't on them. They were locked on her — sharp, unreadable, too still for someone who usually moved like fire.
Lucien stood on the opposite side of the hallway, alone as usual, hands in his pockets, collar up, expression carved from ice and shadows. The storm wind from an open window fluttered his hair, but he didn't look away either.
Both of them staring.
Waiting.
As if the hallway was a battlefield and she was the reason they picked up weapons.
Aria shoved the note deep into her pocket and walked away before either of them could corner her.
But she didn't even make it to the next floor.
---
The Library — Silent but Not Safe
The library was darker today, lights flickering from the weather. A few students were scattered around, none paying attention.
Aria slipped into the far aisle between two tall bookshelves — the only place she could breathe for a second.
She leaned against the shelf, trying to quiet her heartbeat.
But a voice slid behind her like silk dipped in smoke.
"Running from both of us now?"
Killian.
She stiffened. "I'm not running."
He stepped closer, but carefully — like he knew she was a cornered cat. "Then why won't you look at me?"
She did.
And instantly regretted it.
His eyes weren't angry today.
Not cold.
Not mocking.
They were… scared.
And that terrified her more than his temper ever had.
"You disappear after class. You ignore me in the hallway. You look at Lucien like he's safer than me." He swallowed. "Aria, what's happening?"
She didn't answer — because she didn't know how to explain that she didn't trust either of them… and yet couldn't escape either of them.
Killian slowly reached out, as if testing her boundaries.
He didn't touch her — he just hovered his hand near her arm.
"Tell me what I did wrong," he whispered. "Just tell me."
Her breath hitched.
This was not the arrogant boy everyone feared.
This was someone unraveling.
"I can't do this right now," she managed.
Killian's jaw clenched. "Because of him?"
She didn't have time to respond.
Because the next moment—
A book slid off the top shelf and slammed onto the floor.
Both of them flinched.
Both turned toward the aisle entrance.
Lucien stood there.
Calm.
Expression unreadable.
But eyes?
A storm of their own.
"You're blocking the aisle," Lucien said quietly, gaze on Killian.
Killian moved in front of Aria instinctively, like she needed protection from Lucien.
Lucien's eyes flicked to the movement — and something sharp, dark, and dangerous lit inside them.
"Move," Lucien repeated.
"You want the aisle?" Killian stepped forward. "Come take it."
Aria stepped between them before the air could explode.
"Stop," she snapped, voice shaking but loud enough to echo. "Both of you."
They froze… only because she spoke.
Her heart hammered as she stared at the two boys — two storms, two obsessions, two dangers she didn't choose.
"I'm tired," she said. "I'm tired of being dragged into whatever war is happening between you two."
Neither boy spoke.
Neither blinked.
Then Lucien's gaze dropped to her pocket.
"The note," he said quietly. "Who gave it to you?"
Her blood went cold.
Killian's head whipped toward her.
"What note?"
Aria's fingers clenched around the parchment automatically.
"Show me," Lucien said.
"Don't listen to him," Killian shot back. "Show me instead."
"No," she whispered, stepping away. "I'm not showing either of you."
The flickering library light went out for a second.
Only darkness.
When it flickered back on—
The bookshelf next to her groaned.
Then tilted.
Then—
CRASH.
Books exploded across the floor like a waterfall.
The shelf had been pushed.
On purpose.
Aria gasped and stumbled back.
Killian grabbed her waist to steady her.
Lucien grabbed her arm at the same time.
Two grips.
Two protectors.
Two suspects.
Because someone pushed that shelf.
And the only two people close enough… were them.
"Let. Her. Go."
Lucien's voice turned cold.
"You first," Killian hissed.
Aria ripped herself from both of them, breath shaking.
Someone didn't want her finding something.
Someone didn't want her looking deeper.
Someone wanted to scare her.
But the worst part?
She had no idea which boy she needed to fear more.