Kacy didn't understand the feeling that rose in her chest as Lynn walked straight toward him.
It wasn't the words.
It didn't matter what she was saying.
It was the way she moved—unquestioning, unhesitating, as if the space between her and Kaiden had always belonged to her.
She's bold.
The thought settled quietly.
Something Kacy wasn't.
Her fingers curled slightly against her sleeve.
No name on the rankings. No place that could be pointed to. No identity anyone could trace.
Just whispers.
A shadow trailing somewhere behind first in the silver class.
A faint scoff slipped from her.
They know nothing.
Missed days. Missed tests.
Missed him.
And she alone knew how much that absence had cost her.
Her gaze lifted again—drawn back without effort.
She hadn't planned this.
Hadn't meant to fall this far.
But somewhere along the line, it had stopped being a choice.
If anyone heard her thoughts, they'd laugh.
Or call her delusional.
Because from where he stood—
She was barely worth noticing.
"Hey, Kacy."
The voice cut cleanly through her thoughts.
She looked up.
Colton stood there, one hand resting casually on the back of a chair, Kaiden beside him—quiet, composed, unreadable as ever.
"Mind if we join you?" Colton asked, glancing between her and Kim.
Kacy's eyes flickered—briefly—to Kaiden before she caught herself. Then she nodded quickly, turning slightly.
"There's space."
Kim's gaze dropped to the table.
Five chairs.
Just enough.
She gave a small nod. "Go ahead."
"Thanks," Colton said, pulling out a chair and sitting with practiced ease. Kaiden followed, taking the seat beside him without a word, his presence settling rather than intruding.
Kacy sat opposite them.
Her eyes lingered a moment longer than they should have.
A small, unguarded warmth touched her expression.
If time could just—
"I didn't know you kept company with people who don't even make the honors list."
The voice sliced through the moment.
Cool.
Measured.
Sharp.
All eyes turned.
Lynn McKenzie stood there, arms folded lightly, her gaze fixed—not on the table—but directly at the two girls seated across from her target.
Not curious.
Judging.
Colton's smile remained—but something behind it cooled.
"Who are you referring to?" he asked, tone easy, almost polite.
Lynn's eyes shifted to him briefly—then past him.
A faint crease formed between her brows.
There was something about that smile.
Something… off.
"Not everyone knows," she began, stepping forward, her voice smooth, deliberate, "but there's someone here who doesn't exist in the academy's official records."
Her gaze landed.
Precise.
"Isn't that right… Miss Kaitlyn?"
She pulled out the last chair and sat.
Uninvited.
Unapologetic.
The table completed itself around her.
Five.
A glint flickered in Kacy's eyes.
Brief.
Dangerous.
Some things weren't meant to be spoken aloud.
Colton turned toward her, the ease in his expression slipping just slightly. When she had mentioned not being "eligible," he hadn't questioned it.
Now—
He did.
Across from him, Kaiden's page stilled.
His gaze lifted—not to Lynn, but to Kacy.
Watching.
Measuring.
Her expression hadn't changed.
Calm.
Too calm.
A faint curve touched his lips.
Interesting.
"You shouldn't go around saying things like that," Kim said, her voice steady as she met Lynn's gaze. "People will get the wrong idea."
Lynn laughed.
Soft.
Cold.
The kind that settled under the skin.
"The wrong idea?" she echoed. "What people fail to understand is—no matter how tight Aurikon's security is—some identities don't stay hidden."
Her eyes slid to Kim.
Sharp.
"Tell me, Miss Hart," she continued, voice smooth but edged, "first on the silver list, sixth on the honors list—why keep her close?"
A pause.
Measured.
"I don't see what she offers."
Her chin tilted slightly.
"Or are you the one trailing behind?"
"Enough."
Kacy's voice cut in.
Low.
Controlled.
But it carried something heavier—something that pressed into the silence that followed.
Lynn turned to her slowly, interest sharpening.
"So you do speak."
Her gaze narrowed slightly. "You skip exams. Yet you move up every time. No record. No explanation." A tilt of her head. "Coincidence?"
Kim's hand tightened against the table.
She was about to snap—
"You shouldn't belittle people just because you can."
The voice that spoke wasn't hers.
Colton.
Calm.
Too calm.
His gaze rested on Lynn—steady, unblinking.
Empty.
"For all you know," he added quietly, "it might come back to haunt you."
The air stilled.
For a fraction of a second—
Lynn's expression cracked.
Not much.
But enough.
Kim blinked, caught off guard.
He… defended us?
"It's not belittling—" Lynn began.
Chairs moved.
The sound cut her off.
Colton stood first. Kacy followed. Kim rose after.
Kaiden closed his book.
They didn't look back.
They just left.
Lynn remained seated.
Still.
Her fingers pressed lightly against the table, tension threading beneath control.
Her gaze followed them—sharp, calculating.
The system was secure.
Encrypted.
Untouchable to most.
But not to her.
She had seen enough files to understand how things worked—who mattered, who didn't.
Most students were easy to place.
Predictable.
Traceable.
Useful.
But those four—
Nothing.
No records that held weight.
No leverage.
Which meant one thing.
Either they stood far above the system—
Or someone powerful enough had placed them there.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Not anger.
Not yet.
But close.
Either way…
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
They're worth knowing.