Page 154 of A University of Betrayal

“Rebecca!” my uncle exclaimed, casting a confused glance between me and Miles.

Oh, great.

“When did I give youpermissionto call me by my first name, Mr. Copeland?” Professor Harlow sighed and walked past her desk to return to her briefcase. “And I recently got a doorbell made of gold. Just foryou. So,youdon’t just storm my spare office like a...savage.”

She emphasized her words so theatrically that I almost snorted. Miles stifled a laugh, and I resisted the urge to kick him.

Miles cleared his throat. “It’s a Copeland thing.”

“Silence!” the co-director emitted.

I hoped my glare would kill him inside. But when he caught mine, there was only the usual satisfaction.

Who had raised this guy? The other Ruisangors were just as arrogant, but not even the one with the ice-cold killer look provoked us as much as this annoying specimen next to me.

“Before you ask, these two troublemakers almost managed to start a brawl,” sighed the co-director, examining a crystal ball that she placed next to another one on her desk in a wooden holder, smiling in a way that might make you think it was her child. Except I was sure this woman would scare away anything under twelve for miles.

“Emely?”

I looked to my uncle, who eyed me questioningly.

“I’mnota troublemaker,” I replied in a firm voice.

Alarik looked at Miles, then back at me. And finally, he sighed. I detectedexhaustionin his tone.

“Both of you, please leave. I’ll sort it out.”

The Quatura lifted her head. “Don’t beridiculous,Mr. Copeland.”

“ProfessorCopeland!” my uncle corrected her with an angry look, and this time I had to grin. But even this one triumph faded bitterly when I caught sight of Miles grinning too.

Could he please not do that?

You’re Loved & I’m Hated

Christopher Tyng

The second Alarik closed the door behind him, I wanted to leave, but Miles immediately began to add his ridiculous two cents.

“That must have felt like a death sentence to you,” he began with a provocative look. “Just the look ofshockon your face when she threatened to make you lose the elections.”

“You don’t care about that anyway,” I snapped at him. “If you lose a job, Daddy will come and make sure you get it back.”

Miles’ face darkened.

“It’s not like that,” he said through clenched teeth.

I shook my head.

“I’m in absolutely no mood to keep arguing with you,” I growled angrily and turned to leave.

“I think I’ve just got into the mood.”

That was enough for me.

I turned back around. Stepped toward him.

Then we would be alone when I tore him apart. All the better.

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