Page 228 of A University of Betrayal

He just snorted and pulled the rest of his stuff toward himself with hisoh-so-perfectRuisangor hands. He looked far too manly for his age... and far too attractive, which he definitely didn’t deserve.

“I want you to pick up your exams now, before I forget later,” the slightly chubbier professor announced and unpacked a stack of papers, which made me even more nervous.

I had worked my ass off so hard for this first exam, and I needed a good start.

“Why so nervous, little wolf? Is there something you want to tell me?”

I looked at Miles, who had leaned back again, and took a deep breath. I would have to deal with his unnerving presence, no matter how much I wanted to tear him apart at that very moment.

“First of all, stop calling me that. And secondly, you’re thelastperson who cares about my private life.”

Naturally, he pulled the corners of his mouth up into an amused smile. Of course, what else?

“You know, Emely, you’re so stubborn that it’s actually fun to watch you react to the slightest teasing.”

It sounded like I was a game for him to play to distract himself from his boring Ruisangor life.

“And you’re so annoying that I’d love to tear you apart right here, right in front of my favorite professor,” I growled as quietly as I could and pulled out my folder and the pencil case in which I had neatly organized all my pens.

Miles reached for his iPad with amusement and I could literally feel his scrutinizing gaze on my pencil case.

“How old-fashioned.”

I leaned back as he did and looked at the thin iPad in front of him.

“How snobby.”

Miles just laughed and shook his head like I was a stupid kid, which sparked anger in me again.

Now that I was sitting leaning back just like him, I felt like something was connecting us, so I automatically sat up straight again and straightened my back.

And I felt him again. His gaze. This time, on me, as it traveled down my back.

A tingling sensation rushed through my stomach. I turned around. “You’re the most brazen person I’ve ever met.”

He looked me straight in the eye. His irises, warm brown tourmalines.

Since he was a Ruisangor, one had to be careful not to look too long into them. Who knew what his legacy gift was?

I caught myself doing so and took a concentrated breath. I couldn’t let him realize that he was unsettling me.I couldn’t let him unsettle me at all!

“And you’re the snappiest.”

And again. A smile. Everything about him suggested that he felt superior. His posture, the look, the words, even his fucking expensive perfume. I tried not to breathe it in, not again!

“You’re trying your hardest to be different from me,” he whispered sharply, his gaze becoming more serious, but without losing its hint of amusement.

“Iamdifferent from you!” I hissed and sent a prayer to the Esadowa spirits that he would finally take this as a signal to leave me alone. Not a chance.

“You think you’re different from me, but there are only a few laws and different DNA separating us. At the end of the day, you’re trying to be something you’ll never be, just like I did.”

I looked at him, confused.

What was he talking about?

“Vivienna Westcode.” She stood up proudly and strode forward to the professor, who handed her a piece of paper. “Very good. I am delighted with your excellent performance.”

Snorting, I rolled my eyes, and I could have sworn that this conceited cow had just given me her dirty fake smile.

---