Page 237 of A University of Betrayal

“Stay away from us, or you’re dead!” Mikhail growled with a newfound aggression, tearing himself away from the guys and snorting before trying to lunge at Miles again, fist-bumping, but being stopped again by the others.

“Relax!”Nash said loudly. “Our fucking rules apply here!”

Someone turned me around so that I could no longer see Nash shouting at Mikhail, who rushed past him with a steely face.

“Are you okay?”

It was Julian who looked at me with concern.

“Whaton earthis going on here again?” we heard angrily behind us, and students turned around. “Why aren’t you in your lectures? The professors are already waiting for twenty minutes!”

It was the red-haired witch, Professor Rebecca Harlow.

I tried to focus on her, but my gaze inevitably drifted to Miles, who had straightened up and was already buttoning his shirt. He looked back at me too. And for the first time, I couldn’t interpret his expression at all.

“Attendance has recently become mandatory at our institution! So in with those who actually have seminars now!”

In the corner of my eye, I noticed the guys from the pack putting their white shirts and dark green sweaters back on, Mica’s men joining him and walking away, still with an angry look that made me thank Miles for not provoking him any further.

My gaze automatically wandered back to my rival. And his kept slipping back to mine.

Julian’s warm hand on my shoulder turned me to face him. “Hey, are you all right? Are you hurt?”

He looked genuinely concerned and forced me back to reality.

I shook my head slowly and his features relaxed a little.

“You showed that guy, Ems,” he said with his typical Julian grin.

Suddenly, Hunter joined us and patted me on the shoulders, just as he had done when we had greeted each other.

“I have to agree with him for once, even if the guy still made it into the team.”

Too dazed by what had just happened, I returned his smile only slightly and turned back to the manI had defeated,according to the others. I looked everywhere for the white shirt and black pants, the dark brown chin-length hair…

But Miles had disappeared.

“Come on, let’s go. Alarik is going to rip our heads off.”

I let myself be pulled along with Julian. Dazed. That was my current state.

A disorienting throb fought for dominance in my chest, and mild shock overtook me when I realized it was the memory of Miles’ heartbeat.

I blinked.

I had just finished Miles DeLoughrey. He hadn’t managed to manipulate me. It was my triumph.Damn,I should be happy.

Then, finally, a smile settled on my lips.

I had shown him. And the euphoria was so overwhelming that I already knew: This game really had only just begun.

Chapter 42

Bayla

Julian had told me on the way to my accommodation about a game on campus that everyone seemed to be talking about right now and which had secured Miles DeLoughrey and Emely Copeland extra votes for the election nomination.

Unfortunately, I had missed it because I had been sitting in the library, lost in the dystopian section, and borrowing the entireEmbers of Humanityseries by bestselling authorCeleste Victoria.

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