The Heir

Chapter 61

The rest of the spring semester has flown by in a blur. Dance season is over and I received offers from a few universities. My friend group is all coupled up but has doubled down in our mischief. I think Noah and Lina are trying to make up for the fact that I won't be here with them next year.

Dad fixed everything with the Irish. There's no more war, no more threat to my life. He even called back some of the guards.

Everything with Duke has been going perfectly. If I allow myself to think about it for too long, I begin to doubt myself; begin to doubt him. That nothing is this perfect. That there has to be an underlying scheme. That I'm going to get hurt.

But he's never given me a reason to actually believe any of that.

Today marks the first day of the last finals week I'll ever have at Montrose. The library is packed as students frantically prepare for their tests. Older students pass on old study guides and flash cards to the younger students. Prefects organize study groups. It's a team effort to pass these exams.

Akio woke up at the ass crack of dawn to make sure that we'd have a table. Him and Noah are currently cramming for our civil literacy test. Hannah and Lina sit hunched over the same science textbook. They speak in hushed tones, gesturing to their notebooks. Ryan's gone through at least four drafts for his final English essay. He frowns deeply at the torn pages splayed across the table.

I'm finishing up the study guide for my calculus class. I promised to share with everyone else in the class so I hurry to add the finishing touches.

"Love," Duke appears next to the table. "Please tell me you finished that study guide."

"For calc?" I ask, looking up at him.

"Yeah," he nods frantically.

"I'm finishing it now," I inform him, adding. "Pull up a chair."

He tosses his books down before grabbing a chair from another table. I shuffle myself closer to Akio to make room. I pass my laptop over to Duke as soon as he's settled.

"Here," he passes me a few pieces of paper. "For the Latin test."

I glance at the study guide, "you did this?"

"Non solum dolor quis," he quirks a brow.
(You're not the only smart one)

"You speak Latin?" I exclaim. It's a written language, everyone knows that.

"Who the hell speaks Latin?" Noah leans over to ask.

"What?" Hannah's attention shifts to us as well.

"What?" Dukes brows crease together. "I've taken Latin for four years. Can't you speak it?"

"No one can," Noah laughs. "Good for you."

"Thanks," Duke replies, but it comes out like a question.

"Focus," I instruct, gesturing to my computer.

Duke nods curtly and turns his gaze to the screen. A smile tugs at my lips as I watch him go over the study guide. His eyes are narrowed in on the screen and he keeps his bottom lip between his teeth. But I make the mistake of looking at Ryan.

His brows lift; so this is really it?

I give a small shrug; is it really that bad?

He tilts his head; could be worse.

I nod towards Lina; what about you?

He rolls his eyes; shut up.

I give a pointed look; you started it.