𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 𓍼

Chapter 3 : Reignited rivalry

"I don't just want to be in your life; I want to consume every part of you until there's nothing left untouched by me."

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

˗ˏˋ Eryx ˎˊ˗

As I sat in the classroom, my mind kept circling back to the brief encounter earlier. The girl who had bumped into Cassian-the same one I had seen Evelia step in for yesterday. She seemed nervous, out of place, and I couldn't help but wonder what had drawn her into this mess. But more than that, I couldn't stop thinking about Evelia.

I stared blankly at the front of the class, but my thoughts were miles away. Evelia had looked right at me, her eyes as cold as I remembered. There was no mistaking the disdain she held for me, not that I blamed her. What happened between us, between our families, was complicated-painful. And now, after all this time, she was back, and nothing between us had been resolved.

A sharp nudge brought me back to the present, and I turned to see Cassian leaning toward me, a sly grin on his face. He wasn't looking at me, though-his eyes were fixed on the girl who had just walked in and was now sitting next to Evelia.

"What's with you?" I asked, frowning as I noticed the way he was staring at her.

Cassian chuckled, still not looking away. "That girl... the one who ran into me just now. She's something, isn't she?"

I followed his gaze, watching as the girl nervously glanced around, clearly uncomfortable in the crowded classroom. She had a vulnerability about her that was almost palpable, the kind that drew people like Cassian in.

"What, you interested in her or something?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

He finally tore his eyes away from her to look at me, still smirking. "Interested? Maybe. She's new, fresh. You saw how she clung to Evelia. It's like she's looking for someone to protect her." His grin widened, the predatory edge in his voice unmistakable. "I could be that someone."

I felt a surge of irritation, though I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because Cassian always treated people like they were toys for his amusement, or maybe it was because he was too focused on this girl when there were bigger things at play-like Evelia being back.

"Don't get any ideas, Cass," I warned, my voice low. "She's not worth the trouble."

He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly surprised by my tone. "Trouble? Since when do I shy away from trouble, Eryx?"

I didn't respond, just narrowed my eyes at him. Cassian was the type who thrived on challenges, on pushing boundaries just to see how far he could go. And right now, it seemed like he had found his latest target, just like I'd find mine.

But my mind wasn't on the girl, not really. It was on Evelia, on the way she had looked at me with that cold, unreadable expression. She was back, and that changed everything. Whatever game Cassian thought he was playing, he had no idea of the real stakes.

"Just don't do anything stupid," I muttered, more to myself than to him. I wasn't sure if I was talking about him or about what I was planning.

Cassian just shrugged, clearly not taking my warning seriously. "Relax, Eryx. I'm just having a little fun."

I watched as his gaze returned to the girl, that smirk still playing on his lips. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay focused. I couldn't let Cassian's antics distract me. Evelia was my priority now.

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

˗ˏˋ ࣪ ִֶEvelia. ˎˊ˗