THE FALLEN PRINCE

Everyone at Regents Crown Academy had a warning for newcomers.

Don't get involved with the Blackwells.

Anastasia Kingswell learned that on her first day back, right before the chauffeur even closed the car door behind her.

It didn't matter.
Because the problem wasn't Valentina Blackwell - her best friend, her almost-sister, the girl she'd grown up sharing secrets with.

The problem was Xavier.

Xavier Blackwell.
Nineteen years old.
Too rich, too beautiful, too broken to be anything but a disaster.

He stood by the school gates with a cigarette between his fingers, wearing his uniform like a threat, sunlight cutting across his jaw. Everyone else pretended not to stare. Anastasia didn't.

She felt him look up before she even stepped onto the pavement.
Felt his eyes drag over her like he was remembering every version of her he wasn't allowed to touch.

Valentina squealed and ran into Anastasia's arms-

But Xavier didn't move.

He just watched her.

Like he'd been starving for a year, and she was the first thing that looked like food.

And Anastasia knew, in the space of a single breath:

She wasn't going to stay away from him.
Not this year.
Not ever.

The warning should have scared her.

It only made her curious.