Amber

Chapter 18: He's Hiding Something From Me

(Amber's POV )

Something was wrong.

I felt it before I even reached out of the school...

The air was heavy, charged—like the calm before a storm.

And when I finally saw him, standing there with his jaw tight, his shoulders tense, I knew.

Adrian Blackwood was not okay.

And in front of him?

Damien Vale.

The new student who had walked into school like he belonged here.

The one Adrian had hated on sight.

They weren't just talking.

They were staring each other down.

And whatever was happening between them?

It wasn't normal.

It wasn't human.

—

I took another step closer.

Neither of them noticed.

Not yet.

Adrian's posture was off.

Usually, he was all lazy confidence—smirks and taunts and the kind of arrogance that made me want to throw my notebook at his face.

But now?

His hands were curled into fists.

His golden eyes were darker, sharper.

Like he was holding something back.

And Damien?

He looked relaxed.

Too relaxed.

Like he was enjoying this.

Like he had been waiting for it.

—

I was almost there when I heard Adrian's voice.

Low. Dangerous.

"Stay away from her."

I froze.

Because I knew.

I didn't have to hear my name.

I didn't have to see the look on Adrian's face.

I already knew who he was talking about.

Me.

—

Damien chuckled, shaking his head. "That's adorable, Blackwood. Truly."

Blackwood?

He didn't call Adrian by his first name.

I frowned.

They knew each other.

Before now.

And neither of them had told me.

Adrian exhaled sharply. "I'm not joking, Damien."

Damien tilted his head. "I know."

I saw it then—the flicker of something sharp in his expression.

Something knowing.

Something dangerous.

He was playing a game.

And Adrian?

He was losing.

—

I had seen enough.

I stepped forward, loudly this time.

"Okay," I said. "What the hell is going on?"

Both of them turned toward me.

And that's when I saw it.

Adrian's expression—guilt.

Just for a split second.

Just long enough for me to catch it.

And Damien?

His smirk deepened.

"Well," he murmured. "This just got interesting."

—

I folded my arms, stepping closer. "Someone better start talking."

Adrian was still tense.

Still too stiff, too quiet.

Like he was debating what to say.

Which meant he was hiding something.

Damien, on the other hand, looked thrilled.

"Tell me, Amber," he said smoothly, "how much do you actually know about your charming seatmate?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

Damien glanced at Adrian. "Has he told you where he's from? Why he's here?"

I frowned.

Adrian still didn't speak.

And that made my stomach twist.

Damien's smirk grew. "Oh. So you don't know."

I turned to Adrian, my voice sharp. "Know what?"

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"It's nothing," he muttered.

Damien laughed. "Really? Nothing?"

Adrian shot him a glare. "Not now, Damien."

"Why not?" Damien asked, tilting his head. "She seems curious."

I clenched my jaw. "You're both acting insane."

Damien shrugged. "I'm just asking questions, Amber. The real problem is…"

His red eyes gleamed as he looked at Adrian.

"He won't answer them."

I turned back to Adrian. "What is he talking about?"

Adrian finally met my gaze.

But there was something off in his expression.

Something guarded.

Like he was deciding how much to tell me.

Which meant he was lying.

I shook my head, stepping back. "Wow. Okay. So you really are hiding something from me."

Adrian sighed. "Amber—"

"No," I snapped. "I don't have time for whatever weird alpha male nonsense is going on between you two. I just want the truth."

Adrian didn't answer.

And Damien?

He was watching everything.

Like he was enjoying the way Adrian was losing control.

Like he was waiting for something.

I glared at Adrian. "Are you going to tell me the truth, or should I ask Damien?"

That got a reaction.

Adrian moved instantly, stepping in front of me, his golden eyes burning.

"No."

The way he said it—low, dangerous, absolute—

It made my breath hitch.

I swallowed. "Then tell me what's going on."

Silence.

Adrian didn't move.

He didn't break eye contact.

Didn't say a word.

And somehow?

That made my stomach twist more than anything.

Because he wasn't just protecting himself.

He was protecting me.

From what?

I had no idea.

But I was going to find out.

Even if I had to tear the answers out of him.

—