Dining Hall Disclosures and a Chilling Stare

The moment we stepped into the main hallway, conversations stopped. Heads turned. Eyes fixed on me like I was some kind of exotic animal at the zoo. I felt myself shrink under their collective gaze.

"Is it always like this?" I whispered to Lyra, who seemed unbothered by the attention.

"Only when there's fresh meat," she replied cheerfully, linking her arm through mine. "Don't worry, they'll find something else to gawk at tomorrow. Probably."

"Comforting," I muttered, keeping my eyes fixed ahead as we navigated the corridor.

The campus was beautiful—I had to admit that much. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating stone walls that looked centuries old. The architecture reminded me of those fancy universities I'd seen in movies, all Gothic spires and ivy-covered walls. Under different circumstances, I might have been impressed.

"The dining hall's this way," Lyra announced, guiding me down a wide hallway. "Fair warning—it'll be packed. Everyone wants a look at the new girl."

"Great. I've always wanted to be a sideshow attraction."

Lyra laughed. "You're funny! I knew I'd like you."

Before I could respond, two guys approached us from the opposite direction. Both were tall and athletic-looking, with the confident swagger of guys who knew exactly how attractive they were.

"Lyr!" The taller one called out, his face breaking into a grin.

Lyra dropped my arm and practically launched herself at them. The tall one caught her easily, spinning her around while she giggled.

"Put me down, you oaf!" she squealed, but she was beaming.

He set her down gently, and she immediately turned to hug the second guy, who kissed the top of her head affectionately.

"Hazel, meet Gideon and Kieran," Lyra said, gesturing to the guys. "They're part of my group."

"Hey," I managed, suddenly feeling awkward. Both guys were looking at me with intense interest.

"So you're the new girl everyone's talking about," Gideon, the taller one, said. "Nice to meet you."

"What he means is, nice to meet someone who isn't terrified of him for once," Kieran added with a smirk. "The freshmen usually avoid us for at least a month."

I frowned. "Why would they be scared of you?"

The guys exchanged glances, and Lyra quickly intervened.

"We'll catch up inside, okay? Elias and Cas got us a table."

The guys nodded and continued down the hall, with Gideon's hand resting possessively on Lyra's lower back. I noticed several students moving aside to let them pass.

"What was that about?" I asked as we approached massive double doors.

"I'll explain inside," Lyra promised, pushing the doors open.

The dining hall was like something out of a fantasy movie. Vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, long wooden tables arranged in neat rows. And it was packed with students, all wearing those color-coded uniforms. The buzz of conversation dipped noticeably when we entered.

"Don't look at anyone," Lyra advised. "Just follow me."

I kept my eyes fixed on Lyra's back as she weaved through the tables toward a corner where I could see Gideon and Kieran sitting with two other guys. All four of them were ridiculously good-looking, like they'd stepped out of a magazine.

"That's Elias and Caspian," Lyra explained, nodding toward the newcomers. "Everyone calls Caspian 'Cas' though."

We reached the table, and Lyra slid onto the bench between Gideon and Kieran. I hesitated before taking the empty spot beside Elias, who gave me a friendly nod.

"Hungry?" Cas asked, pushing a plate of what looked like pastries toward me.

"Starving, actually," I admitted, realizing I hadn't eaten since... well, I couldn't remember.

"Let's get you some real food," Lyra said, standing back up. "Come on."

I followed her to a serving area where the most amazing smells were coming from. As we loaded our plates, I decided to get some answers.

"So, which one of those guys are you dating?" I asked quietly.

Lyra looked at me like I'd said something absurd, then understanding dawned on her face.

"Oh! Right, you don't know. I'm bonded to all four of them."

I nearly dropped my plate. "All four? Like... at the same time?"

She nodded, completely unfazed. "That's how it works for Greys. Usually four guys to one girl, since females are so rare. We're born at about a five-to-one ratio."

"And everyone's just... okay with sharing?"

"It's not sharing, exactly," Lyra explained, adding some kind of pasta to her plate. "Soul-seers match bonds based on compatibility and power balance. My guys are all perfectly suited to me, and to each other. We're a unit."

My head was spinning. "So every woman here has multiple... partners?"

"Most do," she confirmed. "Some have three bonds, some have five. Four is most common."

As we walked back to our table, I took the opportunity to observe the other students more carefully. Now that I was looking for it, I could see the pattern—small groups centered around a single female, with several males hovering protectively.

"The girls who aren't old enough to be bonded yet sit with their dorm groups," Lyra continued, nodding toward a table of younger girls. "Once they reach eighteen, they're eligible for matching."

"And the guys just... wait around to be assigned a girlfriend?" I couldn't keep the disbelief from my voice.

Lyra laughed. "It's more complex than that. The bonds are predetermined—soul-deep connections that exist before birth. The soul-seers just identify them."

We sat back down at the table, and I tried to process everything she'd told me. It was so far removed from anything I'd ever known.

"So... what happens to the guys who don't get matched?" I asked.

"Some never bond," Elias explained, joining our conversation. "They can still have fulfilling lives, work important jobs. Others find bonds later in life when a compatible female emerges."

I was about to ask another question when I noticed Cas staring over my shoulder, his expression tense.

"Looks like you've got admirers," he said, nodding toward something behind me.

I turned and saw a table of guys—all unbonded, judging by the lack of a female companion—staring intently in our direction. Or more specifically, at me.

"What's their deal?" I asked, uncomfortable under their scrutiny.

"They're unbonded," Lyra explained quietly. "You're new, which means you represent a second chance for some of them. They're wondering if you could be their match."

"But I'm not—I mean, I don't even belong here," I protested.

"Maybe, maybe not," Lyra shrugged. "But they'll be watching you until they know for sure."

Great. More people staring at me. I scanned the room, trying to gauge just how many eyes were on me, when my gaze landed on a familiar face—and my blood turned to ice.

Jaxon Ryder sat at a table across the hall, and he was looking directly at me. Unlike the hopeful stares of the unbonded males, his expression was pure malevolence. Those same eyes that had glowed with rage when he'd choked me were now fixed on me with cold hatred.

"That's Jaxon Ryder," Lyra whispered, following my gaze. "I see you've already had the pleasure."

"He tried to kill me earlier," I said, unable to look away from his murderous glare.

"Yeah, he has that effect on people," Lyra sighed. "Best to stay clear of him if you can."

But as our eyes remained locked across the crowded dining hall, I knew that wouldn't be possible. I could see the devil in his eyes as he stared back at me with that murderous look once again, and something told me our paths were destined to cross—whether I wanted them to or not.