**************

~Spring's POV~

Even Professor Mira paused mid-lecture, her hawk-like eyes narrowing. "Is there a problem back there?"

Jace tilted his head, never breaking his stare with Yvonne. "No, professor. Just a student forgetting her manners."

Professor Mira's gaze lingered a moment longer, then she turned back to the trail.

Yvonne clenched her jaw, muttered something under her breath, and stormed ahead.

Jace waited until she was out of earshot before he leaned closer again, brushing dirt from my book. "You okay?"

I nodded, swallowing past the tightness in my throat. "I could've handled her."

His grin softened into something gentler. "I know. But you don't have to when I'm here."

Heat curled low in my chest, spreading faster than I wanted it to.

Jade hummed. "Say it. Thank him. Or better, kiss him."

Not happening, I hissed back.

Jace slipped my notebook into my hands and his fingers lingered against mine. "You don't have to fight every battle alone, Spring. Let us stand with you. That's what a bond is for."

The sincerity in his voice nearly undid me. I looked away quickly, focusing on the trail. "You're still insufferable."

He chuckled. "And you're still adorable when you're pretending you don't like it."

Leila glanced back at us, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. She didn't say a word, but the look alone made my cheeks flame hotter.

I shoved the notebook into my pack. "Focus on your research before Professor Mira catches you slacking."

"Fine." He fell into step beside me and joined his group. His hands were clasped behind his head again. But his eyes stayed on me, like even the forest wasn't half as interesting.

As the trail narrowed, I saw Kael moving towards my group. And just as I thought I could escape, he leaned close and whispered so only I could hear. "Next time someone tries that with you, Moonbite… they won't get off so easily."

A slight shiver ran through me.

But Jade was practically singing. "Ohhh, darling. This one's already halfway gone for you. Delicious."

"Thanks, Kael."

***********

By the time we got back, showered, and changed our clothes, we were ready to have a decent breakfast.

We all got into the bus to drive to our destination.

But when I arrived, I noticed four partly empty seats on the two rows of opposition, each occupied by one of my mates, waiting for me to pick them.

Immediately, Jade rose up in my head, practically already trying to decide for me where I'd sit when suddenly I noticed someone staring at me.

I looked up to see Rael's eyes glued on me like I was the only movie in the world and he had to watch.

Immediately, memories of when he stared at me like I was the last piece of cake in the world came rushing back, and I felt a mix of emotions return.

I forced the thoughts out of my head when another pair of eyes locked on mine.

My lips pulled back softly as I immediately began my walk towards my seat, but to my mates' shock, I did not sit with any of them and made my way towards the fifth seat from the back and stopped.

"Mira."

She smiled at me warmly, her curls bouncing as she tilted her head. "You have boy trouble?"

I nodded silently.

"Say no more, V.P.," she teased, motioning for me to take my seat. "Handle it after and at your own time."

I thanked her under my breath and slid into my seat.

As if perfectly choreographed, my mates settled in immediately after—Tyrion and Jace flanking my left, Kael and Storm taking the right. I arched a brow at them as though they were doing something groundbreaking.

"They lost, so no more division," Arden, one of the student council members, explained from behind me with a smirk, like he'd been observing us all morning.

"Hello," I greeted casually, waving without turning all the way around.

"Hey," he replied easily, leaning slightly closer. "Looks like moving up the ranks runs in your blood, Spring Kaine. First, the V.P. position, and now getting bumped to the senior class. I love ladies with brains and beauty. And you, my dear, fit every single quality."

The boldness in his voice drew a soft murmur from a few nearby students, but I didn't even have to glance to know what came next. I felt them.

Four distinct pairs of heated eyes locked on us instantly, heavy enough to set Arden on fire if he dared push any further.

Arden, apparently sensing the death glares radiating from behind me, smiled sheepishly and lowered his head, pretending to suddenly be fascinated by his notes.

Only when he'd shifted his focus did I swivel slightly in my chair, fixing my mates with a silent glare. It took them a second, but they eventually relaxed, one by one.

Barely.

—

Breakfast passed in a blur of hushed conversations and shared glances.

I made sure to eat just enough to keep my energy steady for the rest of the day, though I was far more entertained by how my mates kept subtly competing over who got to hand me things.

Storm slid me the honey, Kael passed the cutlery before anyone else could, and Jace purposely stole Tyrion's seat just so he could "accidentally" bump my shoulder.

Boys.

By the time we left the dining hall, several of them had personally bought extra meals and carefully packaged them to bring back to camp for later.

I caught Storm balancing three separate containers with ease, while Jace snatched one from him just to annoy him back.

—

The moment we reached the dorms, I packed my personal things and made a beeline for the bathroom before the rest of the students could swarm the showers.

I locked the door behind me, taking my sweet time to freshen up. The hot water soothed my tired muscles, and by the time I stepped out, toweling my hair, I felt less like I'd been dragged through training camp and more like myself again.

Back in my tent, I perched on the edge of my sleeping bag, packing a few things into my backpack when I felt it—a shadow stretching across the grass just beyond me.

"Psst. Spring."

I ignored it.

"Hey, Sunshine," the whisper teased, closer this time.

I sighed, already knowing who it was before I turned my head.

Jace leaned lazily against the doorframe, his grin wide and infuriating.

"No time for games, Jace. I don't want any of the teachers—"

"Good little soldier," he interrupted, pushing off the frame and stepping closer until his breath brushed my ear. "But I found something during our morning reports. You're going to want to see it."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, narrowing them. "I don't want detention. Or worse."

"You want me, though," he shot back smoothly, his smirk positively lethal. "So… technically, the same thing."

My pulse jumped despite myself, and I had to force a scowl onto my face to mask it. Why were my mates suddenly acting like hormone-fueled high school boys?

At least Storm and Tyrion were chill. Unlike these two chaos incarnates.

"Come with me," Jace urged, his tone shifting, all teasing gone. There was something sharp in his gaze now, something secretive.

"Where to? And why?" I crossed my arms.

He tilted his head, lips quirking faintly. "Don't ask questions. Just trust me."

I hesitated, glancing around. The rest of the students were busy—sorting their gear, checking assignments, packing up supplies. Nobody was paying attention. Probably no one would notice if we slipped away for a while.

Sighing, I grabbed my jacket and stood. "This better be good."

"It'll be worth your time," he promised, his voice low and certain.

Together, we headed past the tents and back into the forest, retracing some of the routes from this morning's collection studies.

The farther we went, the quieter it became, the chatter of distant students fading until it was just us and the whispering of the trees.

"Where exactly are we going?" I finally asked when the silence stretched too long.

Jace didn't answer, just reached back and laced his fingers with mine, tugging me along.

"Jace," I tried again, huffing slightly when he ignored me.

"Almost there," he finally said.

True to his word, a few more steps brought us into a clearing I almost recognized. My brows furrowed as I took in the space, my gaze snagging on the dark mouth of a cave ahead.

The moment I saw it, a strange coldness swept over me—like déjà vu clawing through my chest.

I'd stood here before.

Not here, exactly… but somewhere just like it, in another time, another life.

Flashes stirred in the back of my mind: my past self standing in front of a cave, marking my name deep into its walls, carving it into a smooth stone hidden inside.

I swallowed hard.

Jace watched me silently until he gripped my hand firmly.

"Come on," he said softly. "We can be free there without a dozen eyes watching us."

I hesitated, then nodded subconsciously, letting him lead me into the quiet cave.