CHAPTER 422: THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

Evaline:

The table quieted a little at Kyros’ words.

Though he didn’t clearly state who he was talking about, we all knew he meant the brothers.

I found all the six pair of eyes fixed one me. Though none of them asked the question outright, it was clear they were curious. The Thorne brothers were a regular presence in the dining hall, at least one of them would be around while our group had our meals during first term - especially Oscar and Draven.

I had to bite back my smile. "I got a message earlier, just before we left the dorm," I said casually, reaching for the butter knife. "It said the three of them are busy taking care of L."

That earned a round of chuckles from everyone at the table. The use of the letter ’L’ - our little code name - was enough to make the group grin knowingly.

Mallory leaned closer, whispering, "I would pay to see that. Three grown men trying to take care of L? That’s entertainment."

"Four, technically," Selene corrected in a whispered tone, raising an eyebrow. "You are forgetting the eldest... and the hottest."

"Oh, even better," Mallory said, laughing. "They should learn early about how to do these things."

Her words made my chest warm. Because she was right - they had decided to take care of Lioren on their own today. It would have been so easy and convenient to let Madam Elira and Vanessa take care of Lioren, but Draven insisted they handle it themselves, saying, "He’s our son too."

My heart had nearly melted.

I had stayed at the house last night, even though technically, I wasn’t supposed to. But after dinner, Draven and I had slipped through the secret tunnels and spent the night at the house with Lioren and the other three Thornes.

I had also made sure to pump enough bottles of milk to last through the day before sneaking back into the dorm at five in the morning.

And now, imagining my mates - four proud, strong men - taking turns feeding, burping, and rocking our son to sleep made me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Mallory must have seen the look on my face because she smiled softly. "You miss them already, don’t you?"

I nodded, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "Every second."

"Aw," Noah said dramatically, clutching his chest. "And here I thought I was the most important man in your life."

"Not even close," I teased.

The table burst into laughter again, and for a few blissful moments, I forgot about the staring, the whispers, and the weight of the morning.

Right then, I felt something shift inside me - a calm warmth that wrapped around my chest. It was the bond. My bond with Draven pulsing faintly, reminding me that even though he wasn’t here physically, he was there, somewhere close, and he could feel me too.

I closed my eyes for a second, smiling to myself.

* * *

The first class of the day passed smoother than Ihad dared to hope.

I had been nervous walking in, despite all the laughter and warmth at breakfast. The familiar walls of the classroom seemed to close in as soon as I stepped through the door, every memory from before my leave rushing back at once.

But as soon as Professor Aldric looked up from his notes and saw me, his eyes lit up. "Miss Evaline," he said warmly, straightening. "What a pleasant surprise. I was told you wouldn’t be returning until next month."

"I wanted to start as soon as possible," I said with a polite smile.

"Good," he replied, a proud smile tugging at his lips. "I can see that determination hasn’t changed." Then, to the rest of the class, he added, "Everyone, please welcome our Class President back. She’s been keeping up with the lessons even while on leave... truly a model example of dedication."

The words sent a murmur through the room. I could feel the eyes turning to me again - the same mix of curiosity, envy, and judgment I had felt all morning. But I also caught the tiny smiles from Mallory, Selene, and Kyros sitting two rows behind me, and even a thumbs-up from Noah, which helped ease the tension building in my chest.

Professor Aldric continued the lecture, but the warmth in his tone whenever he addressed me didn’t go unnoticed by others. Every time he asked a question, and I answered correctly, I could almost feel the irritation radiating from the far corner of the room... where Nadine and her group sat.

When the class ended, Professor Aldric called me to the front. "Miss Evaline, I must commend you," he said as he handed me a stack of parchment. "These are the new assignments for the term. But judging by your grasp of the last few lessons, I suspect you’ll finish them faster than most."

"Thank you, Professor."

As I turned back to my seat, I caught Nadine’s glare, it was sharp enough to cut through steel. Her friends whispered something under their breath before smirking. I ignored them and headed out with my friends, who instantly surrounded me like a protective circle.

"Did you see their faces?" Noah whispered, eyes twinkling. "I thought Nadine was going to choke on her own bitterness when the professor praised you."

"Let her," Selene said, flipping her hair. "The more she glares, the more you shine."

I laughed softly but didn’t comment. Deep down, I wasn’t bothered. Just... tired. The kind of tired that came from knowing people would always talk, no matter what I did.

The next two classes passed quickly.

But the lunch wasn’t any easier.

The moment we stepped into the hall, the atmosphere changed... like the air had grown thicker. This time, the stares weren’t just directed at me. They bounced between my table and the one near the center of the room.

Because he was there.

Draven.

Even in a crowded room full of voices, his presence stood out like gravity itself. Dressed in his Academy uniform, he looked effortlessly commanding. He didn’t need them to draw attention. He never did.

And the worst part? He wasn’t even trying to hide his stare.

From the moment I sat down, his gaze found me. Not casually. Not by accident. It was deliberate - calm, steady, and so intense that it made my pulse skip every few seconds. He didn’t speak, didn’t gesture, didn’t move from his seat... but that look said everything he couldn’t say aloud here.

I see you.

You are mine.

And I don’t care who knows it.

I could practically feel the whispers spreading again like ripples across water.

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous," Noah muttered beside me, following Draven’s gaze. "Is he trying to get you in trouble, or does he just enjoy the chaos?"

"Both," Mallory said with a small grin. "He’s a Thorne, after all."

I nearly choked on my drink, trying to stifle a laugh. "Can you all please eat and pretend nothing is happening?"

"Impossible," Ria murmured, smirking. "The man’s practically devouring you with his eyes. You can’t expect us not to notice."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I forced myself to focus on my plate. I was grateful, though, that Draven didn’t stand up or come over. That would have caused mayhem. The gossip was bad enough already.

Still, when our eyes met briefly across the hall, something inside me fluttered. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips... the kind of smile that said he knew exactly what he was doing to me. And then, like a merciful twist of fate, one of his friends called his name, and his attention shifted.

I exhaled quietly, finally taking a bite of my food.

Lunch finally ended, and soon it was time for the next class - Herbs and Potions.

The classroom smelled faintly of dried herbs and crushed petals, sunlight filtering through the glass windows to cast golden patterns across the tables. My friends and I took our usual seats near the center.

The bell rang, echoing through the room, and right on cue, the door opened.

And Kieran Thorne walked in.

Even though I knew it was coming, my breath caught for a second.

He looked every bit the part of a professor - his white silk shirt perfectly pressed, his long blonde hair tied back neatly, and a pair of spectacles perched low on his nose. His expression was calm, composed... but I caught the faintest flicker of a smile in his eyes when they met mine.

"Good afternoon, class," he said, his voice smooth and steady as he set his notes on the desk. "Let’s begin."