I woke up because it was too hot.
Not just warm—stifling.
The moment I opened my eyes, I knew this wasn't my room.
Wrong ceiling. Wrong walls.
My head throbbed, but not nearly as badly as it should have.
Perks of a younger body.
I was in Nick's bed.
And Nick… was practically on top of me.
His arm draped over my chest, his leg tangled with mine.
I shifted, trying to shove him off. He stirred.
"Hey…" he mumbled with a sleepy smile—
then shot upright.
"Sorry! I swear, I didn't do anything!"
"…Do what, exactly?" I asked, blinking at him—
just in time to see his face go red.
"Forget it. Did you sleep okay? Your head?"
"Coffee," I muttered, swinging my legs off the bed. "Strong. Black. That'll fix me. And I'm starving."
"Here." Nick tossed me a pair of sweatpants. "Your clothes were wet. I took them off. Dried them."
"…Right." I pulled them on, then paused. "That's from when I ran after Alma. There were huge snowdrifts behind the dorm."
"Are you two okay?" he asked, pulling on his clothes—he'd been sleeping in just his underwear.
"Yeah. We talked. Everything's… the same."
Right?
The almost-kiss flickered in my head.
Still the same… right?
Nick went to make coffee. I slipped into the other room.
Phone.
8:30.
Breakfast ran until ten on weekends.
Plenty of time.
The room—
was a disaster.
Trash everywhere. Bodies sprawled across every surface.
Looks like no one but me and Nick left.
…Yeah. We're cleaning today.
Five missed calls.
Clyde.
Of course.
I sighed and hit redial.
"I'll eat and come," I muttered.
"You have twenty minutes."
Click.
…Great.
So much for breakfast.
I downed the coffee, said goodbye to Nick, and headed out.
Clyde was already waiting.
At his desk. Reading.
He didn't even look surprised when I walked in.
Just lifted his gaze—and pointed at the couch.
Sandwiches.
Juice.
"For me?" I asked.
"If you hadn't gotten drunk and overslept, you wouldn't have missed breakfast," he said coolly. "I don't need you collapsing mid-operation."
"…Operation?" I dropped onto the couch and grabbed a sandwich.
"Eat. And listen."
I did.
"What I'm about to tell you is known to a very limited circle."
I took a bite and focused.
"As I told you before—not only you among the aristocracy wants to develop power. There are others."
"You're one of them."
"Yes. But unlike you, we don't do it openly."
He stood.
Started pacing.
"We train in secret. Archived materials. Private instructors."
"Who?"
"Irrelevant."
Sharp. Immediate.
"…Fine."
"Taisha Chen trained me. Briefly. She didn't teach me everything. With you—it's different."
"Why?"
"I don't know." A beat. "You know her rules."
"Do as you're told. Don't ask questions."
He nodded.
"Besides power, I have a special ability."
I froze mid-bite.
"…Seriously?"
"Don't look at me like that. Yes, I develop that too. Slowly."
"What kind?"
"Why are you telling me this?" I cut in.
"Because today's assignment depends on it."
…Of course it does.
"What am I doing?"
"You'll enter Theodore Holivan's room. And several others. You'll plant listening devices."
He stepped closer and handed them to me.
Small. Compact. Clean.
"I keep forgetting we live in a world with tech, not just power," I muttered.
"I need leverage," he said. "And people talk most freely—"
"In their rooms."
"Exactly."
I nodded.
"You go in. Plant them. Leave. The only complication is staff."
"And that's where your ability comes in."
"Yes."
"So what is it?"
"Telepathic link."
I blinked.
"…Damn."
"I can observe multiple people at once. See through their eyes. Hear what they hear. Speak into their minds. Transfer information instantly."
"That's—" I let out a breath. "That's insanely useful. You're—"
I cut myself off.
Too late.
"…impressive."
He ignored it.
"I need to activate the link. It lasts one hour."
"So what do I do?"
"Stand still."
That tone.
Final.
I didn't move.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
I swallowed—but stayed where I was.
Clyde lifted my chin with two fingers.
Forced me to look at him.
"Good," he murmured. "Don't move."
His breath brushed my lips.
Cold.
Sharp.
Like winter air.
My vision blurred slightly from how close he was.
I tried to lower my gaze—
he tilted my chin higher.
Then—
his lips touched mine.
I froze.
Completely.
Didn't even process it at first.
Instinct kicked in—I pressed my lips shut—
but his fingers tightened, squeezing my cheeks.
Forcing my mouth open.
The kiss deepened.
My breath caught—hard.
Too sudden.
Too close.
Too much—
I couldn't move.
Didn't even understand what was happening.
Like my body just… stopped.
He pulled back slightly.
Forehead resting against mine.
I dragged in a sharp breath.
His exhale brushed the corner of my lips—quiet, almost amused.
Then—
he stepped away.
Like nothing happened.
"Are you always this obedient?" he asked casually.
"What the hell was that?!" I snapped, heat flooding my face. "You told me not to move!"
"You shouldn't trust everything you're told."
I stared at him.
"…Were you messing with me? Or was that actually part of your ability?"
"It worked," he said. "Stop acting like an idiot."
"Go to hell!" I shot back, grabbing the devices. "Guide me with your 'amazing' ability!"
I turned—
didn't look back—
and slammed the door behind me.