MORE THAN A FEELING

Chapter 3: The Royal Entrance

The morning sun hit the glass towers of Royal Oak Academy, making the entire campus look like it was made of diamonds. This wasn't just a school; it was a playground for the children of the elite. But today, the usual gossip about spring break and new sports cars had stopped. Everyone was gathered near the entrance, waiting.

Cassian stood at the top of the stairs, wearing his charcoal grey school blazer. He looked like a prince guarding his castle. His heart was hammering. He had seen Aria last night in the quiet of his home, but today, she was returning to the world.

"Here they come," Margo whispered, standing next to him, her eyes wide with excitement.

A fleet of three matching, midnight black SUVs rolled through the school gates. They moved in a perfect line, stopping right in front of the marble stairs. The students held their breath.

The doors of the first and third cars flew open. Silas and Dante stepped out.

Silas looked like he was ready to buy the school and fire anyone who looked at him wrong. Dante adjusted his sunglasses, looking like he just stepped off a billboard in Milan. They didn't move toward the school; they stood like soldiers on either side of the middle car.

Then, the door opened.

Aria stepped out, and the world seemed to go silent. She was wearing the Royal Oak uniform, but she had styled it with a Rosemont touch a silk ribbon in her hair and a bag that cost more than most people's cars. She looked stunning. But more than that, she looked powerful. Her face was a mask of cold perfection. She wasn't the "Sweet Princess" anymore; she was the "Ice Queen."

"Eyes front, Aria," Silas said, his deep voice carrying across the quiet courtyard. He stepped to her left. Dante stepped to her right.

As they began to walk up the stairs, the crowd of students scrambled to get out of their way. It was a parade of wealth and protection.

Aria’s eyes stayed fixed on the ground until she reached the top step, where Cassian was waiting. The brothers stopped, their shadows falling over him. Silas gave Cassian a sharp nod—a silent command to take over the watch.

"She’s all yours, Thorne," Dante said, his voice dropping the playful tone for once. "Keep the vultures away."

"With my life," Cassian promised.

The brothers turned and walked back to their cars, leaving Aria standing there. For a moment, she looked small against the massive school building, her shoulders losing just a bit of their stiffness.

"You okay?" Cassian asked softly, stepping closer so only she could hear him.

Aria looked at the hundreds of students staring at her, then back at Cassian. Her blue eyes were guarded, but they softened when they landed on him. "Everyone is looking at me like I’m a ghost, Cass."

"Let them look," Cassian said, offering his arm. It was a bold move a public statement that he was her territory. "They’ve never seen a queen return to her throne before."

Aria hesitated, then reached out and slid her hand into the crook of his arm. The "More Than a Feeling" spark hit him instantly a warm, rushing sensation that made him feel like he could take on the whole world.

As they walked through the grand double doors together, the whispers started.

"Is she dating Cassian Thorne?" "I thought she was heartbroken." "She looks so cold."

Aria gripped his arm a little tighter. "They’re talking about me."

"Let them talk," Cassian whispered, leaning his head down toward hers. "I’m the only one who knows the real you. And I’m the only one who matters right now."

Just as they reached the lockers, a group of popular guys the school’s star athletes blocked their path. At the center was Leo, a tall, handsome guy with a cocky smile who was used to getting whatever he wanted.

"Well, well," Leo said, his eyes scanning Aria with a look that made Cassian’s blood boil. "The Rosemont Princess is finally here. I’ve been waiting to meet you, Aria."

Cassian stepped half an inch in front of her, his voice turning into a low, dangerous warning. "Move, Leo. She’s not interested."

Leo laughed, looking at Aria instead of Cassian. "I don't know, Thorne. She looks like she needs a change of pace. Someone who knows how to have a little... fun."

Aria looked at Leo, her expression completely frozen. "You’re blocking my way," she said, her voice like dry ice. "And you’re boring me."

The hallway went 'Ooooh.' Cassian felt a surge of pride, but he also felt the jealousy bubbling in his chest. He knew this was just the beginning. Every guy in this school was going to want a piece of the Ice Princess, and he was going to have to spend every day proving that he was the only one who truly cared for her heart.