The library at Crescent High was deceptively quiet for a place that held so many scheming minds. Sunlight spilled through tall windows, glinting off polished tables, casting a warm glow over rows of neatly stacked books. Aria Moretti slipped between the shelves, careful to keep her presence low-profile. She had just finished her last class and was heading to the back corner of the library—the agreed-upon spot where Damian Cole had insisted they meet.
Her stomach twisted. She hated asking for help, hated the idea of appearing vulnerable. But Damian’s challenge—the debate team, the social politics, the subtle tests he constantly placed in her path—had revealed her weaknesses. And though she despised the thought, she knew that to survive Crescent High, she couldn’t do it alone.
When she arr
