The Top Boy Is My Mate

Chapter 12: The brother’s shadow

Zara’s POV

The classroom buzzed with the usual chaos. Magic sparks crackled as someone lost control of their rune practice across the room. A dragon shifter boy near the window let smoke curl lazily from his nose, earning a glare from the instructor who hadn’t even looked up from his book in over twenty minutes.

“Did you hear about the fight behind the dining hall? I swear, if one more dragon shifter burns the herb garden, the headmistress is going to lose it.”

I nod without looking at her, scribbling nonsense in the margin of my notebook. Anything to keep her from realizing I’m barely listening.

But then, the door creaks.

It’s the smallest sound. Doors creaked open all the time. But this one? This one turned the room to ice. The conversations stopped mid-sentence. Even the dragon boy stopped puffing smoke.

I glance up, annoyed, expecting to see another instructor or maybe a student late enough to be a walking target for the class’s ridicule.

What I see instead makes my breath catch, just for a second.

Jace stands in the doorway, tall, polished, and infuriatingly calm. His uniform fits him like it was tailored just for him, which it probably was. His dark hair is artfully tousled, not a strand out of place. A silver ring glints on his finger, catching the weak morning light.

His eyes sweep over the room with the ease of someone who knows exactly what he is, someone who expects people to look at him. And they do. Every student’s gaze is locked on him, the weight of their silence filled with awe, or envy, or both.

And then he looked at me. Not even a sign of recognition.

My jaw tightened. Oh, we’re doing that? Pretending we don’t know each other?

Fine. I could play that game.

I muttered under my breath, low enough only Talia could hear, “Annoying Jerk.”

Talia blinked at me, whispering back, “What?”

“Nothing.” I stared down at my notes like they held the secrets of the universe, though the scribbles barely made sense.

The instructor actually stood for once, brushing his robes smooth like that would hide the ink stains. “Everyone, this is Jace King. He’ll be joining our class.”

King? Well anyone can bear the surname.

Jace didn’t seem to notice the change in the classroom, the way people stared. Jace moves through the rows with smooth, confident steps, sliding into a seat that’s far too close. I don’t flinch. I keep my face neutral, my posture steady.

I don’t care if he chooses to ignore me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Atlas. He’s gone rigid, knuckles white against the desk’s edge, jaw clenched so tight I half expect to hear a c***k. His eyes, usually full of mischief or annoyance, are cold steel now, trained on Jace.

And still, I don’t look Jace’s way again.

…..

Class dragged on forever. I copied runes, listened with half an ear to the instructor’s droning. Talia kept shooting me curious glances. I ignored her. I wasn’t about to explain.

When the bell finally rang, Atlas was up in a blink, his chair scraping hard against the stone floor. He stormed out, his shoulders tight with whatever fury he was holding back.

Talia leaned in, eyebrows raised. “What was that about?”

“Ask someone else,” I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

I didn’t even make it halfway down the corridor before Atlas was in front of me.

“Zara.” His voice was sharp, low, like he was trying to keep it from spilling into anger.

I kept walking. “What?”

“You know him?”

I stopped, met his gaze without blinking. His eyes burned with a question I wasn’t about to answer.

“Who?” I shot back, voice rough.

“Jace”

“Don’t ask me stupid things,” I said, voice flat.

His mouth opened like he had more to say, but I was already past him.

…..

Later, I spotted them outside, near the courtyard. Atlas stood stiff as a statue, glaring at Jace like he wanted to punch him into next week.

“I thought you were traveling abroad,” I heard Atlas say, his voice tight.

Jace didn’t miss a beat. Calm, smug, unbothered. “I changed my mind.”

Whatever was between them, it was their business. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to care. I stood there knowing I’m probably minding a business that’s not mine so I left.

…..

Back in the dorm, Talia wouldn’t let it drop.

“Okay, seriously. What is going on? That was… weird. You, Atlas, that Jace guy, what’s the story?”

I threw my bag on my bed. “Why does everyone want a story?”

“Because people don’t look at each other like that for no reason.”

I shrugged. “Let them look.”

Talia sighed, flopping onto my bed.

The window caught my eye, the sky outside darkening, forest shadows creeping closer. I stared out, watching as night swallowed the world beyond these walls.

Jace’s arrival changed nothing. Not really.

And if it did, I wasn’t going to let him know.