Except for the phantom echo of arms that had held me - too carefully for a stranger , too silently for someone who didn't care . I glanced at the clock as I got out of bed . I could not stay here and rest . Too many hours had passed . What would have happened in the Academy . I exited the healer wing and walked in the dorm building . " Seth ! " Finn's voice snapped me out of my thoughts just as I stepped into the dormitory corridor . He jogged up , concern etched into his face . " Where did you disappear to ? I've been looking everywhere for you- He stopped mid - sentence , his eyes dropping to the thick bandage wrapped around my left arm . " What the hell happened to your ann ? " I shook my head slightly , trying to downplay it . " It's nothing serious , " I murmured , brushing off his concern . " Just a wound . It's already healing " He didn't look convinced . " That doesn't look like ' nothing : Seth . Did that happen back during the fight ? " I'm fine , " I repeated , forcing a faint smirk . " You know me , I've had worse ." Before he could press further , a dorm assistant approached . He was holding a tablet and wore the black - and - gold uniform of the Academy . " Alpha Finn ? " he asked . Finn straightened . " Yeah ? " " I've been instructed to inform you that your belongings have been relocated to the hierarchy housing floor . Your new room is ready . Please report to the dorm office for confirmation ," he said before turning and walking off . blinked , surprised . " Wait - Finn , you won in the final combat ? " Now his injuries from earlier made sense . Finn gave a modest nod . " Yeah . "" " Wow Congratulations ! " I smiled . But then a flicker of guilt crossed his face . " What's wrong ? " I asked , confused . " I don't know , " he admitted " I feel like I only won because you showed up at that building to help me . You couldn't make it to your own match because of ine . It feels like I stole the spot that was meant for you . " A short laugh escaped me " What nonsense are you thinking in that head of yours ? How could you steal something that was ine to begin with ! You fought You won That spot belongs to you . Finn And I'm really glad it's you . " " Really ? " he asked softly I said , more firmly this time . " My mother us in my destiny . And honestly . I'm okay with that ' say we only receive what's meant for us aths that room PP We started walking down the hallway together , and he filled me in on what had happened while I was unconscious . The entire Academy was in an uproar . Reed and Cassius had been punished , they were forbidden from speaking to each other and had already been booted from the dorms . But that wasn't what had everyone on edge . The e real shock was that Ronan and Dante had been stripped of their hierarchy status . And I didn't have to guess who the Academy blamed . As I passed through the corridor , dozens of eyes followed me - judging , hostile , disapproving . The message was clear in every glance : This was my fault . We stopped at a fork in the hallway . " You're heading that way , right ? " I asked . Finn nodded , his expression still a touch hesitant . " Will you be okay ? " " I'll be fine . " I said with a soft smile . We said our goodbyes , and I made my way back to the dorm room - now completely empty . Finn had moved out . Reed and Cassius were gone . The space felt bigger , echoing with silence . I shut the door behind me and looked around . Without their beds and chaos , the room was almost peaceful . I took a breath . Alone . For the first time . It wasn't such a bad thing . I slipped off my blazer and started unbuttoning freeze . Startled , I turned . my shirt when the soft click of the door opening behind me made my fingers Ronan . He stepped inside and calmly shut the door behind him . " You ! " I gasped . " What are you doing here ? " He said nothing , his eyes trailing from the bandage on my arm to the rise and fall of my chest , then lower - watching me like a storm about to break . And then he started walking toward me . Slow . Intentional . Predatory . I instinctively stepped back . " What … what are you doing ? " " What a person does in his room . Seth Darven , " he said , voice low , eyes locked on mine My heart thudded violently . " Your room ? " I echoed , eyes widening as the pieces clicked together . The hierarchy room , be'd lost it . Which meant .. He was staying here Permanently . Alune Lark My back hit the wall just as he closed the distance , caging ine between his body and the cold surface . His gute dropped to my lips before lifting to my eyes , something dangerous and dark glinting behind them . P P