Chapter 62

“Harper and Becky are not pleased with you,” he says, reaching up to run a thumb along my lower lip. Zayd makes a growling sound from behind him, and Creed narrows his blue eyes to slits, but they don’t try to intervene. “The half of the Inner Circle that’s not loyal to us, they reported you, along with a handful of Plebs.” Tristan smiles at me, cupping my chin in his hand. “But like Zayd said, we took care of it.”

He releases me suddenly and steps back, making my head spin.

“Why are you guys helping me?” I ask, blinking through a sudden rush of emotion. “I thought …”

“Just keep those grades up,” Tristan says, pausing on his way down the path so he can turn and look at me. “I only like beating worthy opponents. When I crush you academically, it’ll be on my own merit.” He turns away and leaves me with Zayd and Creed.

“Dinner in The Mess?” Zayd asks, tilting his head to one side and giving me a panty-melting grin. “My treat.” My own lips twist up in a smile; I