It took half an hour of persuasion and a carefully fabricated medical excuse before the professor finally agreed to extend my assignment deadline. Thank God. That was faster than I expected—maybe because when I turned to Eva, who stood by the door dressed casually enough to blend in with the college crowd, she wore a scowl sharp enough to make any man hesitate. The moment she caught me looking, her expression shifted instantly into a pleasant smile. For once, it felt genuine.

She was five feet of dainty charm, but I’d seen her flip a man twice her size in the training room. I didn’t doubt her capability for a second. That exact combination—approachable face and deadly skill—was why I chose her to be the one who stayed by my side. To anyone watching, she could pass as just another new friend. No one would suspect otherwise.