8. Shadows and Storms

The rain showed no signs of stopping as Cassian and Savannah continued to run, their laughter echoing through the empty campus grounds. The water soaked them to the bone, plastering Savannah’s dress to her body like a second skin. She was too caught up in the moment to notice at first, the cold, wet fabric clinging uncomfortably to her frame.

Cassian turned to her, a crooked grin on his face, his hair dripping water down the sharp angles of his cheekbones. “You’re a mess, Rivers,” he teased, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain hammering the ground.

Savannah playfully shoved him, but her cheeks were flushed—not from exertion, but from the way his eyes lingered on her. She hadn’t seen that look on his face before, and it made her heart race in a way she didn’t quite understand. “You’re the one who dragged me into this,” she shot back, though there was no real anger in her tone.

When they finally made it back to the main hall, both of them were breathless and dripping water onto the polished floor. Savannah shivered as the cold air hit her wet skin, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself.

It was then that Cassian’s expression shifted. His playful smirk faltered, his brows knitting together as his gaze dropped to her torso. Savannah followed his line of sight, her eyes widening in horror as she realized what he was looking at—her soaked dress had gone completely transparent, revealing the outline of her black bra underneath.

“Oh, my God,” she muttered, quickly crossing her arms over her chest, her face burning with embarrassment.

Cassian coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Here,” he said, shrugging off his coat and holding it out to her. His voice was uncharacteristically sheepish as he added, “Take this. I can see your… uh… black bra.”

Savannah snatched the coat from him, her mortification only growing. “What the hell, Cassian? Why are you telling me this right now?” she snapped, though the heat in her voice was mostly to cover her own embarrassment.

Cassian gave her a crooked grin, but his ears were tinged pink. “Because I don’t want anyone else to look at it,” he said simply. His tone was so matter-of-fact that it caught Savannah off guard, and she stared at him for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Before she could say anything, he stepped closer, his expression softening. “Wait here,” he said firmly. “I’m going to bring my car around. Don’t go anywhere—you’re soaked, and you’re going to get sick.”

Savannah opened her mouth to protest, but he was already walking away, his long strides quickly carrying him out of sight. She stood there in the entryway, clutching his coat tightly around her, the warmth of it a stark contrast to the chill that had seeped into her bones.

But her brief moment of solitude didn’t last long.

“Savannah.”

The voice came from the shadows, low and venomous, and it sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. She turned sharply, her breath catching in her throat as Derek stepped into the dim light of the hallway. His clothes were damp, his hair disheveled, and his dark eyes burned with a mix of anger and something far more dangerous.

“So that rich boy is treating you good, I see,” he sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

Savannah’s stomach churned, and she took an instinctive step back. “Derek, what are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice shaky but firm. “Go away. I don’t want to talk to you.”

But Derek didn’t budge. He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. “You think you can just ignore me?” he hissed. “You think you can just throw me aside and sleep with him?”

The accusation made Savannah’s blood run cold. “What the hell are you talking about?” she shot back, her voice rising. “I haven’t—”

“Don’t lie to me!” Derek roared, his voice echoing through the empty hallway. He was close now, too close, and Savannah’s heart pounded in her chest as she backed up against the wall. “You’re a bitch, Savannah,” he spat, his face twisted with rage. “You think you’re better than me? You think you can just walk away from me like I’m nothing?”

“Derek, stop,” Savannah said, her voice trembling. She tried to keep her tone steady, but the fear in her chest was growing by the second. “You’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re saying. Just… go home.”

But Derek wasn’t listening. He took another step forward, and Savannah flinched as he raised a hand, his fingers curling into a fist. For a terrifying moment, she thought he was going to hit her.

“I cared about you,” he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. “I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me? Throwing yourself at some rich asshole?”

Savannah pressed herself harder against the wall, her mind racing as she searched for a way out. Where was Cassian? She needed him to come back, to save her from this nightmare.

But before she could say anything, Derek’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm in a bruising grip. “You don’t get to ignore me,” he growled, his face inches from hers. “You’re mine, Savannah. Do you hear me? Mine.”

Tears pricked at Savannah’s eyes as she struggled against his hold. “Let me go, Derek,” she demanded, her voice cracking. “You’re hurting me!”

But Derek only tightened his grip, his eyes wild with fury. “Not until you understand,” he spat. “Not until you realize that you don’t get to walk away from me. Ever.”

And just as Savannah thought she couldn’t take it anymore, a voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”