TREAT

I stepped into Caspian's office, the door clicking softly behind me as he closed it. The office felt colder than usual as I stood by his desk, pretending to focus on the framed photograph of Derek and all the seven brothers on the wall.

I shifted on my feet, waiting for him to speak because I couldn't dare to turn around to look at him. My heart pounded louder than my thoughts as my eyes found the wooden panel behind which the secret door was, and I wondered if the others knew about it.

My thoughts stopped and I tried not to move when I sensed him standing behind me, his presence undeniable, consuming the space. I was used to his intensity by now, but this was different. The air between us was charged, electric, and I could feel the shift in him—more commanding, more determined.

“I lied,” he finally said, his voice low but firm, an edge to it that made my pulse race. “There isn’t anything about your college that I needed to talk about.”

My stomach flipped when his warm breath touched