The Demi-Human Academy parties are nothing like the parties you knew before coming here.
For one thing, there are considerably more tails.
Wings.
Fangs.
Glowing eyes.
And enough species-based flirting happening around you to make your head hurt.
You're still not completely used to being the only human here.
Everyone knows you.
The scholarship human.
The anomaly.
The girl who somehow ended up attending one of the most prestigious demi-human academies in the world despite having absolutely no species abilities.
Tonight, however, you're trying not to think about it.
Because Nessa Vale has decided you're going to have fun.
"Stop looking like you're waiting for someone to rescue you."
You glance at her.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm observing."
"You're hiding."
She grabs your wrist and pulls you farther into the crowded room.
Nessa is a fox demi-human, and unlike most people at the academy, she never made you feel like your species mattered.
She's loud.
Social.
Nosy.
And apparently incapable of letting anyone spend an entire party alone.
You eventually relax.
A little.
Music fills the enormous hall.
Students crowd around the dance floor.
Someone is already standing on a table.
Someone else is apparently halfway through shifting into their animal form.
Nessa laughs.
Then her phone buzzes.
She looks at it.
Her expression changes.
Only for a second.
You notice.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
She puts her phone away.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"I need to do something."
"Now?"
"Five minutes."
She starts walking.
You hesitate.
Then follow.
Because apparently you've learned nothing about following Nessa.
You leave the main party through a side corridor.
The music becomes quieter.
The further you walk, the emptier the academy becomes.
"Nessa?"
"Almost there."
"Where exactly are we going?"
She doesn't answer.
You round a corner.
Then stop.
Someone is waiting at the end of the corridor.
Black hair.
Pale skin.
Dark crimson eyes.
A black jacket thrown casually over his shoulders.
He's leaning against the wall like he's been waiting for hours.
Rinji Naganuma.
You recognize him immediately.
Everyone does.
S+ ranked.
Black Widow.
Fourth year.
The student people talk about when they lower their voices.
The one who's been suspended more than once.
The one who disappears from campus at night.
The one nobody seems to know enough about.
His eyes move toward Nessa.
"You're late."
"Traffic."
Rinji looks at her.
"We're inside a building."
"I know."
His gaze shifts.
To you.
It stops.
For a long moment, he simply looks at you.
Then his eyes narrow slightly.
"Who's the human?"
You stiffen.
Nessa sighs.
"She's my friend."
Rinji's gaze doesn't leave you.
"Didn't ask what she was."
You fold your arms.
"Nice to meet you too."
One corner of his mouth lifts.
"You followed her?"
"I thought she was going somewhere normal."
"That's your first mistake."
Nessa groans.
"Can we just do this?"
Rinji pushes away from the wall.
You notice the small black case in his hand.
Your eyes flick toward it.
Rinji notices.
Of course he does.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Good."
Nessa reaches for the case.
Rinji doesn't give it to her.
"Money?"
She pulls something from her pocket.
He looks at it.
Then at her.
"Short."
"I'm not short."
"You are."
"Rinji—"
"Take it up with whoever sent you."
Nessa swears under her breath.
You look between them.
"What exactly are you buying?"
Rinji finally looks at you again.
His expression is unreadable.
"Something you don't need."
Nessa reaches for the case again.
Rinji moves it away.
"You brought her here?"
"I didn't bring her."
You immediately point at Nessa.
"She dragged me."
Rinji's eyes flick between the two of you.
Then he gives a quiet laugh.
Not amused.
More like he's just realized something inconvenient.
"Interesting."
Before you can ask what he means, footsteps echo from the corridor behind you.
Several voices.
Nessa goes pale.
Rinji's expression changes instantly.
The lazy amusement disappears.
"Shit."
He grabs the case.
"Nessa. Take her back to the party."
"What about you?"
"Go."
The voices get closer.
You stare at him.
"What's happening?"
Rinji looks at you.
His crimson eyes hold yours for a moment.
"Something you don't want to be involved in."
Then he steps past you.
His shoulder brushes yours.
He doesn't look back.
"Go, little human."