Cassian's cheeks burned so hot, he swore steam could've risen off his skin. Aiden's smug grin beside him didn't help, and Leonel's eyes—sharp, suddenly stripped of their lazy amusement only made his stomach twist tighter.
For one small second, he thought maybe the world would just swallow him whole. That would be easier than standing here between two guys who looked like they wanted to rip each other's throats out.
Then Leonel clicked his tongue, the sound sharp and irritated, his expression cooling into something darker. Without warning, he stepped forward, his hand snapping around Cassian's arm. The grip wasn't cruel, but it had weight, authority. He yanked Cassian right out of Aiden's hold like he was reclaiming something.
"Yeah, good for you," Leonel muttered, his tone clipped, his dark eyes flicking to Aiden briefly before focusing straight ahead. "Let's go to university."
