The first lecture was everything Nyx had expected it to be: fast-paced, challenging, and full of eager faces just like his own. But as the professor spoke, his words felt distant, lost in the hum of his thoughts. He could barely focus, his mind replaying the encounter with the Blackwoods, particularly Alden's silent, calculating gaze. It unsettled him. More than that, it made him question things he didn’t want to.

  Aiden was next to him, his attention glued to the lecture, scribbling down notes with his usual enthusiasm. But Nyx couldn't shake the nagging feeling that someone was watching him. The quiet, oppressive presence of the town seemed to seep into every corner of the campus, like a specter lurking just beyond the veil. It was suffocating, and the more he tried to ignore it, the heavier it became.

  The class ended with a collective sigh of relief. Aiden immediately stood, eager to rush to the next thing, but Nyx hung back for a moment. He needed air. The oppressive feeling was getting worse.

  "Hey, you okay?" Aiden asked, noticing Nyx's hesitation.

  "Yeah," Nyx lied, forcing a smile. "Just need a minute."

  He stepped outside, the cool breeze hitting his face as he made his way toward the campus quad. As he walked, the weight of the Blackwood twins' presence seemed to follow him, like a shadow over his every step. He glanced over his shoulder but saw no sign of them—only the usual hustle and bustle of students hurrying to their following classes. Still, the sense of being watched didn't fade.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  A sudden movement to his left caught his attention. Nyx turned, his heart skipping a beat. There, standing near the fountain where they'd first seen the Blackwoods, was Alden Blackwood. Alone.

  Nyx froze, locking eyes with the twin who had barely spoken during their earlier encounter. Alden's expression was unreadable, his gaze intense as he studied Nyx, his arms crossed as if waiting for something—someone.

  "Something on your mind, Blackwood?" Nyx asked, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. He wasn’t sure if it was the tension or the irritation that spurred him to speak.

  Alden didn't flinch at the tone. He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting in the smallest of smiles. "Just trying to figure you out, Blackthorn," he replied, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of something deeper—something that Nyx couldn't quite place.

  The silence between them stretched, thick and charged, until Nyx could no longer stand it. "Why do you keep watching me?" he asked, the question hanging in the air.

  Alden’s smile faded slightly, and for a moment, Nyx thought he saw something flicker in his eyes—something darker, almost predatory. "I’m not watching you, Blackthorn," he said quietly, his voice now a whisper that only Nyx could hear. "But you’d be wise to watch your back."

  Before Nyx could respond, Alden turned and walked away, his strides smooth and purposeful. Nyx watched him go, his heart racing in his chest. What had that been about?

  "Nyx?" Aiden’s voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. He had come outside to find him, his brow furrowed in concern. "You good?"

  Nyx nodded, his jaw clenched as he turned back toward the university. "Yeah. Let’s just... get to the next class."

  But as they walked side by side, Nyx couldn't shake the feeling that the Blackwoods were playing a game—one he wasn’t sure he was prepared for.