Killian had thought their last assignment together was a fluke. A one-time stroke of luck—or maybe bad luck, if Anastasia had anything to say about it.

  But then, their professor for Greek Mythology and Literature announced a new group project. And, of course, Killian Lancaster and Anastasia Hart were put together.

  Killian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as the professor went on about the assignment. They were supposed to analyze a specific myth, dissect its themes, and present their findings in a unique way by the next month, giving them two weeks of preparation. Simple enough.

  The problem?

  Anastasia was acting like he didn’t exist.

  Again.

  Unlike their last project, where she had at least acknowledged him enough to get things done, this time, she barely looked at him. The moment the professor announced the groups, she pulled out her notebook and started writing—silent, indifferent, like she was planning to get through this without so much as a conversation.

  Killian hated how much that irritated him.

  Their other group members—a quiet girl named Leah and a guy named Ethan—exchanged glances before Leah finally cleared her throat. "So, uh… which myth should we do?"

  Killian waited for Anastasia to answer. She always had something to say about literature. But she didn’t even lift her head.

  Ethan scratched the back of his head. "I mean, we could go with something basic, like Hercules or Persephone and Hades?"

  Anastasia still didn’t say anything.

  Killian’s patience snapped.

  He turned slightly toward her, resting his arm against the desk. "What, no opinion this time?"

  Anastasia finally looked at him.

  Her expression was blank, but there was something sharp in her gaze. "You seem more than capable of picking one."

  Leah and Ethan awkwardly glanced between them, sensing the tension.

  Killian smirked, tilting his head. "So now you’re letting me do the work? That’s new."

  Anastasia exhaled through her nose, looking unimpressed. "I’ll contribute where it matters. Just let me know which myth you decide."

  With that, she went back to writing in her notebook. Killian clenched his jaw.

  What the hell was this?

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  She wasn’t even avoiding him the same way anymore. Before, she had been distant, indifferent—but now, she was shutting him out entirely.

  Like he was just another forgettable person in her life.

  And Killian Lancaster was not forgettable.

  Leah quickly stepped in to break the silence. "Uh, how about Orpheus and Eurydice? It’s tragic, full of symbolism, and there’s a lot to analyze."

  Anastasia gave a small nod. "That works."

  Killian didn’t even care about the project anymore.

  He just cared about one thing.

  Getting Anastasia to look at him like she had before.

  Killian didn’t even think before he spoke.

  "Actually," he said, voice smooth and deliberate, "let’s do Persephone and Hades instead."

  That got Anastasia’s attention.

  Her pen stilled against the page, fingers tightening slightly. It was subtle, but Killian saw it. The first crack in her carefully indifferent exterior.

  Leah and Ethan exchanged looks, then nodded almost immediately.

  "Yeah, that’s a solid choice," Ethan said. "It’s got a lot of depth. Themes of power, fate, duality—it’s a great myth to analyze."

  Leah agreed. "And there’s a lot of material on it. Plus, we can dive into the different interpretations, not just the romanticized versions."

  Killian barely registered their words.

  He was watching her.

  Anastasia finally lifted her gaze, meeting his. For a split second, he saw it—the spark of something. Not indifference. Not cold detachment.

  Annoyance.

  Satisfaction curled in his chest.

  "You have a problem with that, Hart?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

  Anastasia exhaled slowly, closing her notebook with a quiet snap. "No," she said, tone neutral. But her eyes? They told a different story. "I just think Orpheus and Eurydice would’ve given us more to analyze in terms of consequences and love lost. But if you’d rather go with a story about a god who takes what he wants, fine."

  Something about the way she said that sent a strange thrill through him.

  He leaned forward slightly. "It’s about more than that, though, isn’t it?"

  Her jaw tensed. But before she could say anything, Leah spoke up again.

  "Alright, so Persephone and Hades it is!" She scribbled it down in her notes, completely oblivious to the silent battle happening between Killian and Anastasia. "We should divide the research so we can get started. Maybe two of us can focus on the myth’s historical origins, and the other two can break down the themes?"

  "Sounds good," Ethan agreed. "Anastasia, you’re probably best for analyzing the deeper themes, right?"

  Anastasia hesitated for a fraction of a second.

  Killian caught it.

  She did have a problem with this. Maybe not the topic itself—but the fact that he had been the one to change it.

  That was interesting.

  "Fine," she said finally. "I’ll handle that part."

  "And I’ll work with you," Killian added before she could shut him out.

  She looked at him again, eyes unreadable.

  But she didn’t argue.

  And for the first time in weeks, Killian felt like he had her attention.

  Even if it was just in the form of irritation, it was still something.