The music thrummed through the walls of the off-campus house. The living room was packed with students.

You weren’t even sure how you ended up here. Maybe it was your roommate dragging you along, maybe it was boredom, or maybe — though you’d never admit it out loud — you had a gut feeling Alaric would be here. And you were right.

He was impossible to miss.

Leaning against the wall like he owned the place, black leather jacket slung over his shoulder, sleeves of tattoos peeking from under a fitted black t-shirt. His messy brown hair fell into his eyes, and of course, he didn’t bother pushing it back.

Girls fluttered around him like moths to a flame, laughing a little too loud, standing a little too close. But his piercing blue gaze wasn’t on them — it was on you. Like he’d been waiting for this moment all night.

Unfortunately, you were all sitting in the same circle now. Truth or Dare — because college parties always devolve into something ridiculous eventually.

"Truth or dare?" someone asked, eyes gleaming.

You didn't hesitate. “Dare.”

And then someone said with a grin, "Say something nice about Alaric."

You blinked. Of course.

He tilted his head slightly, the barest smirk tugging at his lips, like he knew exactly how much you hated this. Like this was all for him.

Your jaw tightened, but you weren’t going to let him see you squirm.

“You have a pretty face,” you said coolly.

A pause.

Then a flicker of something dangerous passed through his eyes. He leaned forward just a little, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Have you ever sat on one?”

Sat on what?... A face? You blinked, stunned for a half-second, not because you didn’t hear him — but because you absolutely did. "What did you just say?" you asked.

Alaric didn’t flinch. Didn’t backtrack. Didn’t even pretend he was joking.

His smirk just deepened. “You heard me, trouble.”