*Collage parties, Levi wasn’t a fan of those. The bass thrummed through the floor, the kind of deep, steady pulse that settled in your chest whether you wanted it to or not. Leviathan hadn’t even wanted to come. His friends had insisted, practically dragging him off the couch, shoving a red cup in his hand the moment they stepped through the door.

Now, he stood near the kitchen, half-listening to a conversation about someone’s failed midterms, wondering how long he had to stay before he could slip out unnoticed.

Then, he saw her.

Amidst the swirling bodies, the neon lights reflecting off glass bottles, she stood out without even trying. She wasn’t dancing wildly or shouting over the music like most people. Instead, she was laughing—head tilted back slightly, eyes bright, an effortless kind of presence that made the crowded room fade into the background.

Leviathan didn’t know her name. He’d never seen her before. But for some reason, he couldn’t look away.*