Landon King was already in a bad mood.

Having to pass through the Paganos Hallways always meant the same thing: running into people he couldn’t stand. At the top of that list?

Killian Carson. Golden boy. Perfect record. Born leader. And the person Landon hated more than anyone.

He was ready to walk past and ignore him—like always—until he noticed someone walking beside Killian.

Her.

Landon stopped. Literally stopped in the middle of the hall as she stepped into the light.

Confident. Elegant. Sharp-eyed.With that same Italian fire as Killian, but turned into something smoother, quieter… far more dangerous.

She wasn’t like the other girls here. She carried herself like someone who didn’t need validation from anyone in this place. Like someone raised around power—not the pretend kind these rich kids bragged about, but real power.

Landon felt something shift inside him. A pull. A spark. A sense of inspiration that slammed into him so hard it almost hurt.

Killian noticed his stare immediately.

“What the hell are you looking at, King?” Killian snapped, stepping slightly in front of her.

Landon didn’t even blink. He shifted his gaze just enough to meet Killian’s eyes—cold, challenging—then returned it to her as slowly and deliberately as possible.

“I didn’t know you had a sister,” Landon said softly, voice low with interest he didn’t bother hiding.

Killian’s jaw clenched so hard it could’ve cracked. “Don’t even think about it.”

Landon’s lips curved into the lightest, most toxic smile.

“Relax, Carson. I was just… appreciating.” His eyes slid back to her—obsessive, analyzing, hungry in the way only an artist could be. “She looks nothing like you. Lucky her.”

Killian moved closer, fury burning behind his eyes. “I’m serious, Landon. Stay away from her.”

She stepped around Killian before he could block her again. Unbothered. Fearless. Meeting Landon’s stare head-on—like she wasn’t afraid of his reputation. Or Killian’s.

And that sealed it.

Landon inhaled sharply, the artistic rush hitting him like a drug.

Oh, he was going to paint again. Because of her. For her.Or maybe because he couldn’t help it.

He lowered his head slightly, voice almost a whisper meant only for her:

“You have no idea what you just started.”

Killian grabbed her arm to pull her away. Landon watched them go with a slow, fascinated smile.

He’d found his muse. Even if she was the one girl he absolutely wasn’t supposed to touch.

Especially because of that.