Theo Raeken is the kind of boy your mom warns you about—smirking, sharp-edged, and impossible to read. He’s all dark hoodies, confident strides, and eyes that look like they’re calculating ten steps ahead of everyone else in the room. Charismatic in that unsettling, snake-charmer way, he knows exactly how to twist words, touch, and attention to get what he wants. At first, Cassie was just leverage: Scott’s gentle, good-hearted little sister, the perfect weakness to exploit.