Page 35 of The Ruthless Rivalry

“Is that your idea of a study break?” I say, voice laced with sarcasm.

His smile doesn’t waver; if anything, it becomes flirtier. “Just an offer. You seem a little tense tonight.”

Gee, I wonder why. Maybe it has something to do with him showing up at my door and manipulating this into my problem when I already made it clear where I stood.

I scoff. He could keep his help to himself.

I yank the door open and step into the hallway without waiting for him, not even bothering to glance back. I only grab my hoodie on the way out—no point in changing the rest of my clothes.

The assembly hall, usually teeming with students, is eerily quiet and empty at this hour of night.

Sylvester leads the way toward the stage where O’Donnelly usually stands during class. A table is set up beside the podium, and he gestures for us to approach. He disappears behind theside curtain and returns moments later, setting up two chairs. With a simple gesture, he indicates I should take a seat in the one he pulled out.

I walk over to the opposite chair, pulling it out and sitting down firmly. Sylvester stands there for a moment, a hint of amusement flickering across his face, before he sits in the chair he’d offered me, clearly not bothered by my defiance.

He pulls the thick book of Altair’s history from the table, but the silence between us stretches out, thick and uncomfortable. Sylvester clears his throat, but I refuse to meet his gaze, instead keeping my eyes fixed on the empty auditorium.

“We should go over some key points of Altair’s history before O’Donnelly arrives, so it looks like I’ve actually taught you something,” he says.

“I’ve learned enough in class,” I shoot back, my tone firm as I keep my focus ahead.

Opening the book to a random page, Sylvester says, “Let’s start with the fundamentals.” His finger hovers over a drawing of Altair’s main building—the same one we’re sitting in now. “Tell me what you know about it.”

I stay silent. He shifts in his chair, his finger firm on the page. “Okay, what do you see in this?”

I remain silent again, my lips pressed together in quiet resistance.

Sylvester sighs, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Alex, I’m trying to help you here. The least you could do is cooperate.”

I turn to face him. “I didn’t ask for your help.”I didn’t ask to be here at all. But I was too stubborn to leave. Funny how pride makes a better jailer than any locked door.

His expression hardens, and for a moment, I almost expect him to lose his temper. But then he exhales sharply. “Look, I know you’re not happy about this. But this is happening whether you like it or not. Wouldn’t you rather be prepared?”

“Nope,” I reply flatly.

“Students are expected to have this knowledge if they want to succeed in the games.”

“Well, lucky for you, I have no intention of participating.”

Sylvester lets out a sharp snort, but his expression remains mostly neutral. “Glad to see you’re still adamant about that. I’ll be sure to let the others know.”

“Don’t you mean Bishop?” I raise an eyebrow, my tone laced with subtle sarcasm.

He glances away briefly, but he keeps his voice even. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work.”

“Really?” I ask innocently, leaning in slightly. “What am I trying to do, then?”

“Trying to get under my skin to distract me.”

I shrug, feigning indifference. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just offering you a different perspective to think about.”

“You think you’ve got us all figured out, don’t you?” His tone is even. Too controlled. “But you don’t know the first thing about us, about our history, or about what it means to be a Legacy.”

I bat my lashes, playing up my innocence. “Well, isn’t that your responsibility to teach me? Isn’t that why you forced me here?”

He sighs sharply, his patience fraying. “This isn’t a show. I’m not here to entertain you.”

“Oh, I know,” I say, leaning back in my chair, arms folded. “But you sure are trying to. You don’t actually care about teaching me anything, do you? You’re just rushing me through this so O’Donnelly doesn’t show up and make this worse for you.” He was all but a glorified babysitter at this point.

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