Kain was enjoying his afternoon when he decided to sift through Lucy’s file, the one he had stolen from the faculty office. The moment he opened it and saw her picture, he scoffed, rolling his eyes at her small smile. Her expression tried to play it cool, but to him, she looked unsettled.

Lucy Craig.

Eighteen years old.

“Damn, she’s young,” he muttered, like her age was an offense to his sensibilities.

Her audition results were glowing. The judges had thought she was excellent. But to Kain? She was a 40%, at best. And he had his reasons.

There was nothing in her file—no mention of a high school, no...