Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 37

Mia clutched her arm, wincing as sharp pain shot through her. Her face twitched, muscles tightening, but she bit back any sound. No way was she going to let Briar see her falter.

To cover up her moment of weakness, Mia edged closer to Briar, hoping the movement would mask the grimace twisting her features.

Inside, though, Mia’s feelings toward Briar had long since curdled. What started as petty jealousy over Briar’s striking looks had festered into something darker, sharper–resentment. She stole a glance at Briar, her eyes glinting with barely concealed spite.

When she caught the guy she liked gazing at Briar with that smoldering intensity, Mia’s dislike flared into something close to hatred.

Briar, though, couldn’t care less about Mia’s inner turmoil. She lazily turned her head to look at Frank. She had already noticed him sneaking glances at her multiple times, so she raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking what he wanted.

Frank’s cheeks flushed, and he quickly looked away, mentally kicking himself for getting caught.

Still, he had to admit Ashton was right–Briar was… special.

She was stunning, no question–her arrival in the lab had every guy’s head turning. Frank figured Ashton must’ve sensed the threat early on.

“Alright, now that you’ve all met, I’m leaving Briar in your hands,” Joshua said with a warm chuckle. “You’ve all been at this longer than she has, so make sure to show her the ropes!”

got it, Professor Swift! We’ll take good

start from scratch, she’d been handpicked by the dean himself to join

proved herself–she was blowing everyone away with her uncanny knack

her breath, “Tch. So she’s got a bit more hands–on experience. Big deal. No

In a low, cool tone only they could hear, she said, “You’re right–I

Briar was baffled, thinking, ‘What’s

haven’t messed with her life or stolen her crush. Why’s she acting like I’m

Briar had mellowed out, so

though? Someone like Mia, picking fights for

blur of lab work. Briar peeled off her white coat and joined the group heading

his chance to talk to her alone and slowed his pace, falling back a few steps. “Hey, Briar,” he said quietly, “if you ever need help with anything, just say the word. Ashton’s my brother, you

head snapped toward him, eyes wide. “Wait, you’re

grin, showing off a set of dazzling white

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Chapter 37

eyes, biting