Low chatter surrounded the statue as we approached. I quietly joined Connor and Jo, my eyes locked on Dean Lachlan, when he ascended a set of stairs a couple of yards behind the statue.

"This is the square." His voice echoed, silencing everyone. "And that is a statue of my great-grandfather, Gabriel Lachlan the first. He founded Lachlan University fifty years ago, with the notion that a distraction free environment would yield a better learning experience."

Before he could say anything else, a long-fingered hand suddenly came to rest on Dean Lachlan's shoulder. He glanced back, stepping aside to reveal a man dressed in a white uniform standing with him. They briefly exchanged hushed whispers, the new man's dark eyes finding mine before turning back to the Dean. Dean Lachlan nodded, then focused his attention back onto his students.

"Everyone, I am sorry, but there is an urgent matter I must attend to." He paused, giving the man next to him a brief glance. "This is Lucius Mayfield, head of campus security. He will escort you to the dining hall and answer any questions you may have."

The Dean turned on his heel and headed for the building a few feet behind him.

I watched his back disappear through a set of dark wooden double-doors, wondering if his abrupt departure had anything to do with the laughter we heard a few minutes ago, when someone cleared their throat.

"This way, please."

Lucius waved everyone forward, turning his back to us to go the same route as Dean Lachlan. We followed, going up the stone steps and shambling along a stone pathway. Giggles and indiscernible mumblings surrounded me, and a massive building awaited me up ahead.

It was the same building Dean Lachlan went into, though to call it a building would be an understatement. No, this wasn't just a building, this was a palace. Constructed of stone a shade darker than the tan stones beneath our feet, with three sets of large, arch-framed windows on either side of the entrance as well as on the second and third level. There was a turret on the right that stretched a few feet higher than the school itself, each of it's levels lined with the same arched windows as the front of the school. Truly, it was a beautifully intimidating structure.

"Wow, this place is huge!"

Connor whistled beside me.

I had nearly forgot about him.

"It's beautiful,"

My voice was airy, the awe I felt for our school evident.

Lucius was in front of us, holding open the door; a strand of his jet-black hair rested casually against one of his high cheek bones. Each student filled in past him one at a time, and when Jo walked by, she gave him a flirtatious smirk. Lucius offered her a short half-smile, one that didn't reach his eyes, but that didn't seem to bother her. She hopped inside the school, with Connor trudging in behind her. I was next to cross the threshold, and as I passed Lucius, he bowed his head slightly.

"Miss Ridley,"

I stared at him. How did he know my name? I started to ask, but another student was coming in behind me, so I had to move.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the light once I was inside, but when they did, I could see a massive crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. There was a staircase on either side of the room that curved up to the second floor, each baring a deep crimson rug on their steps.

"Audrey,"

Jo motioned for me to stand with her and Connor near a stone column on the left side of the room.

I glanced back at Lucius one more time before turning to join the other students.

My shoes squeaked as I approached Jo and Connor. Jo was grinning, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and Connor was checking out our surroundings.

"Oh my God," Jo was blushing, her cheeks nearly as red as her hair. "Lucius looks even hotter than he did last semester!"

I couldn't help giggling at her, she was completely fan-girling.

"So, he's one the campus security people you were talking about earlier?" I looked back as Lucius came in, pulling the door shut behind him.

"Uh-huh," Jo chimed. "There's four of them: Lucius, Aiden, Duke, and Nero." She counted them out on her fingers as she spoke their names. "Aiden and Duke are so cool--I partied with them a few times last semester. Nero is kind of a loner, so I don't know much about him. And Lucius," she paused to shudder, blushing bright scarlet. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to have a night out with him."

"Seriously?" Connor arched a brow at the man approaching us, pulling a hand out of his hoodie to pop a piece of gum in his mouth. "He looks like a Pirates of the Caribbean extra."

Connor wasn't wrong. With his wavy, jet-black hair pulled back into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck, light olive-toned skin and five o'clock shadow, Lucius really did favor a pirate. Only he was way too hot to be an extra.

"Follow me, please."

Lucius' tone was flat, his hands behind his back. He stole a glance of me as he walked by, then looked on ahead to where he was leading us.

"He looked right at me!" Jo hissed excitedly. "Did you see?"

Had he? Strange, I thought he looked at me just then. Jo and I were standing next to each other, though, so maybe I was mistaken.

I gave her nod, trying not to bump into her as our group shifted to follow Lucius.

We walked down a short, narrow hall adjacent to the room we were just in, and went through yet another set of thick, wooden double-doors. This time, though, Lucius propped open both doors before turning to face us.

"This is the dining hall." Like the Dean, Lucius could obtain silence with just the sound of his voice. "Breakfast is served at seven a.m, lunch at noon, and dinner at six. Any questions?"

"What if we want a midnight snack?"

A sly tone called from the back.

Our heads turned toward the direction of the voice, though it didn't do me much good--I was too short to see anything. A few female students began to gasp, some squealed, including Jo, and the entire room was suddenly filled with a roar of muttering. Then, our group began dividing down the middle, with me having to scoot toward the front.

That's when I saw them.

"Aiden, Duke." Lucius sounded impatient, folding his arms in front of his chest. "What are you doing here?"

Their uniforms matched Lucius'; pure white, and unmistakably authoritative. But unlike his, theirs were worn more casually. The blond one's shirt was untucked, white tie and two top buttons undone, revealing the tiniest peek of pale flesh. The other guy's shirt was untucked as well, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, but his tie was still tied.

"We just wanted to check out the new blood."

The blond smirked, making his way to Lucius. He started to walk past me, the other guy sauntering close behind, when he unexpectedly froze. His buddy stopped, too, and both of their gazes fell on me. They looked shell shocked, eyes wider than saucers as they bored into me. Heat rose to my cheeks and I began to tremble under the weight of their stares. They were like Dean Lachlan's eyes had been when he caught me from falling--wild yet restrained, like a caged tiger. I wasn't sure how long they stood there, gawking at me, when a hand clamped down on each of their shoulders, making them jump.

"Gentlemen, is there a problem?"

It was Dean Lachlan. He wore a polite smile as he addressed the two men in front of me, although something told me that it was just for show.

"No, sir," the blond spoke slowly, eyes still fixed on me.

"We were just leaving," said the other guy while running a hand through his auburn hair. "C'mon, Aiden. We should get ready for tonight's patrol."

So, the blond one is Aiden, huh? I quietly mused, watching them cautiously. Guess that means the other guy is Duke.

"Patrol?" Dean Lachlan released the men to arch a white eyebrow at Duke. "Have you forgotten? You two are on cleanup duty tonight."

"Right." Duke nodded, his tone bitter. "Of course, how could I possibly forget." He glared at Aiden for a second, then put his arm around his shoulders. "Let's get to it, then."

They turned to leave, Duke's arm still draped over Aiden's shoulders as they headed the way they came. Aiden shot me a glance over his shoulder before they disappeared down the hall, and everyone else's eyes were suddenly on me. I felt awkward, uncomfortable, trying to ignore the stares and hushed whispers of my classmates as Dean Lachlan spoke to Lucius.

"Thank you, Lucius. I will take over from here,"

"Yes, sir." Lucius gave the Dean a small bow before going the same route Duke and Aiden had.

Once he was gone, Dean Lachlan addressed our group, effectively muting the quiet gossip swirling around me.

"Alright, then. Who's hungry?"