Beck, on the other hand, supposedly had to wrestle Uther because they were both fighting over the same fish. Beck claims he was hungry, and the two reached a stalemate and agreed to share the fish in the end. I’m highly skeptical of the story, but that's not a shock when it comes to Beck. He has a new story about his conquests with girls across campus almost daily, and all of them are "older students we wouldn't know."

After a while, Mireen's smile fades and she seems to remember Raith who lays between all of us, still motionless and radiating heat.

"So…" Mireen says. "You saved the terrifying guy who basically runs the first-year fire offerings… because?"

"Malakai and Serena were trying to kill him. It was five on one when I got there, and Raith had already downed a few of them." I resist the urge to get defensive—Raith's life was worth saving, period.

Beck kicks a foot up on the bed, leaning back so the wooden chair beneath him groans like it might snap in two. "Okay. Sure. But if I walked into a forest and saw a bunch of wolves trying to kill each other, I don't know if I'd pick one and try to save it. You know?"

"He has… helped me a few times." The words sound pathetic even to my own ears.

That earns raised brows from everyone.

"Helped you how?" Mireen asks. "I seem to recall him nearly choking you to death your first day here. And other than that, he's always glaring at you like he wants to eat you for dinner."

"Yeah, well, I don't think trust comes easy for him. And I won't pretend I know why, but he has been helping me. He kind of… looks out for me. In his own way." Even I can hear how weak that sounds.

Ambrose gives Mireen a sideways look.

Beck nods knowingly, snapping his fingers. "So you two are fucking? That's all you had to say. It does make sense. I mean, no offense, obviously, but you're gorgeous, Nessa. I never made a pass at you because I assumed you were taken. It was the only explanation for you not hooking up with anyone. But you’ve got it all going on. Face? Check. Body? Double check. And your ass is⁠—"

"Beck," Mireen says, turning his name into a sigh and a curse at the same time.

"What?" Beck says. "Look at her." He gestures. "Of course I wouldn't sleep with you. I mean, I would. But I won't because I respect you. And you guys brought me in, probably saving me from Malakai. Even if being your friend now sort of makes me more of a target…"