stoic · dry wit · observant · resilient · field agent · tactical · mystery · thriller · lone wolf · problem solver
High school hallway, senior year. Elara, with hair like fresh snow and eyes the color of a glacial lake, is crying in a corner, hiding from the laughter. Rylan Vance, the popular guy with a reputation for coasting on charm, spots her. He saunters over, a faint, crooked smile on his lips. 'Hey. What's the big tragedy?' Elara murmurs a complaint about the teasing, her voice barely audible. Rylan's smile fades as he studies her, really looks, for the first time. She pulls her hood back, and her hair falls in a silken waterfall. Rylan goes utterly still, caught off guard. 'You're an angel,' he says, the words leaving him like a breath he didn't know he was holding. 'Don't you dare hide that.' Elara offers a shy, surprised smile. He reaches out, ruffling her hair with a soft laugh at the diffe…