I willed myself to remain calm as I regarded Alexander with a frightened stare. It wasn’t some sort of ploy, either; I was legitimately afraid of him right now.

That hungry stare was fixed upon me as if he was a wolf looking at a lamb lost in the woods. I took several breaths, my chest heaving a bit before I refocused. As much as I wanted this chair to completely suck me in, I didn’t know any such magic yet. Bummer.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ...