Two rivals. One scholarship. A secret society that wants them both dead.
Avery Lin is a ghost in the hallowed halls of Arrington University. As a scholarship student surrounded by the elite, she has one goal: win the prestigious Arrington Fellowship to Oxford and leave her past behind. But standing in her way is Julian Vance-the cold, brilliant, and infuriatingly handsome heir to a billion-dollar empire. He isn't just her academic rival; he's her nemesis.
But Arrington hides a rot beneath its ivy-covered walls.
When Avery becomes the target of The Vanguard, a lethal secret society determined to keep their bloodlines pure, she finds an unlikely protector in the man she swore to hate. As the three-week countdown to the scholarship panel begins, Avery and Julian are forced into a deadly truce.
In the shadows of ancient libraries and secret vaults, the lines between hatred and obsession begin to blur. Julian is breaking his own rules-and his family's legacy-to keep her safe. But in a game where ambition is a weapon and love is a weakness, only one can wear the crown.
What if the price of winning is losing the only person worth fighting for?
Why you'll love this book:
Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Academic Rivals, Secret Societies, Forced Proximity.
Vibe: Dark Academia, Romantic Thriller, High Stakes.
For Fans of: The Secret History, Ninth House, and Twisted Games.