I smelled their jealousy over the fact that I was often the center of attention for the most desirable guys on the football team – without even wanting to be – and their distaste for my challenging side.

I might dress like a girl, I might have long hair and feminine features, but growing up as the only girl among my brother’s friends had definitely left its mark.

It was in my nature. And even if I didn’t take my shirt off or – unlike most of the pack – wasn’t often on the verge of getting into a fight, I liked to join in the games.

“Someday, Emely...” Noah warned me with an acted somberness and I laughed.

There were only two men who had beaten me at this game so far. One was running around campus with a witch like he was her bodyguard, and the other was spending his semester abroad in the United States.

I was jolted out of my thoughts, which had been about to wallow in old memories. It was the loudspeakers on the far too classy-looking campus lanterns.

Someone cleared his throat, and I knew immediately that it was my absent-minded uncle who seemed to be having trouble with the microphone. But his throat-clearing was enough to make everyone on campus pause, probably because he’d just torn Nash and Julian apart half an hour ago.

I still cursed them both for their recklessness.

“Dear students of Vanderwood. It’s that time again. Three years are almost up, which means the next presidential elections for the Student Council Committee are coming up next March.”

The elections. Something that only existed at Vanderwood in this form.

“Any student at Vanderwood University who is nominated by at least eighty students and wants to actively participate in shaping campus life, in addition to the general student challenges, can participate.”

I snorted.

This campus was in a disastrous state. Witches and Ruisangor offspring trying to mess with us and, most recently, Jenny Bexley’s news channel project, which had wanted to interview me four times last week.

Wasn’t it enough her parents were already terrorizing the town with their ridiculous news station?

“The election will proceed as it does every year, which means that after the nomination period of four months, votes will be collected for the nominated candidates in the first week of March, and the top four who advance will have to develop their campaign program, including suggestions for improving campus life, and defend it in the form of a campaign speech.”

My gaze wandered across the campus to the two sports cars. A Lamborghini and a Ferrari. The Ruisangors were leaning against the engine hoods. Three young men in their twenties with sunglasses who had no business being here.

The body had been found in their wooded area just a few hours ago. A young woman with the pictures of two little girls in her locket, as word had spread half an hour ago.

If the two girls had been her children, she must have been very beautiful before someone had peeled the skin off her face.

The turmoil in my stomach grew louder and louder as I became more and more certain that those heartless bastards were behind it. I didn’t even want to think about what they were capable of.

I’d had a quick word with Alarik this morning, begging him to follow the code for once. And I had stupidly given up. My mistake, as I realized at that very moment.

“You have four months to get nominated and already work on an election program.”

There was one more way to get the DeLoughreys off this campus. With democracy.

“Feel encouraged to get your friends and fellow students to nominate you for the election. This is your chance to make a difference.”

The speakers fell silent with an electric crackle.

My gaze drifted down to the bracelet with the Esadowas’ patterns of blue, red, and orange woven into it. It was one of the last mementos of a woman I had never had the chance to meet. But I knew that she would have stood up for her people.

Determined, I wheeled around to the guys.

“Nash, how about this?” Cody laughed. “You’re going to be the new campus president?”

“Fuck man, forget it,” my brother said grimly, his chest rising and falling as if he’d just run a five-hour marathon. He was still holding tissues to his nose.

“Why not?” Cody replied with a teasing smile. “I’m sure the girls would all vote for you.”

“He’s right,” I interjected before Nash could protest. “You should get nominated.” I pointed at his closest friend. “And you too, Hunter.”

Nash looked at me, unimpressed.

Sometimes you just had to force him to be happy.

“What?” Hunter stammered.

“I’m putting myself up, too,” I added quickly. Then there was only one person left to take us to the final. I looked around, and my eyes fell on Harry, Hunter’s big and reasonable brother.

“Wow, wow, wow...” Hunter exclaimed and stood in front of me, placing his strong hand on my shoulder. “Wait, Emely.”

I narrowed my eyes determinedly.

“This is our chance to get rid of the DeLoughreys.”

The guys exchanged conflicted glances. Nash and Hunter looked at me searchingly.

“You want to kick them out by becoming president?” Cody asked, confused.

“Not such a bad idea...” Noah returned with a raised thumb before tapping the tree stump. “I’d be happy to support you.”

“Then take part in the election,” I urged him. “We’ll all nominate each other and round up people to help us.”

Noah looked at me, thinking.

Why were they all so hesitant? Just like me and the rest of the pack, they wanted the DeLoughreys to crawl back into their bush and preferably never come back.

“How about this,” Noah suggested. “We all nominate one of us. And since Nash obviously doesn’t want to, and Hunter doesn’t exactly look like the campaign champion either, I’d suggest you.”

Noah seemed serious. And the guys around us, except for my brother, nodded in agreement.

“Just me?” I asked suspiciously.

I could already see the booing, because I was definitely not one of the most popular students.

“You’ve got what it takes,” Noah said. “Besides, you’re studying law. I’m sure you can defend yourself well.”

Funny. I had only just started studying.

“I’m all for it,” Cody said, patting my free shoulder.