Page 11 of House Ignis

"Students," Silas called, his voice rising above the noise.

"It is time to report to your assigned houses and receive your official leathers. May the best house win this year. You are dismissed."

The hall exploded into chaos—benches scraping, voices rising, bodies surging toward the doors.

"Fuck yes!" Ryven whooped, spinning on his heel.

The frenzy rattled through the hall, but my heart was still flailing somewhere near my stomach.

I was supposed to be basking in the afterglow of my Orb reveal—flames, applause, my name thundering off the stone walls.

Instead, my thoughts were a tangled mess of shadows and that maddening gaze from across the chamber.

Get it together, Ava. You're not some wide-eyed faelet. You're not going to unravel over a smirk.

…Right?

"You're going to cause chaos," Aether drawled through the bond, far too smug for my liking.

"Thanks. Helpful as always," I muttered, trying not to trip as Ember practically dragged me through the crush of bodies.

The moment we spilled out of the Grand Hall, the pressure of all those watching eyes finally lifted from my chest.

I sucked in a breath—and my stomach immediately twisted in protest. Gods.

The familiar ache burned low in my abdomen, sharp and unwelcome. Too much magic. Too much adrenaline. Too much everything.

I swallowed it down and kept walking. Ember steered me toward a bench outside the hall and pushed me onto it before my knees could betray me.

"Oh, Ava, you look pale," she said, pressing a flask of water into my hands.

I gulped it down, the coolness sliding down my throat. "Just… a lot," I managed, forcing my voice to stay steady while the pain simmered under my ribs.

Her green eyes searched mine, concern softening the usual spark in them.

"I'm fine. Seriously," I lied.

"Whoa!" A shout split the air.

Ryven bounded over, grinning like an idiot, with Maddison thrown over his arms like a sack of grain. She squealed, smacked his shoulder, and demanded, "Put me down, Caldar!"

He dropped her only to press a kiss to her forehead. She rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. Gods, they were disgustingly perfect.

"You don't look good, Pyreson," Ryven said, lifting a brow at me.

"I'm fine," I snapped, pushing to my feet a little too quickly. The movement sent a hot twist through my stomach, heat still flickering restlessly beneath my ribs.

"It was probably that mysterious male watching you," Maddison sang, grinning wickedly.

I nearly choked. Gods, if only I could set her hair on fire.

"Dorms?" I asked quickly, desperate to change the subject before she said something worse.

"Yes!" Ember squealed, looping her arm through mine again. "Let's get our asses to House Ignis."

Maddy clapped her hands together, practically glowing with excitement. "Enjoy, girls! We'll see you at dinner."

"Good luck, Pyreson!" Ryven hollered, flashing his signature shit-eating grin before turning toward the House Ventus path with Maddison. Their boundlings padded after them, wings and fur weaving easily through the dispersing crowd.