Page 142 of House Ignis

Asher turned, smirking, shadows dancing behind his eyes. "Well," he said, casual as ever, "that was fun."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to regulate my breathing. "I still want to punch you."

He tilted his head, the silver in his gaze flickering. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

Cheers erupted from the viewing stands the moment our feet hit the sand again.

"YESSS! THAT'S MY GIRL!" Ember shrieked, practically body-slamming Maddy beside her.

Luna howled, her paws dancing as embers curled around her mane. Ezra gave us a sharp two-fingered salute from the edge of the shadows, one hand resting on Ruin and Havoc's shared shoulder. One of the hound's heads growled approvingly while the other just barked, tail wagging like an idiot.

Sera stood like a goddess in black, Nyssa perched regally on her shoulder, while Darcy—with Void curled lazily around her neck—grinned like she'd just won a bet. Zaria clapped politely, her magic shimmering faintly, and beside her, Mavrik just laughed, raking a hand through his wet hair.

Even Professor Theron arched a single approving brow before muttering, "About damn time Pyreson started living up to her name."

I should've felt proud, but all I could feel was the bond. It pulsed between us, hot and hungry, still charged from the battle, from the way we moved together and the way his shadows had caught me mid-air. The crowd was roaring, but inside me, there was only him. Asher stood beside me, close but not touching, and gods, he might as well have had his hands all over me

He turned slowly, that same infuriating smirk curling at his lips. Our eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the noise of the arena vanished.

"Well fought," he said directly into my mind.

"Shut up," I replied through the tether, trying to ignore the way his approval made my fire flare.

"WELL," Ember practically screeched, marching straight toward me, "THAT WAS THE SEXIEST GODS-DAMN FIGHT I HAVE EVER SEEN!"

I blinked, my face heating. "Please stop."

"Nope," Ember said, jabbing a finger at my chest. “You launched a fireball while your broody partner shadow-whipped you into the air, and then you landed against his chest like something out of a gods-damned romance scroll. I nearly caught on fire just watching it.”

"She's right," Maddy added softly, smiling. "You two fight like a synced pair. It's almost terrifying."

"I thought you were going to make out right there on the platform," Sera added dryly, Nyssa adjusting her feathers as if she were taking notes.

"Honestly," Ezra called out, "if one of you had kissed the other mid-combat, I don't think anyone would've stopped it."

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. Are we that fucking obvious? Aether made a smug little chuff beside me, clearly enjoying my misery. Asher, of course, just stood there with that half-lidded, maddening look, as if none of this concerned him.

Ember leaned closer, her eyes wild. "So, just to clarify—you don't want to kiss him, but you do want to punch him, but you also maybe want to do both while setting him on fire?"

I glared. "Ember."

"I'm just trying to get the emotional math right, Ava. Because the bond between you two is giving chaotic lovers in denial."

"It's giving enemies-to-soulmates," Darcy added as she wandered past.

"I hate everyone here," I muttered.

"Liar," Asher's voice teased in my head.

Then I felt him. Behind me. Close. Too close. The air cooled as his shadows curled around us, quiet and intimate.

No one was touching me, but gods, I felt claimed.

His voice brushed my neck, low and dark, wrapped in velvet and sin.

"Careful, princess… next time, I won't stop. I'll make you scream my name when you cum."

Dead. Silence.