Page 167 of House Ignis

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The rest of the day was a whirlwind of emotions. We were wrecked after training for the Trials... our bodies aching from climbing enchanted cliffs, leaping between shifting platforms, navigating aerial challenges, and nearly drowning in illusion seas. Even our boundlings were exhausted, sprawled across the grass by the time we'd finished.

But nothing—and I mean nothing—beat sinking into the massive tub in House Ignis with Asher behind me, his hands in my hair, his hands in my hair, massaging gentle circles into my scalp.

And then lower.

His fingers wandered, touching me with that same wicked tenderness that had me moaning into the steam, my legs tangled with his beneath the water.

Gods, the way he groaned when I started working him up and down, stroking him slowly under the bubbles—it was a sound that should be illegal in at least three kingdoms.

Still… he didn't try to take it further.

Not yet. Not while Jeremy still stood between us. Not until I was free to choose Asher completely.

The restraint?

Torturous. Infuriating. Downright perfect.

By the time we got out, our fingers were wrinkled, our bond practically humming, and he was biting back curses with every lingering kiss on my shoulder.

He kissed me one last time before leaving for House Umbra to get ready for the ball, whispering a promise against my skin that made me shiver.

The bond pulled taut the moment he left. Gods, I couldn't wait for after tonight. But I wouldn't give him my answer just yet. Let him squirm a little.

I was halfway through drying my hair when the door slammed open—and Ember waltzed in like a goddess of chaos.

I turned around and gaped.

"Holy shit," I breathed.

She looked like a firestorm incarnate—wrapped in a tight, off-the-shoulder crimson gown that hugged her curves like a spell and flared into flame-like layers at the base.

Her braid was pinned up with glittering rubies, and her lips were blood red.

"We are here to parade you, our queen," she announced like it was a royal decree.

Luna prowled in behind her and sat beside me like a smug little court advisor. I just laughed, still half in my towel, while Ember wiggled her brows.

"First up—Sera!" she called.

Sera strolled in like a vision in soft pink. Her dress looked like it was spun from moonlight and flower petals, glittering gems catching in the fae lights.

Her boundling, Nyssa, perched elegantly on her shoulder. We clapped and cheered as she passed me a drink. "You'll need this," she said dryly.

"Next—Jules!" Ember sang, and gods.

Jules glided in wearing a stunning yellow gown that hugged her curves in all the right places.

My jaw hit the floor.

I’d only seen her out of her dusty old robes once before.

That cleavage. I whistled. "GIRL." She blushed furiously and high-fived me on the way in.

"Next is Darcy, our in-house female crotch slayer."

I cackled.