Page 190 of House Ignis

My heart twisted at the memory of the funeral, but Jules was right. It was the perfect cover.

“Two weeks,” I whispered. “Then I'll walk into that library myself.”

•••

The cheer uniform still felt like a joke on me, but the Academy requirements were non-negotiable: full spirit gear for the first-years versus second-years match.

The entire student body would be watching. "School spirit," they called it. I called it a costume.

I smoothed the short skirt over my hips, already questioning every decision that had led me here.

Still, I needed the distraction. I was lacing my sneakers, trying to push the image of disappearing ink and red-rimmed eyes out of my head, when I felt the tug on the bond.

"I'm in the uniform, Asher," I projected through the mental link, a flash of mischief coloring the thought.

The response was instantaneous. A growl ripped through the bond, deep enough to vibrate in my bones. The shadows in the corners of my room thickened as his possessiveness surged through me.

"Firecracker," his voice rasped in my mind, dark and dangerous. "If you weren't on the other side of campus, I'd show you exactly what I think of that uniform. Keep it on. I'm coming for you the second the match is over."

I shivered, heat blooming in my chest that had nothing to do with the morning sun. Thank the gods no one else was around to witness the ridiculous smile spreading across my face.

The door slammed open, and Ember barged in like a localized thunderstorm.

She didn't say a word.

She didn't say a word. She just paced across the rug, boots thudding while her fingers raked through her auburn hair like she wanted to tear the thoughts straight out of her skull.

Luna padded in behind her, took one look at the frantic energy, and let out a long, deeply unimpressed huff before flopping down by the balcony doors.

Aether lifted his head from the corner, his golden eyes tracking her. "She is going to burn a hole through your carpet," he observed dryly.

I watched Ember turn—pace—turn again.

“Do you want to tell me what you’re doing,” I asked carefully, “or should I start budgeting for fire damage?”

She stopped mid-step and glared at the floor. Then, with a groan of pure Ember-drama, she flopped backward across my bed, grabbed a throw pillow, and hurled it at my head.

"Ember," I warned, catching it.

She peeked out from beneath a curtain of messy hair, and that's when I saw it. Her green eyes weren't sharp or defiant.

They were shaken.

"I wanted to end things with him," she muttered into the mattress.

I stilled. "With Ezra?"

She nodded once, hugging a second pillow to her chest. "Because I'm falling for him."

The words landed heavy in the room.

"And that scared you," I said softly.

"It terrified me," she snapped, then immediately deflated.

"He told me he doesn't want to hook up with anyone else. Like… at all. He wants to try. Properly."

My brows lifted.