Page 205 of House Ignis

"I've always been his second," Ezra continued, his voice steady. "I protect him. He protects me. “He’s my brother. Not by blood, but in every way that matters and I'd never betray that. But Ava…" His eyes turned molten with a sudden, unexpected intensity. "I need you to know—if the day ever comes where I have to protect you against him, I will."

The words slammed into me. Raw, steady loyalty that didn't just follow a leader, but followed a heart. I nodded, swallowing the ache in my throat.

Maybe I did need someone like Ezra—someone who wasn't tangled in my heartstrings like Asher, but who knew him better than anyone else.

My lips curved despite the fear crawling under my skin. "You would kick his ass, wouldn't you?"

"Gladly," he said with a wink.

But as I drew the jacket tighter, the anxiety came rushing back. Ezra must have sensed the shift.

"You doubt Asher?" he asked.

I swallowed hard. "I don't doubt him. It's Jeremy that scares me."

Ezra's grin slipped, his brow furrowing.

“Jeremy's the most powerful earth wielder in the kingdom,” I said, my voice trembling but gaining strength as I spoke. “The General's son. Born and bred to be a warrior. He's calculated. Strategic. Every move he makes is a weapon.”

Ezra studied me carefully, his relaxed expression finally sharpening.

"Asher…" where Asher paced the center of the pitch, shadows trailing his every step.

“Asher's cocky. He trusts his power. Jeremy trusts his strategy.”

Something flickered in Ezra's eyes—a realization that this wasn't just a game of pride. And then, something wet and heavy brushed against my hand.

Havoc and Ruin, Ezra's two-headed bloodhounds, sat at my feet.

They were massive, terrifying creatures of myth, yet both heads let out a soft whine, long tongues lolling as their red-and-gold eyes gleamed up at me.

"Aw," I murmured, crouching down before Ezra could even think to warn me.

My hands buried into their thick, coarse fur, scratching behind four ears. Both heads leaned into me with a low rumble, acting as if they'd known me their whole lives.

Ezra went deathly pale. "Wait—Ava, don't—"

Too late.

Havoc licked my cheek with a wet slap while Ruin shoved his massive snout into my lap, nearly knocking me over. I laughed, scratching their ears harder.

"What?" I said, smiling up at a stunned Ezra.

He just stared at me, his mouth slightly open.

Across the field, a jolt of pure shock hit me through the bond.

"Those mutts don't let anyone touch them," Asher's voice murmured in my head, dark, low, and laced with disbelief.

"Not even me. Not anyone but Ezra."

“Well, they like me,” I said, grinning as I rubbed under Ruin's chin.

Both heads leaned harder, whining like overgrown lapdogs.

"You're just big pups, aren't you?"

Havoc's red eyes gleamed as he shoved his enormous head beneath my hand, demanding more attention.