Page 247 of House Ignis

Then the smell of spice and citrus filled my nose—familiar, grounding, and real.

The mattress dipped again, closer this time.

I lifted my head slowly from Ember’s arms, my vision blurred.

Ezra was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at me.

His eyebrows were furrowed as if he were trying to physically hold himself together.

His jaw was tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek.

His eyes poured straight into mine.

He reached for my hand and wrapped his fingers around it. Warm. Steady. And something inside me cracked all over again.

“I… I…” My throat croaked uselessly. “I let someone else touch me.” The words tasted like betrayal. Like poison. “Gods, what have I done,” I whispered, my body shaking.

My gaze flicked to him—a male. Asher’s best friend. The person who knew him better than anyone.

“He’ll hate me,” I choked. “I can’t lose him too.”

Ezra closed his eyes for a second, his face twisting as if the words physically hurt him.

When he opened them again, there was a fire there—not anger at me, but something protective and fierce.

“Ava,” he said quietly. “Listen to me.” His thumb tightened over my knuckles. “I’m fucking furious with Asher for leaving you like this. Even if I understand why he had to go.”

That stunned me. I blinked at him through wet lashes.

He gave a small, humorless exhale. “But I know him better than anyone.

” Then—unexpectedly—he offered a small, real smile. “Ava… you don’t understand what that male would do for you.”

My chest tightened.

“He would drown every kingdom in darkness before he let anything take you from him.”

Ezra went on, his voice firm.

“I have never seen him love harder. Or more recklessly.” His gaze drifted to Ember, still wrapped protectively around me. Something in his expression shifted.

“Gods,” he murmured. “I fucking envy the love you two have.”

His eyes found Ember’s immediately.

Not casually, not jokingly.

His eyes found Ember’s immediately. Not casually. Not jokingly. It was the way his eyes always seemed to know exactly where she was. And when he looked at her... stars. There was no teasing, no arrogance, no Umbra smirk. Just raw, dangerous longing.

Something that looked a little too much like love.

Ember was still pressed against my side, but I felt her body go completely still.

I turned my head slowly to look at her. Her green eyes were wide and too bright. And then, silent tears started slipping down her cheeks.

She didn’t wipe them away.

She didn't speak. She just… looked at him, as if she were seeing something she both wanted and feared in equal measure.