Page 43 of House Ignis

"I know," I thought, watching Asher melt into the crowd. He was gone, but the look he left behind stayed.

And gods—so did the heat.

CHAPTER SIX

The five of us—Ember, Maddy, Jules, a surprisingly roped-in Darcy, and me—crammed into my dorm.

Outside on the balcony, our boundlings sprawled like royalty. Aether lounged by Luna, while Darcy's boundling, a silent, violet-eyed bat named Void, hung upside down like a glossy shadow.

Inside, the air buzzed with spice-scented liquor and the glow of floating lanterns.

"So, Darcy," Ember purred, smoothing her sinful red mini-dress, "anyone catch your eye?"

Darcy exhaled a curl of purple smoke from her rune-engraved pipe. "I'm into females," she said casually. "And I've turned a few."

Ember fanned herself dramatically. "I think you just turned me."

As the room erupted, Maddy leaned in. "And how do you know Asher?"

Darcy smirked, leaning against the bedpost. "We grew up near the Umbra border. Not nobles—just regular fae scraping by until we found each other in the dark."

"But the Academy only takes pure bloodlines," Jules noted, brushing her orange curls.

"Asher made sure of it," Darcy said, something almost soft flickering behind the usual edge in her voice.

"The Queen of Umbra is his aunt. He vouched for me himself. When a Maddox asks for something, even royalty listens."

"Acceptable," Aether rumbled through the bond, flicking his tail toward Void.

"So," Ember said, turning to me. "What are you wearing, Princess?"

I groaned, pulling a blanket over my head. "I'm staying in to study runes."

"Hell no." Darcy stalked over and ripped the blanket away, pinning me with a violet glare. "Princesses don't hide. They make the room burn when they walk in."

"That was… terrifyingly motivating," I muttered, heading for the wardrobe.

I chose a blue-and-gold marbled tennis skirt with a matching long-sleeved crop top.

Sharp. Playful. Dangerous.

In the bathroom, I tamed my combat-tousled hair into tight Dutch braids dusted with glitter that shimmered like scattered embers.

When I stepped out, the room collectively gasped.

"YES," Ember shouted. Darcy offered a rare, approving smile, and Maddy pressed a glowing chalice into my hand.

The liquor smelled like berries and bad decisions. I took a long sip anyway. I was ready to burn something down.

•••

The air was alive with music and anticipation as we trekked through the ancient forest. This wasn't like the other woods; it was older, the magic humming through the roots beneath our boots as we followed the path from House Ignis to House Tideris.

Darcy led the way, her shadows flickering at her fingertips. Unlike Asher's, hers were playful, twisting like violet smoke around the trees.

"Your shadows are breathtaking," I breathed.

Darcy glanced back, surprised. "No one's ever said that." She watched the darkness coil lazily around her arm. "You can't come from Umbra without shadows breathing through your skin. The kingdom trains us for stealth—royal guards, elite assassins. Most go through the Conclave at sixteen. It's a sacred trial. Fail, and you don't earn your House crest."