Page 55 of House Ignis

I pushed harder, forcing the fire in my veins to explode. One last burst of pure Ignis willpower.

I broke ahead and crossed the line first.

A heartbeat later, Asher crossed second.

Cheers erupted from the students watching. Miss Waterstone clapped once, a rare look of approval on her face. "Pyreson—first place. House Ignis earns ten points. Maddox—second."

I turned, breathless, sparks dancing at my fingertips and my lungs burning with victory. Asher slowed beside me, barely winded, his silver eyes bright with a lethal sort of pride.

"Well," he said softly, leaning in just enough to stir the hair at my temple. "I'll let you have that one."

I arched a brow, defying the way my heart hammered. "You didn't let me do anything, Maddox. I took it."

His mouth curved into that devastating smirk. Before he could respond, Ember slammed into me from the side. "THAT'S MY GIRL!"

Maddy squealed, looping her arm through mine. "You practically flew!"

Ryven jogged up, reaching out to scruffle my braids. "Not bad, Princess. Fast for a fire-breather."

I swatted his hand away. "I literally beat all of you."

"By a step," he said lazily, though his eyes were grinning.

"Still counts."

Ezra stumbled in a few seconds later, dramatically collapsing to one knee. "This is humiliating. I demand a rematch. My rune was defective."

Darcy snorted. "Learn to draw, Ezra."

Ezra looked up at me, blinking rapidly. "Tutor me, Princess? My education is clearly suffering."

I tilted my head, feeling the adrenaline-fueled confidence of the moon. "What's the payment plan?"

He blinked. "Payment—?"

"Because clearly attention isn't free," I said sweetly. "And you seem to struggle with focus."

Ryven barked a laugh so loud it startled Nyssa, while Maddy gasped dramatically. Ezra pointed at me, a grin breaking across his face. "Oh, I like her. She's vicious."

"Only when necessary," I replied.

Asher stepped closer. Too close. His shadow fell over me, cool and heavy. "Careful, Ezra," he said mildly, his eyes locked on mine. "She bites."

My pulse stuttered. The air between us suddenly felt thick enough to choke on.

Before I could find a witty comeback, Ember's voice cut in—flat, loud, and entirely unimpressed. "The sexual tension here could be cut with a blade. Can we go back to the magic now?"

Total silence.

Ryven choked on a laugh.

Maddy started wheezing. Ezra straight-up lost it, doubling over, and even Darcy's mouth twitched into a suppressed smile. I went scarlet, the heat in my face rivaling the fire in my veins.

Asher, the absolute menace, didn't even look embarrassed. He just smiled at me.

"I am surrounded by idiots," Aether growled in my mind.

Miss Waterstone cleared her throat sharply, reclaiming the courtyard. "Focus! Back to your stations."