Page 67 of House Ignis

"She nearly had him," I whispered.

It was true. Even Asher looked winded, sweat tracing the line of his spine, his chest rising heavier than before as his shadows settled close and quiet.

Then, Aether's voice slid through the bond, darker than usual. "All for the show. The heir."

My stomach tightened.

Professor Aldara stepped forward, looking entirely too pleased with the morning's violence.

"Last up," he called, his voice slicing through the lingering noise. "Ava Pyreson with Aether... and Zorian Tideris with Styx."

The arena shifted. The energy changed instantly as silence fell in a cold ripple.

"Princess of Fire versus Prince of Water," Aldara added, his eyes gleaming as if this were theatre rather than war.

Fantastic.

My pulse thundered in my ears, making me feel lightheaded. Across the arena, the water in the fountain rippled again—a rhythmic, predatory movement. I couldn't breathe.

Ember was suddenly in front of me, her hands gripping my shoulders hard enough to ground me. "Ava, you don't have to do this," she said, her eyes blazing with protective fury. "That creep can fuck right off."

"Breathe, little one," Aether growled down the bond, the flames at the tips of his ears licking brighter.

Across the ring, his massive black form paced, agitated and ready. "We can do this. Show him the queen you are."

I closed my eyes for half a second. The Core answered—not with a roar, but a steady, resonant pulse. I let the heat settle beneath my ribs, keeping it controlled instead of wild.

"I'm fine," I said, my voice finally steady. "I'm going to show him who the true heir is."

Ember's expression shifted from worried to lethal. "Then fuck him up."

I stepped past her, but a hand caught my elbow. Firm. Warm.

I turned to find Asher standing close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his bare skin. His silver eyes held mine with a sudden, sharp intensity. No teasing. No smirk.

"Burn him," he said quietly.

A slow, dangerous grin curved my mouth, and I let the flames begin to lick at my skin.

The arena buzzed as I crossed the stone.

The shield flared as I stepped through—runes igniting in a bright sweep along its curved surface before settling into a steady, humming glow. Contained. Watching. Ready.

I didn't look back.

Zorian stood at the far end of the ring, red hair slicked back, blue House leathers gleaming in the sun. Water already coiled lazily around his wrists.

"Princess of Fire," he called, voice carrying easily. "Try not to boil under pressure."

A ripple of laughter rolled from the Tideris benches.

I didn't react.

Didn't give him the satisfaction.

The Core pulsed beneath my ribs. Heat shimmered faintly along my skin, thin waves distorting the air around me.

Zorian's grin sharpened.