Page 104 of House Ignis

I nodded. He handed it over, and I took a whiff—sweet with a hint of spice. "Thanks," I said, sipping and turning toward the group to join the conversation.

Maddy was already curled on Ryven's lap, whispering something that made him blush. Sera was hanging off the arm of a tall, unfamiliar guy with silver-beaded dreadlocks, stormy eyes, and smooth brown skin. Ember and Ezra were flirting nonstop; the two of them had become extremely close and were essentially the same person.

"Ava, this is Mavrik," Sera said brightly.

The male stepped forward with a roguish smile and bowed slightly. "Princess Ava. Good to meet you."

"Please don't bow," I groaned. "It's good to meet you, too."

Sera gestured between them. "Mavrik's on the Riftball team—beat Asher yesterday. Fair and square."

He chuckled, the sound rich and smooth. "Gotta try to take out the captain when you get the chance."

Captain? I flicked a look at Asher. Of course he was.

"Oh my gods, Ava!" Ember suddenly shrieked, bouncing in her boots. "Tryouts for the cheer squad are tomorrow! We have to do it."

"Yes!" Maddy gasped. "We'd slay!"

"Oh gods, yes please," Ryven muttered, nuzzling into Maddy's neck. She swatted him, giggling.

Asher leaned in close behind me, his breath warm on my ear. "Please do," he whispered, his voice dark and husky.

I stiffened slightly, feeling the way Mavrik's eyes drifted from my face... to my collarbone. To the mark.

"How's it feel being blood-bound to this prick?" Mavrik asked with a grin, clearly unfazed by the shadow-wrapped male looming behind me.

I smiled sweetly, the amber shot still singing in my veins. "Well, I own him."

The entire group went still. Grins broke out; smirks followed. Ryven straight-up laughed, the sound bright against the heavy thumping of the music. Mavrik nodded, his eyes lingering thoughtfully on the glowing sigil on my collarbone. "Hmm."

The response from the bond was instantaneous. Shadows coiled around my thighs—slow, heavy, and undeniably approving.

I didn't even have to look back to know Asher was wearing a look of pure, smug satisfaction.

"Incoming," Ryven muttered, his gaze flicking toward the edge of the garden.

I turned, and the air in my lungs vanished.

Jeremy.

He looked like the Earth Goddess herself had carved him from mountain stone and honeyed sun. His white linen shirt hung open, the soft fabric loose around his arms but parted enough to showcase the sculpted lines of his chest and the tantalizing trail of his V-line disappearing into his matching low-slung pants. He was barefoot, earthen charms shimmering around his neck with elemental energy, and living vines wrapped his forearms like pulsing bracelets.

My heart slammed against my ribs. Gods, he was unreal.

"Sweetheart," he murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as if he could feel the exact moment my resolve wavered.

The group fell silent as he crossed the space and pulled me into his arms. One second I was grounded, and the next, I was crushed against the hard heat of his chest. His arm was a firm iron band around my waist, his lips brushing mine with a maddening, slow restraint that made my head swim.

Behind me, the shift was violent. Asher's shadows recoiled instantly, snapping back like a lashed whip. And stars help me—my body actually ached at the loss of them.

Jeremy's gaze roamed lower, his emerald eyes darkening as they tracked the curve of my hips in the purple glitter. He growled, a low, possessive vibration I felt in my teeth. "You look..." He paused, his voice thick enough to make my stomach tumble. "...absolutely stunning."

A slow, knowing smile curved my lips. "You don't look bad yourself," I replied, my fingertips ghosting down the warm skin of his chest.

Then, his eyes dipped. They landed straight on the glowing gold blood-bond sigil on my collarbone.

His jaw clenched so hard the bone jumped. I felt the fury coil through him, a physical tension that radiated off his skin as he looked over my shoulder at the male standing behind me.