Page 196 of House Ignis

The crowd surged to their feet. My chest seized.

And then—Asher moved.

He cut across the field like a shadow-drenched blade, colliding with Jeremy in a violent tangle of limbs and grit. They tumbled, dirt and magic flying, the ball slipping free. In the same breath, Asher twisted, shadows snapping out to seize the loose ball before he drove it straight into the net.

The whistle blew. Game over.

The stadium exploded into a deafening wall of sound as the first-years claimed the field.

Asher stood in the center of the chaos, chest heaving, his eyes searching the stands until they found mine.

Darcy, Ezra, Ryven, and Mavrik slammed into him all at once, a chaotic pile of triumphant laughter and sweaty limbs.

The rest of the first-years surged in behind them, roaring in victory.

The stands thundered, the vibration rattling my teeth as glitter rained down over the pitch like falling sparks.

Jeremy pushed himself up slowly, seething. Fury was etched into every line of his jaw as he watched the celebration—but I didn't care. I didn't even look at him.

Because I was already running.

He sensed me before I even reached the edge of the scrum. Asher spun, grinning like a devil, and caught me mid-air as I leapt into his arms.

He lifted me clear off the grass, spinning me once before crashing his mouth against mine.

It was a deep, reckless kiss, the kind that didn't care about the thousands of eyes watching us. The kind that felt like a match to a fuse right in front of Jeremy.

The stadium shrieked. My heart hammered so violently it drowned out the noise of the crowd.

"Bold move," Aether muttered dryly through the four-way link, though I could feel his feline satisfaction.

"I show what's mine," Asher shot back, the thought dripping with smug, territorial heat.

I pulled back just enough to catch my breath, smiling against his lips.

"Well done, Dark One," I whispered.

He squeezed my ass in answer, smirking against my mouth, before his gaze drifted over my shoulder toward the rest of the group.

“You have to look, don't you?” I groaned, knowing his territorial streak was always active.

"Oh, fuck, I definitely do."

And then Maddy's high-pitched screech sliced through the air. Both our heads whipped toward the sideline.

My jaw hit the floor.

Darcy had Jules by the waist.

She was kissing her like she meant to swallow her whole, a full-on, devastating display right in front of half the Academy.

Jules was flushed a brilliant crimson, her hands clutching Darcy's shoulders like she was the only thing keeping her grounded.

Asher let out a low, appreciative whistle, his shadows curling around us in a smug wave. "That's my girl," he said, sounding as proud as if he'd coached the move himself.

"Let's get fucked!" Ember hollered, sliding up beside Asher and bumping her hip into his as if they were old drinking buddies.

Asher arched a dark brow at her, amusement spreading across his face.