Page 238 of House Ignis

“Of course, Hotshot,” he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

“He’s alright for a guy with too many freckles,” Ember said, appearing beside us with a knowing, mischievous grin.

Ezra snorted immediately, his usual ego snapping back into place. “Please,” he scoffed, tossing his head back.

“What would you two even do without me? You'd be bored to death in twenty minutes.”

He reached over and grabbed Ember’s face, pressing a quick, loud kiss to the top of her head.

She shoved him away with a look of exaggerated disgust, but she was smiling so hard it had to hurt.

I leaned over the snack basket and fished out a chocolate-speckled egg. “Come on,” I said, gesturing toward the pillow fortress.

“Let’s sit.” I glanced back at them, my expression turning serious. “And I’ll tell you what’s actually going on.”

We climbed into the fort like children hiding from the world. Blankets swallowed the morning light, and pillows pressed close around us, creating a cocoon around us.

Ember sprawled comfortably on her side while Ezra dropped beside her, his head immediately finding her lap as if it were a permanent fixture.

I curled up opposite them, my latte balanced between my hands and the snack basket wedged between my knees.

For a moment, none of us spoke. Then, I started talking.

And I didn’t stop.

I told them everything. About the flares.

About the pain that felt like my own magic was trying to tear its way out of my skin. About the healers whispering in worried tones when I was little.

About how no one truly understood what it was.

“So… yeah,” I finished eventually, popping another chocolate egg into my mouth.

“I was born with it. The healers don't have a name for it. They just say my core and my powers are… unstable.

When I’m highly stressed or panicking, it flares. It tries to burn me from the inside out.” I finished and popped an egg into my mouth.

“And me?” Aether muttered from the corner of the fort, his golden eyes judgmental.

I rolled my eyes and tossed him a speckled egg.

He caught it neatly between waiting teeth, the crunch echoing in the small space. Gods, he was a dramatic creature.

“Gods, Ava…” Ezra murmured finally. The cockiness was gone, replaced by a grim shadow. “I’m sorry you have to deal with that.” He was still lying in Ember’s lap, and I watched her absentmindedly twirl his dark, auburn hair between her fingers.

“It’s okay,” I said with a small shrug, though we all knew it wasn't. “You get used to it. Unfortunately.”

His jaw clenched hard enough that I actually heard his teeth grind. “Who knows?” he asked.

“Well… the castle, obviously,” I said, counting them off on my fingers. “Ember. Maddy. Ryven. Now you.” I hesitated, the void in my chest pulsing. “Not even Asher knows.”

The words tasted bitter. Ezra just nodded slowly, his eyes dark with a million thoughts he wasn't sharing.

“But it’s passed now,” I added quickly, forcing a note of brightness into my voice. “Thank the gods.”

Ezra reached into the basket and stole an egg. “Why does hot water help?” he asked, genuinely curious.

I huffed a laugh. “I genuinely don’t know. You'd think I'd understand it because my power is fire, but using my magic actually makes the flare worse. It’s like my body goes into full rebellion mode. But hot water…”