Page 303 of House Ignis

"We're playing to burn it all down."

I closed my eyes, leaning into him as the first snow of the season began to fall, dusting the arena floor where tomorrow, our war would truly begin.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

The morning sun filtered through my balcony doors in cold, jagged streaks, offering no warmth.

Asher stood behind me, his reflection a dark, lethal counterpart to my own.

He was dressed in the same black, fitted Trials leathers, the thick material hugging his corded muscles.

Unlike our daily gear, these weren't woven with protection spells or defensive runes; they were built only to endure the friction of a fall.

In the Arena, we were on our own.

Natural healing would take care of the nicks and scrapes, and while we carried a few basic healing runes, they were a taxing last resort. For anything deeper, you simply had to survive until the round ended and a healer could reach you. People died in these Trials every year. There were no safety nets behind the Ring, and the Academy only sent the strongest to the Guard to protect the Wall.

Asher’s eyes met mine in the glass, his hands coming up to rest on my shoulders. The weight of his touch was the only thing keeping me grounded.

"You look like a queen," he murmured, his voice a low, lethal rasp. "And today, you start taking what’s yours."

I adjusted the strap of my leather harness, feeling the familiar, fragile hum of my magic beneath my skin. I wasn't just fighting for a spot on the Wall anymore.

"Ready?" I asked, my voice steady despite the roar in my blood.

"Always," he replied, his jaw tightening.

We turned together toward the balcony, where Aether and Zya were already waiting. Aether stood tall, his sleek onyx coat catching the early light, every strand glinting like liquid shadow. His golden eyes were fixed on the horizon with a regal, quiet intensity.

Beside him, Zya was a contrast of restless energy, her tail twitching as she let out a low, vibrating chuff of anticipation.

The panthers knew.

They could feel the shift in the air; the bond between us hummed with the coming violence.

Asher stepped toward them, his presence commanding even their attention.

I took a final breath, the scent of rain and smoke from his skin filling my lungs, and looked out at the Academy grounds.

The Trials were waiting, and for the first time, I wasn't afraid of the fire.

I was the fire.

•••

When we reached the grand staircase, I saw Ezra and Ember waiting at the bottom.

Ember’s eyes were red-rimmed, but she was standing so close to Ezra that their shoulders were touching—a silent, stubborn declaration that they were facing this together.

Ezra looked up, his usual easy grin replaced by something harder, something battle-ready.

"Took you long enough," Ezra called out, though there was no bite in it. “The Arena is already screaming. I think the instructors added a few extra monsters to the pit just for the opening ceremony.”

"Let them," I said, my voice ringing out through the hall and drawing the eyes of every student present. "I’m tired of simulations."

Asher’s grip on my hand tightened, his thumb grazing my knuckles in a silent show of support.

"The Princess is right," he added, his voice low and lethal.