Page 32 of House Ignis

Maddy appeared on my other side, giggling, while Ryven sauntered up with lazy ease. "Careful with that one," Ryven noted. "He's unpredictable."

"Which is exactly what Ava needs," Ember said blandly. "A good, mysterious fuck from the darkling."

I choked on air, my face going scarlet. "Gods," I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

"I plead to the goddess of death to take me soon."

We crossed the courtyard toward our first class. History of the Five Kingdoms. Nothing set the tone like dead kings and ancient treaties.

"I don't think Nyxira is coming to save your ass from Daddy Darkness," Ember called out, laughing so hard she nearly tripped. Maddy was practically wheezing.

"Why am I friends with you?" I muttered.

"Because we're fabulous," Ember replied, flipping her hair. "And we keep life interesting."

"Reminder," I said tightly, "I am betrothed. Tiny detail. Giant implications."

They all snorted in unison.

"Betrothed to the Earth Prince," Maddy sing-songed, "while thinking about silver eyes."

"I hate you all," I muttered, though I was laughing as we pushed through the arched doors of the east wing. First day of class, and I was already in deep.

"I don't think you've stopped embarrassing me since we arrived," Aether grumbled through the bond.

Honestly, I didn't think any boundling in the Academy was more disappointed in their wielder than mine. Eternal sass wrapped in obsidian fur.

We stepped into the history lecture hall—an enormous amphitheater already buzzing with first-year nerves.

Tiered seating curved in wide arcs around a raised dais at the center, where the instructor would stand like a general surveying his troops.

Aether dropped me at the doors with a dramatic huff, muttering about finding actual food before padding off with the others.

"Try to look intelligent," he drawled through the bond, a final parting shot.

Ember, Ryven, Maddy, and I slid into a row of seats near the front. The moment I sat, I felt it.

The whispers.

The stares.

Eyes followed me from every direction—curious, calculating, and expectant. I focused on my breathing, trying to keep my shoulders loose and my expression neutral.

As I shifted, my skirt rode up again.

"Gods, these skirts," I muttered, yanking at the stubborn hem.

"I can imagine," a bright voice chimed beside me.

I turned to find a girl settling into the seat next to mine.

Round glasses framed a friendly, freckled face, and a tumble of curly orange hair bounced around her shoulders.

Her smile was wide and entirely unguarded.

"Oh! Hi—Princess—gods, sorry," she rushed, her green eyes going comically wide as she realized who I was.

She wore the brown-and-gold robes of the human scholars, a sharp contrast to our royal silks.