Page 98 of House Ignis

The shower turned off. We both froze.

"Oh no," I whispered.

"Oh yes," Ember countered.

I practically dragged her out of the room before he emerged. She clung to the doorframe. "But what if he comes out in a towel—"

"Goodbye!" I shoved her into the corridor and slammed the door.

Just in time. Asher strolled out, fully dressed in his fitted Umbra leathers—hair wet, silver eyes sparkling. I grabbed my uniform, rushed into the bathroom, and let the hot water hit my skin. I needed five minutes to find my sanity.

I stepped out, towel-drying my hair, shirt halfway buttoned, when three sharp raps hit the door.

"Ava?"

Jeremy.

My heart dropped. Darkness coiled up the bond like a protective warning. I scrambled forward, panic flaring, shirt still undone—but Asher reached the door first.

He opened it like he owned the place. Damp hair, smirking, radiating smug menace.

"Good morning," he said smoothly.

Jeremy's green eyes shifted from Asher... to me. I froze. Wet hair, flushed cheeks, shirt half-unbuttoned.

Jeremy's nostrils flared. The stone in the corridor seemed to crack beneath his heel.

"I'll come back later," he said flatly, his voice low and dark.

He turned and walked off.

"Jeremy—" I started, but the hallway swallowed him whole.

I turned slowly to Asher. He just raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I rolled my eyes so hard they hurt. "Let's just go to class."

I grabbed my bag, buttoned my shirt, and stomped down the hall—Aether grumbling behind me and Asher's shadows slinking smugly at my side.

Gods save me from this bond.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Asher and I strolled into History class, and whispers coiled through the air like smoke, following us between the desks. I was certain the whole godsdamn Academy already knew.

Of course they did.

Blood oaths. Bond marks. Jeremy was likely still storming down the corridor, and Asher was smirking as if the shadows themselves were whispering secrets to him.

We made our way to our usual row. Ezra lounged next to Darcy, both pretending not to notice us but clearly dying to ask questions. Sera sat stiffly beside them, glancing once at me and Asher before quickly looking away. Ryven and Maddy were sharing a sweet pastry she'd smuggled in, while Ember practically bounced in her seat the moment she saw me. I slid in next to her and gave her a warning look, but she just grinned harder.

And then—because of course he did—Asher sat right next to me.

"Why do you need to sit next to me?" I snapped, my jaw tight.

"Anything can happen," he responded smoothly.

"It's a history class, Maddox," I hissed. "The only thing that might attack me is boredom."