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But this wasn’t the time. Not in front of everyone.

So I forced the power back down, locking it away with gritted teeth.

Then, very deliberately, I met Cyrus’s gaze again.

And Ismiled.

A slow, measured thing.

His own smirk faltered for just a fraction of a second—just enough to let me know he hadn’t expected that.

Fine. He wanted to remind me of my place?

I’d let him have his victory today. But my day was coming.

And when the time came, I’d make damn sure he regretted this.

As I gathered my things to leave, a tiny, folded note appeared through another fleeting portal on the edge of my tray. I slipped it into my pocket without looking.

Later, alone in my room, I’d find the simple message:Your control today. Impressive.

22

Marigold

The third-floorstudy room in the academic wing had the best views of the mountains, but right now I could barely appreciate it through my growing frustration. Scout chittered encouragingly from my shoulder, his crooked little bow tie bouncing like a cheerleader’s ribbon with every twitch as I tried the detection spell for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Like this.” Raven demonstrated again, her protective charms clinking as she moved her hands in a precise pattern. A soft pulse of magic revealed the traces of old spells lingering in the room’s corners. “You have to maintain a light touch while extending your magical awareness.”

“Think of it like creating a map,” Lucas added, his skeletal bird familiar hopping between spots where past magic had left marks. “The trials often include hidden elements that must be detected.”

I took a deep breath and tried again, reaching for my magic the way Dr. Reyes had taught me. But instead of the gentle searching probe the textbook described, my necromancy surged. Scout chittered a warning just before every trace of past death in the room became blindingly obvious—from mice that had died in the walls decades ago to the remnants of countless dead insects.

“Sorry!” I pulled back quickly as the dead things stirred. “I didn’t mean to—”

“That’s actually impressive,” a new voice said.

I turned to see a tall girl standing by the next table. Long copper hair, pulled back in a simple braid. No makeup, no flash—just steady posture and eyes that didn’t miss much.

“Hi,” she said, “I’m Aurora Raynoff.”

Raynoff. My stomach did a slow twist. That wasn’t a name you forgot—not with Cyrus walking around like a firestorm waiting to happen.

The study room went dead silent.

Whispers from the other students started immediately.

“Raynoff? Withher?”

“Why is she even talking to the Shadow Heir?”

“I thought Cyrus wanted her gone.”

The tension tightened, coiling low in my gut. Aligning with her could paint an even bigger target on my back. I opened my mouth to say… something.

But Aurora just smiled again—warm, like she hadn’t heard a thing—and pulled over a chair. “Mind if I join? I could use the practice too.”

Raven immediately shifted to make room. “Aurora’s in our Practical Applications seminar.”