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The soft rustle of fabric filled my room as I fumbled with the zipper of my dress. I yanked it down with more force than necessary, letting it pool at my feet. I wanted out of it. I wanted so desperately to get out of it.

My skin felt too itchy, too uncomfortable, as I clawed at my back and stood there in nothing but my underwear.

This was supposed to be a good night.

It had been.

Until my name was called out from that list.

I was chosen. The Council chose me . I should have felt proud and accomplished.

Instead, Hunter’s words replayed in my head over and over.

You won’t even get past the first stage of the competition.

The sting of his dismissal burned deeper than anything else I had been told in my life.

Maybe... maybe he was right.

I was at a disadvantage. I had never even done the Ascension competition before, unlike thousands of Ascendants.

A soft knock at the door startled me.

“Grace?”

I didn’t answer, but the door creaked open anyway.

Marnie peeked in, my eyes softening the moment she saw me standing there, practically half-naked. She closed the door behind her. “Do you need any help?”

I opened my mouth to say ‘no’—that I was fine and didn’t need anyone right now—but the words never came out.

Marnie sighed and moved past me, anyway, gently picking up the discarded gown and draping it neatly over the chair. “That dress doesn’t deserve to be on the floor,” she muttered before settling down on my bed. She bunched up her dress and patted the space beside her for me to come over.

I let out a hollow chuckle and sat beside her. “Apparently, neither do I.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I just—maybe I should listen to Joe and ask to be removed from the competition. Let someone more... I don’t know; worthy to take my place. I didn’t even want to do it at first, anyway.”

“You were still chosen for a reason, Grace.” Our shoulders touched as she sighed. “You were the one out there wanting to take initiative and be trained to become a better Warrior. You beat Norah in a fight—”

“Yeah, with help.”

“Still! You’ve improved a lot, Grace, and maybe the Council saw that too.”

Her words stirred some confidence inside me, but it wasn’t enough. I tried to smile at her, but it didn’t reach my eyes.

Marnie sighed again and gently placed a hand over my heart.

I almost pushed her away, knowing I didn’t want her to use her healing since that was all she ever did for me, but it was too late.

A soft warmth spread through me, like sunlight filtering through cracks in a wall.

I felt the sharp edge of my pain dull, easing me just a little.

I shook my head, smiling. “You need to stop doing that.”

“Well, if I don’t, all that sadness is just going to build up, and I don’t feel like dealing with an emotionally constipated Grace.”

I snorted out a laugh, bumping my shoulder with hers.

Her smile softened. “I’d rather see you happy than sad. And I know that Lucas would say the same thing if he were here.”

The lump in my throat threatened to rise again, but I swallowed it down. “I just... I thought Hunter would be proud of me,” I whispered. It looked like he was the other day of the Ecliptic Hunt, but maybe that was just an illusion on my part.

“He should be.”

I nodded slowly, staring down at my hands.

“But even if he’s not,” she continued, “I am, and that’s all that should matter.”

I exhaled. “Thanks, Marnie.” I was so glad to have met her, to have someone not judge me from the beginning.

“Don’t thank me; thank my healing abilities.” She wiggled her fingers, and I chuckled once again before we slipped into an endless conversation about music and food.

Two days after the ball, a sharp knock rattled the door to our dorm at the crack of dawn.

Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes, the cold air biting at my skin. Across the other side of the living room, Marnie was already half-dressed, her hair a tangled mess.

“At least one of us is semi-ready,” I croaked as Marnie yanked the door open to find one of the Messenger Celestials standing at our doorway with two crisp envelopes in her hand and bagged clothing.

She passed the letter over to us, and we didn’t make any sound or movement to return to the dorm as my fingers traced the wax seal of a wing from the Council. My stomach flipped.

I broke the seal, unfolding the letter at the same time Marnie did.

Dear Competitor,

You have been selected to participate in this year’s Ascension Competition. Enclosed is your assigned uniform. Wear it during all stages of the competition.

Right at that moment, the Celestial handed Marnie and me the bagged clothing.

The competition will commence at midnight in the west wing of the academy.

Further instructions will be given upon arrival.

Failure to appear will result in immediate disqualification.

—The Angelic Council

I stared at the words, and the letters blurred for a moment. Midnight.

I ran my fingers over the uniform, concealed in a clear plastic bag. It was heavier than expected and darker than the royal blue Celestia usually made us wear.

The Council clearly wasn’t wasting any time with us.

Marnie and I shared a wary look, and by lunchtime, the canteen was buzzing with low voices as I sat opposite Marnie, playing with my bowl of soup.

I was too nervous to eat.

“So, what do you think the competition is going to be like?” Marnie asked. I looked up at her.

“I thought you’d know more than me or would have asked others who have previously done it.”

“No one tells me anything; besides, it’s always changing. Who knows what this one will be like?”

I nodded in agreement, but a shadow loomed over our table just as I was about to tell her that we should be more prepared for tonight.

My head snapped up.

Norah.

“You didn’t deserve that spot in the competition,” she outright spat, eyes narrowed on me as she leaned across the table. “If you hadn’t gotten Matias kicked out, he’d be on the list. Not you.”

I tensed.

That wasn’t true...

“Norah.”

All heads looked past Norah to where Hunter stood behind her with his usual unbothered expression.

My breath hitched.

I hadn’t spoken to Hunter since the night of the ball. I had actively avoided him throughout the weekend, but now that it was Monday and the competition was among us, I couldn’t no longer.

Norah turned to him. “Defending her now, are we? Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “No. I’m just tired of always hearing your voice. Do everyone a favor and shut up before you embarrass yourself.”

Marnie’s fork clanged against the table, her eyes widening as she looked between Hunter and Norah.

Great.

I hated the part of me that felt satisfied hearing him shut her down. But I was still annoyed. And when Hunter gave me a pointed look, silently telling me to just walk away, I listened. I grabbed my tray and stood, even as Norah’s jeering voice followed me as I walked past her.

“Enjoy your spot while it lasts, Grace. We both know your fake angel daddy pulled some strings to get you in.”

Something snapped.

Without even so much as a thought, I spun on my heel, ready to charge straight for her, but before I could, Hunter rushed toward me, strong hands wrapping around my waist, and turned me away from Norah.

His grip was firm as I tried to yank myself free from him. “Don’t,” he warned against my ear. “Unless you want to get disqualified.”

I ripped my arm from his hold, the sting of his touch lingering as I spun to face him. “Isn’t that what you want?”

Hunter’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer.

Just like always.

Marnie came beside me, tugging at my sleeve. “Come on, let’s just go back to our room.”

I turned with her, stalking away as my pulse hammered against my ears.

I got only as far as the entrance before a loud shriek of disgust echoed through the canteen.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, creep!”

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Norah standing frozen, covered in what looked like soup and bread, dripping from her shoulders down to her training clothes.

Veronica stood beside her, holding an empty tray with an expression of pure indifference.

“Sorry, didn’t see you there.”

But she definitely had.

Marnie let out a quiet snort, barely containing her laughter.

I didn’t smile. Not fully.

But it helped.

Just a little.