Chapter 3

The movement stops. That's what wakes me. Not a voice. Not a hand. The absence of motion.

For a second, I don't open my eyes. Five years teaches you that waking up slowly is safer than waking up fast. I listen to the muted voices outside. The low, restless rumble of the ironclads.

And something else. Distant. Way louder than it should be. Like the air itself is... alive. I open my eyes.

The inside of the transport is dim, shadows stretching across the reinforced walls. My neck aches slightly from where I'd leaned against the side, but I ignore it as I sit up straighter.

We're not moving. Which I assume means we are here. The window is too small and muddled for me to see out of.

I stand, adjusting the uniform automatically, brushing invisible dust from the sleeves.

The door swings open before I can reach it. Light floods in again, but this time, I don't hesitate. I step out. And stop. Aetherion Academy towers above me.

It's carved into the cliffs like it belongs there—stone and iron and something older woven through it. Massive archways stretch toward the sky, banners snapping in the wind, dark against the gray-blue backdrop. Flickering golden lights spill out of the windows and all around. Like you can literally see the magic alive here. It's beautiful.

Students move across the grounds in clusters, some already in uniform, others dragging bags behind them. And everywhere— Beasts. Not just one kind. Dozens. I have only read about the beasts and bonds. Old books with outdated photos. Skyless Keep, the prison I once called home, had a small library with about 12 beat up history books. They only allowed books regarding Elarion, Nythera, and Solvaris. I read them until the words were permanently etched into my brain.

Suddenly, I'm ripped from my thoughts. I'm surrounded my beasts and magic and students everywhere. While I thought I would be afraid to see the beasts so close, I'm actually in awe.

A phoenix bursts into flame near one of the training rings, wings spreading wide before settling back into a controlled burn.

A moon serpent slithers past me following their bonded. It hisses in my direction, almost as if it knows I don't belong here.

A massive wolf-like creature stalks beside its bonded, eyes glowing faintly as it watches everything.

There are so many beasts everywhere that my eyes don't know where to land and I am utterly and completely starstruck.

Something winged circles overhead, but way too fast to track.

My chest tightens slightly not out of fear, but out of awareness. This place isn't only built for survival. It's built for power too.

My gaze flicks across the grounds and lands on a presence looking in my direction. On him. The asshole who tackled me into the dirt and mud.

He stands across the courtyard, partially shadowed by the stone arch behind him, but I'd recognize that stillness anywhere. His arms crossed with a look on his face that could turn one to stone.

The way his eyes lock onto me again like they never really stopped. Like he's been waiting for me to step out.

Something sharp flickers in my chest. I look away first. Again.

"Wow," a voice says beside me, light and amused, "you look like you're deciding whether to run or just set the place on fire."

I turn. He's already looking at me.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Golden brown hair falling just slightly out of place like he's never bothered to fix it. There's an ease to him—like he belongs here in a way I don't.

And he's smiling. Not sharp. Not mocking. Just... happy.

My gaze flicks back to where it hand landed before, but he was already gone.

"You new around here?" the stranger asks.

I raise an eyebrow. "What gave it away?"

He grins.

"Wild guess. The 'totally shitting my pants right now' look."

I snort softly before I can stop myself.

"That obvious?"

"Only to people who've around for too long," he says. "Name?"

I hesitate.

"Maeve."

His grin doesn't falter.

"Luca."

Before I can respond, another voice cuts in—

"Oh good. We’ve been here for less than a day and you started flirting already."

A girl steps up beside him, crossing her arms as she looks between us. Same golden brown hair. Same loving eyes.

But where he's easy, she's controlled.

"You lasted, what," she says to him, "thirty seconds?"

"At least a full minute," he argues.

She rolls her eyes before turning to me.

"I'm Seyla. Unfortunately related to him."

"Maeve."

Her expression shifts slightly.

"Thalorien?" she asks.

I brace. Wait for it. The reaction. The distance. The fear, but it doesn't come.

Instead, she shrugs.

"You look just like them."

I blink.

"...That's it?"

Luca snorts. "What were you expecting? Screaming?"

"Maybe a little disdain."

Saela tilts her head. "Should I be afraid?"

I study her. Then shake my head.

"No."

"Good," she says. "Sounds exhausting."

Luca grins. "I like her."

"Of course you do," Seyla mutters. Then she nods toward the path. "First years' dorms. Come on."

I follow. Because I don't have a reason not to. Because somehow, they don't feel like a threat. And that's new.

The path winds through the academy grounds, past training fields and open spaces where students move in controlled chaos.

Weapons clash. Beasts snarl. Someone shouts instructions I don't care about. I take it all in anyway.

"Relax," Luca says. "You look like you're planning an escape route."

"Maybe I am."

He grins.

Seyla glances back. "If she runs, I'm not chasing her."

"You wouldn't catch me." I scoff.

She smirks. "You'd be surprised."

We reach the dorms—a quieter building, tucked just enough away from the chaos. Inside, rows of doors line the hall. Seyla stops at one and pushes it open without hesitation.

I step in. The room is simple. One bed. One desk. One window. No bars. No chains. No locks.

"Wow," Luca says behind me. "Cozy."

I turn slowly.

"You're both still here."

Seyla raises an eyebrow. "You noticed."

"I was hoping you'd leave."

Luca leans against the wall. "And miss this bonding moment? Absolutely not."

Seyla drops onto the bed like it's already hers.

"That's my bed," I say.

Seyla rolls her eyes without a care in the world. Luca snorts. I stare at them.

Then— I laugh.

"You just invite yourselves everywhere?" I ask.

"Only places we plan on staying," Luca says.

"I didn't agree to that."

"You didn't say no either," Seyla points out.

I should kick them out. Instead, I sit. Luca notices immediately and shoots me a grin.

"So," he says, more serious now, "bonding ceremony's in a few weeks."

I’m going to assume that they know of my past. That they know exactly where I have been the last five years.

"That's when everything changes," Seyla adds coolly.

"How?"

They exchange a look. I know they know where I came from. And I know this is probably their way of subtly trying to explain Aetherion Academy to a measly prisoner.

"Depends what chooses you," she says.

"Or if anything does," Luca adds.

"And if nothing does?"

Seyla doesn't hesitate.

"You get kicked out, unless a beast takes you out first.”

I nod once. Makes sense. Nothing here is built for people who fail.

"You're not worried?" Luca asks.

"No."

He frowns. "How come?"

Because I won’t be here then. I will play my part as the good little student, while I silently plan my escape. I don’t want or need to be bonded. My place is not here at Aetherion Academy. I seek vengeance for my parents. I seek vengeance for my baby sister. I seek vengeance for myself and every single scar I never deserved.

Seyla slaps his arm at his question. His question is valid. But the truth is, I don't plan on sticking around that long.

I glance between them.

"You've trained your whole lives for this?" I question, attempting to change the subject. Most students who attend Aetherion Academy come from a long blood line of students whom have also attended. Most trained their entire lives for this. Most do not have another destiny awaiting them.

I know all about Aetherion Academy. Though when I was young, it was never in my future. My parents relentlessly drilled into my head how much this place was not meant for me. Funny how that turned out.

Seyla nods. "Family tradition."

"Generations," Luca adds. "No pressure."

"Sounds exhausting."

"It is."

"But we were born for this, which makes us really amazing cadets," Luca says with a smile.

I believe him. That's the problem. I lean back slightly, studying them.

"You're both a lot."

Luca grins. "You love it."

I don't answer. I just roll my eyes and stifle a smile.

But for the first time since stepping out of that prison, I don't feel like I'm walking into this place alone. And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.