LOGINAria’s POV: The walk from the training grounds to the east wing of the academy passed in a blur. Students laughed as they crossed the stone courtyards, some carrying stacks of books while others hurried to beat the morning bell. The academy buzzed with its usual life. It felt wrong that the world hadn’t changed.Mine had.I replayed Archer’s words over and over, searching for another meaning. He wasn’t alone. Maybe Selene had needed an escort. Maybe Jasper had walked her back to the fae dormitories. Maybe Archer had assumed the worst.I clung to every possibility, no matter how unlikely. Because the alternative hurt too much. By the time I reached Arcane Theory, I’d almost convinced myself there had to be an explanation. The classroom was already filling when I slipped inside. Tall windows stretched from floor to ceiling, spilling pale morning light across rows of carved oak desks. Enchanted lanterns floated overhead, drifting lazily beneath the vaulted ceiling like captured stars.
Aria’s POV:The whistle echoed across the valley before dawn had fully surrendered to morning. A thin layer of frost silvered the werewolf training grounds, crunching beneath boots as students filtered into the practice circles. The air smelled of damp earth, pine, and the faint smoke drifting from the academy chimneys above.I pulled the leather wraps tighter around my hands. Maybe if Professor Kane worked us hard enough, my body would be too exhausted to let my mind wander.It was a nice thought. It lasted all of three seconds. Because the moment I closed my fists, all I could think about was Jasper. The way he’d looked at me after the party. The way he’d kissed me. The way he’d walked away in the classroom. “You look distracted.”Crystal fell into step beside me, carrying a practice staff over one shoulder.“I’ve looked worse.”“You have.” She offered a crooked smile. “Usually after Archer throws you into the dirt.”“I’ve only lost twice.”She raised an eyebrow. “I admire your con
Jasper’s POVFive days….It had been five damn days. Five days since I’d walked out of that classroom. Five days since I’d watched Aria Veyne disappear down the hallway without looking back. Somehow…She was still the first thing I thought about every morning.I shoved a hand through my silver hair as I crossed the academy courtyard, trying to ignore the familiar ache settling in my chest.It didn’t work. Nothing worked. Every hallway reminded me of her. Every classroom. Every stupid corner of this academy seemed to have a memory attached to it now.I hated it. I hated that she’d gotten under my skin. I hated that I couldn’t seem to get her out. I hated…That I’d put that look in her eyes.“I didn’t ask you for forever.”The words slammed into me all over again.Closing my eyes only made it worse. I could still see her standing between me and the classroom door. Her hair slightly messy. Her cheeks flushed. Looking at me like I’d broken something inside her.I’d told myself I stopped beca
Aria’s POV:By the next morning I’ve decided men are exhausting. All three of them. Archer makes me want to scream or kiss him until neither of us can breathe. Lucien treats my sanity like a hobby. And Jasper? I’ve been avoiding him. Mostly successfully.Until my last class.The room is empty when I walk in. Two minutes to the bell. A strange feeling crawls down my spine, and then silver hair fills the doorway. Unnaturally blue eyes. Jasper locks the door. The click echoes.“You’ve been avoiding me,” he says. No smile. No games.I back up until my thighs hit a desk. He follows, close enough that I feel his heat through my uniform. His hands settle at my waist.“If you’re going to keep running,” he murmurs, “I’m going to make sure you can’t.”He lifts me onto the desk like I weigh nothing. A gasp slips out of me as he steps between my legs. My skirt rides higher. Every nerve wakes up at once.“Still want to run?” he asks.My arms rise around his neck instead. For one suspended second n
Aria’s POV:By the time Archer disappeared down the stairs, I still hadn’t figured out what had just happened. He’d looked furious. Hurt. Confused. Then he’d simply… left. The silence that followed seemed to stretch forever. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.“Well…”Lucien closed his bedroom door behind us before looking at me.“Go get changed.”I blinked.“What?”“You’ve been wearing the same clothes since yesterday.”Heat immediately rushed into my face.“Oh.”I looked down at my wrinkled lavender dress and winced.“I guess I have.”“You guess?”I laughed despite myself.“You could’ve just said I looked terrible.”“You don’t.”His answer came so quickly it caught me off guard.“You look tired.”For some reason, that felt infinitely worse.“Thanks.”“It wasn’t an insult.”“It certainly didn’t sound like a compliment.”A faint flicker of amusement crossed his face.“Go.”I narrowed my eyes.“Bossy.”I huffed dramatically before turning toward the door.“I’ll go.”“I know.”I rol
Archers POV:I stop. He looks exactly like he always does. Calm.Controlled. Infuriatingly unaffected by everything. His black hair is slightly disheveled. His shirt is wrinkled. And he smells like her. Not faintly. Not as if they stood too close. Aria’s scent is all over him. My wolf slams against my control so violently that pain shoots through my body.I see red. No…Green. Definitely fucking green. Lucien looks at me. One dark eyebrow lifts.“Nightblade.”I take one step forward.“Where is she?”His expression doesn’t change.“Good morning to you too.”“Where the fuck is Aria?”His amber eyes sharpen. There. Finally.A reaction. Small. But I see it.“Why?”My hands curl into fists. “Answer the question.”Lucien studies me for several seconds.Then his gaze moves over me slowly, almost lazily. “You seem upset.”I want to hit him. My wolf enthusiastically agrees.“Why do you smell like her?”Lucien says nothing. Which is so much worse.I step closer. “What the fuck did you do?”His