Theo’s eyes cracked open, the pale light of dawn spilling through the arched, emerald stained glass windows of his dorm in Lunaris Tower. The room was a shrine to elegance, all rich green velvet drapes and silver embroidery, the crest of the Order, a proud wolf howling beneath a crescent moon, emblazoned on everything from the rug to the gilded frame of the mirror on the far wall. As regal as the space was, Theo couldn’t help but feel a dull thrum of irritation as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Another day of Aethermoor’s endless faux political games, another day of brushing shoulders with self important mages who thought their bloodlines made them gods among others. And, worst of all, another day of her.

  Amara Ashford. Just thinking her name sent a spark of irritation through him, like the crack of an ember catching flame. It wasn’t that she was smarter than him (though she was annoyingly clever). It wasn’t even that she was the only person at Aethermoor who didn’t fall for his effortless charm. No, it was the way she looked at him, like she saw every flaw, every crack, and wasn’t afraid to shove a dagger into them. And the worst part? He loved it. He loved the way her composure wavered when he got under her skin, the way her cool, collected exterior shattered into fiery retorts and narrowed eyes. She’s like a perfect little glass figurine, he thought as he threw on his black uniform jacket, and I can’t resist the urge to knock her off the shelf.

  Running a hand through his wavy brown hair, Theo crossed the room to the wolf shaped basin near the window, its enchanted faucet pouring warm water into his hands as he splashed his face. His reflection stared back at him from the mirror above, a handsome, angular face with sharp green eyes that held a hint of mischief. “You’ve got this,” he muttered to himself, though his tone was more sardonic than reassuring. “Another day, another chance to outshine everyone. Especially her.” But as his gaze lingered on his reflection, the grin faded, replaced by a flicker of unease. His mother’s letter would arrive today.

  Elaria Beaufort didn’t do forgiveness. The President of the Elemental Syndicate didn’t tolerate failure, especially not from her only son. And coming second to an Ashford, even one as insufferable as Amara, was failure in her eyes. I can already hear it: ‘Theo, you have the blood of centuries in your veins. Act like it.’ His mother’s words cut like ice, even in memory. Theo had spent his entire life walking the tightrope of her expectations, balancing arrogance and charm with the crushing knowledge that he would never be enough for her. He forced a smirk, trying to shake the thought. “Well, it’s not like she can disown me. Who else would she nag to death?”

  Pulling on his polished boots, Theo straightened his jacket, brushing off invisible dust as he took one last look around his dorm. The room felt almost oppressively perfect, like everything in his life. Perfect bloodline, perfect reputation, perfect lies. The only thing imperfect was the gnawing sensation in his chest, the one he refused to name. But that was a problem for another time. For now, he had an Order to lead, a rival to torment, and an insufferably stern letter to ignore.

  The corridor leading to the Lunaris common room was lined with silver sconces shaped like wolf heads, their eyes glowing faintly green in the early morning light. Theo pushed open the grand double doors, stepping into the heart of the Order’s domain. The common room was no less regal than his dorm, a circular space with high ceilings, emerald banners hanging between tall windows, and a silver chandelier in the shape of a crescent moon casting a soft glow. A fireplace crackled on one side, flanked by plush armchairs and bookshelves crammed with centuries of magical texts. Theo’s smirk returned as he surveyed the room, spotting a few familiar faces already gathered. Time to play the charming leader and maybe, just maybe, distract himself from the thought of that blasted letter.

  Theo lounged in one of the plush emerald armchairs near the fireplace, his booted feet propped carelessly on a low silver table. The warmth of the crackling flames reflected off the green and silver banners draped around the Lunaris common room, but it wasn’t nearly enough to thaw the irritation bubbling beneath his smirk. Across from him, Aries Somerset leaned forward with an almost serene expression, swirling a cup of coffee like he didn’t have a care in the world. Typical Aries calm, soft spoken, and somehow still annoyingly perceptive.

  “So, Theo,” Aries began in his usual measured tone, “who are you planning to terrorize before breakfast today? Or should I just assume it’s Amara? Again.”

  Theo rolled his eyes, forcing an exaggerated sigh as Cassian Lennox snorted from the couch beside him. Cassian, ever the picture of devil may care elegance, was sprawled out with one arm slung over the backrest, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “Leave him alone, Aries,” Cassian said, his voice dripping with faux concern. “Tormenting Amara is practically Theo’s full-time job. You wouldn’t want him unemployed, would you?”

  Theo smirked, ignoring the jab. “It’s not torment,” he drawled, picking an imaginary speck of lint off his sleeve. “It’s… constructive criticism. She could stand to loosen up, and I’m just the charitable soul helping her along.”

  Elliot Berkeley chose that moment to burst into the room, his white blonde hair a mess and his grin as bright as the morning sun. “What’s this about Amara?” he asked, flopping unceremoniously onto a chair. “God, she’s stunning, isn’t she? Like, have you seen her hair? It’s practically its own constellation.”

  Theo’s jaw clenched so hard he thought he might chip a tooth. “You know, Berkeley,” he said, his voice tight with forced humor, “for someone with so much charm, you’d think you’d be capable of having standards higher than stooping to an Ashford.”

  Cassian, sprawled lazily on the couch, momentarily stiffened, his dark eyes flicking toward Theo in a quick, almost imperceptible glance before he schooled his expression back into one of amusement. “Ouch,” Cassian said with a low whistle, his voice carefully light. “Careful, Theo. That kind of venom might make someone think you care a little too much.”

  Elliot either didn’t notice the tension or chose to ignore it entirely, his grin only widening. “Oh, I have standards, Beaufort. Amara just happens to exceed all of them. You should try looking past your grudge sometime, you might actually enjoy it.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  Theo’s smirk remained fixed, but his irritation simmered beneath the surface. “I’ll pass, thanks,” he said smoothly, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers behind his head. “I prefer my company a little less… self-righteous.”

  Elliot threw his hands up in mock surrender, still grinning like the idiot he was. “Hey, I’m just trying to help you out here, Beaufort. No need to get all grumpy about it. But fine, have it your way. Keep letting your vendetta against Amara consume you, it’s definitely working wonders for your mood.” He shot a wink at Cassian, who raised an eyebrow in response, looking more entertained by Elliot’s antics than anything else.

  Theo let out a long breath, trying to keep his cool. “My mood’s perfectly fine, Berkeley,” he said, his voice smooth as silk, but there was a sharpness to the words that betrayed his frustration. “And I’m not the one who can’t stop gushing over an Ashford, either.” His eyes flicked pointedly to Elliot, a challenge hanging in the air between them. “Maybe you should take a moment to reevaluate your standards if you’re so eager to hand them out to just anyone with a pulse.”

  Cassian leaned back, resting his arm along the top of the couch, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “The thing with Elliot is, he doesn’t think too much. He just follows his… instincts. Which, for the record, are usually spot on.” He shot Elliot a quick glance, and the two shared a brief, knowing look before Cassian turned his attention back to Theo. “You, on the other hand, have a lot of thinking to do, especially if you’re going to keep holding onto that grudge like it’s some kind of badge of honor.”

  Theo glared at Cassian for a moment before chuckling darkly. “I’m not holding onto anything, Lennox. I’m just making sure I don’t forget who my real enemies are.” He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he let the words linger in the air. “And Amara Ashford… is certainly one of them.” His gaze flicked to Elliot, who looked entirely unfazed. “But I’m not exactly going to waste my time explaining that to you.”

  Aries, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, chose this moment to interject, his tone gentle yet pointed. “You do realize, Theo, that not explaining it makes you look more… petty, right?” He smiled a little, the glint of mischief never far from his eyes. “Just a thought. It might do you well to let Amara win every now and then, even if it’s just for the sheer satisfaction of not letting her get under your skin.”

  Cassian raised a brow but said nothing, casually shifting the subject with an air of practiced nonchalance. Theo didn’t miss the subtle deflection, nor did he care to address it. After all, he wasn’t the one sneaking around with an Ashford.

  Aries shook his head, the perpetual voice of reason amidst their chaos. “You lot are exhausting,” he said with a long-suffering sigh, though his lips twitched with a hint of a smile. “Honestly, Theo, you’d live a lot longer if you learned to lighten up.”

  Theo raised an eyebrow, scoffing as he leaned further back in his chair.

  Aries chuckled softly, taking a measured sip of his coffee. “I’m just saying, maybe stop letting her live rent free in your head.”

  Before Theo could snap back with a retort, Cassian cut in, his sly grin as sharp as ever. “Speaking of people living rent-free, Aries, when’s the last time you heard from your admirer in Ocearis? What was her name again? Something ridiculously flowery, Petal? Blossom?”

  “Cassian,” Aries warned, though the faint pink tint to his ears betrayed his calm demeanor. Theo let the banter wash over him, allowing himself a small smirk as Cassian leaned in, clearly ready to poke further at Aries’s discomfort. It was always someone else’s turn in the hot seat eventually.

  The walk to the Elemental Hall was a predictable blend of camaraderie and theatrics. Aries and Elliot bickered about who came out with the better potion in Elixirology last week, while Cassian offered snarky commentary from the sidelines. Theo trailed just a step ahead, exuding his usual confidence, though his sharp green eyes flicked casually around the towering corridors. The Hall itself was grand, its vaulted ceilings shimmering with enchantments that reflected the shifting colors of dawn. Lunaris wolves and Ocearis sea turtles decorated the long tables in green silver and blue silver banners, while the fiery red of Falcrest and the glimmering white of Noctis banners added striking contrast. Theo took his usual seat, tuning out the chatter of his friends as he scanned the room. His gaze landed, almost unwillingly, on Amara Ashford across the way, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. She wasn’t looking his way yet but Theo’s lips twitched with the promise of future amusement.

  Classes dragged on, though Theo found his usual enjoyment in excelling where others faltered. Foresight and Omens came first, followed by Defensive Hexology, and Theo breezed through both, confident in his abilities and charm. But it was Arcanum Studies where the real fun began. Paired with Amara for a debate on ancient binding runes, Theo relished every moment of throwing her off balance. He peppered her with interruptions, exaggerated quips, and a smug smirk that practically dared her to lose her temper. The way her eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a tight line before she fired back with cutting precision, was more satisfying than any spellwork he’d done all day. She thought she had bested him, as always, but Theo knew better, it wasn’t about winning. It was about making her crack, even for a second.

  By the end of the day, Theo’s energy had ebbed, though his confidence remained intact. After the final lecture in Floral Arcana, he made his way back to the Lunaris Tower, his mind already shifting to thoughts of dinner and what might ensue in the dining hall. Entering his dorm, he froze. There, perched perfectly on his desk as if it had been summoned by magic itself, was a letter. Its creamy envelope bore the familiar crest of the Beaufort family, the black wax seal as pristine as his mother’s reputation. Elaria Beaufort didn’t send letters lightly, and Theo’s stomach twisted as he shrugged off his jacket and sat on the edge of his bed, the letter in his hands feeling heavier than it should.

  The wax cracked under his thumb, and he unfolded the letter with careful precision, his mother’s sharp, elegant handwriting slicing across the parchment.

  Theodore,

  Imagine my displeasure when I learned of your pairing with an Ashford for the Arcane Relay. An Ashford. Do you comprehend the optics of this? Your father and I have worked tirelessly to elevate our family’s standing above such sordid associations, and you will not undo our progress with this… indignity. Rest assured, I will be addressing my concerns to Professor Nicholson in the strongest of terms. It would be prudent of you to ensure this partnership is one of necessity alone, devoid of any personal sentiment.

  Theo’s grip on the letter tightened, but he kept reading, his heart sinking further.

  There is another matter we must address, though I cannot trust it to writing. Certain truths have been kept from you, but it is time you were made aware. We will discuss this when you return for the Autumnal Equinox weekend. Prepare yourself, Theodore—this is not a conversation I take lightly.

  Do not disappoint me.

  Elaria Beaufort

  Theo stared at the letter, his mother’s sharp words lingering in his mind like an echo in a vast, empty room. “Truths,” she said. What truths? And why now? He folded the letter slowly, setting it back on the desk as his jaw tightened. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. His mother didn’t do “good.” Whatever secrets were waiting, they would have to stay buried—at least for now.