Miles catches my eye again, his eyes calculating in a way that makes me shiver. He leans over to whisper something to Logan, making Logan’s body go even more rigid than before.
I turn away, focusing on Evie’s excited chatter about what to wear tonight.
Not on whatever game Logan’s playing. Not on the way he looked at me for those few seconds before his bizarre reversal.
And definitely not the way my pulse still races whenever I think about that kiss.
JADE
The stone bridgestretches before us like a dare, barely three feet above the churning black water. Moonlight catches the wet edges where waves have already started claiming the path, and my boots slip on the first step.
“Careful.” Oliver’s hand finds my elbow, steadying me. “High tide’s in four hours. Plenty of time, but the bridge gets slippery.”
I eye the gaps where stones have crumbled away over centuries. “You weren’t kidding about the drowning part.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” He grins, clearly in his element. “Besides, the tower’s worth it. Five stories of ancient stone, a flooded bottom floor, and—“ his voice drops dramatically, “—haunted by the ghosts of students who didn’t make it back before high tide.”
“Comforting.”
“Don’t worry.” Avery appears at Oliver’s other side, threading her arm through his with practiced ease. “The ghosts are friendly. They just move things around, blow out candles, whisper warnings about the tide...”
She’s trying so hard. The way she leans into him, how her laugh comes a beat too quick at his jokes, and how she tosses her hair over her shoulders to make herself look breezy and cool.
Oliver doesn’t notice any of it.
“Some doors only open for the worthy ones who know the right words.” His hand stays on my elbow as he guides us across a particularly treacherous section of the bridge. “And the torches never go out. They’ve been burning since the academy was founded a thousand years ago, even through storms that should’ve drowned them.”
We continue chatting as we make our way across the bridge toward the looming tower, a black finger pointing at the stars. Windows glow with warm light, and music thumps from within.
“Nice bracelets, by the way.” Oliver gestures to the matching gold chains Evie and I are wearing, each with a small flame charm. “You two are adorable.”
“Jade made them,” Evie says proudly. “She’s incredibly talented.”
“Of course she is.” The way Oliver looks at me makes heat creep up my neck. “Beautiful and artistic. Dangerous combination.”
Avery’s grip on his arm tightens, but when he steadies her, his focus remains on me.
We finally reach the tower entrance—a massive wooden door leading to the third floor that looks like it’s been waterlogged and dried out a thousand times. Inside, stone steps spiral both up and down, lit by those impossible torches. The music is louder here, mixing with voices and laughter.
“Bar’s on the roof,” Oliver announces, leading us up two stories of worn stone steps, past doorways revealing glimpses of dancing bodies and flickering flames.
The roof is packed. Music comes from portable speakers that look decades old, and the bar seems to be literally made of fire, bottles suspended in the flames without burning.
“What’ll it be?” he asks, already heading over.
“Surprise me.” I scan the crowd, trying not to seem like I’m looking for anyone in particular.
Then I see him.
Logan’s leaning against the far railing, Callie right next to him. She’s talking intently, gesturing with one hand while the other rests next to his arm on the railing. His face gives nothing away, but there’s a tension in his shoulders, and a tightness around his eyes that speaks of?—
“Here.” Oliver presses a glass into my hand, full of something pink and smoking. “To your first Forge Night.”
I blink a few times to center myself, forcing myself to not glance over at Logan and Callie again.
“To not drowning,” I counter, clinking my glass against his.
Avery and Evie join us with their own drinks, and we stand in an awkward square, the music not quite loud enough to prevent conversation.
