“I’ll give it back,” I mutter.
Ezzy beams. “You won’t have to. It’s yours now. I have spare.” Then she turns and starts walking back toward the main stairwell.
The crowdthat trickled past us earlier has thickened, cadets, officers, and robed professors in royal blue moving in clean, organised lines. Ezzy and I slip into the flow, letting it carry us out into the open-aired courtyard at the heart of the Citadel.
A low hum ripples through the space as we join the other cadets, quiet voices, the scuff of boots, the occasional laugh, quickly stifled.
Overhead, a banner snaps in the wind, I flinch, then glance up. Pale marble walls rise around us in a wide, perfect circle—five, maybe six stories high.
It feels like standing in the hollowed-out heart of a fortress. Wings jut off at odd angles, turrets scattered like watchmen, looming and silent. I tilt my head back, trying to take in the size of it. The weight.
Okay. If I’m going to survive the month here, I need to start figuring out the power dynamics—who to avoid, who might make a decent ally. Or at least a useful pawn.All without drawing too much attention. I shift my gaze, scanning the crowd?—
“Ezzy!” The name rings out over the noise. We both turn. Two male cadets stand a few metres away, half lost in the bustle. Both are waving, eyes locked on her.
“Oh! Come on, you’ve got to meet my friends!” She lights up, already moving, dragging me with her. “They’re going to be soexcited, they’ve never met an Outerlander before. At least… not, like, a real one.”
“A real one...?” I query.
“I mean, not one that wasn’t, like... under guard or in custody or something.Dead.”
I don’t respond. But stars help me, if one of them tries to pet me like I’m a rare exhibit, I’m breaking fingers.Ezzy lets go, hurrying ahead to greet them.
But I hang back. Because across the courtyard, something catches at the edge of my vision. Sharp and bright. I turn, eyes locking on the source.
A circular golden talisman twirls lazily between long fingers, flickering as it catches the afternoon light.
It’s effortless. Casual.
Hypnotic.
And god, is hebeautiful.
Legs crossed at the ankle, one hand in his front pocket, he leans against a marble pillar at the edge of the courtyard. The other hand keeps the talisman spinning between his fingers like it costs him no thought at all. I’d guess he’s older than me, but not by much.
Two cadets pass behind him. Their voices drop, they don’t look at him, just pick up their pace. Meanwhile, I take him in without meaning to. The way his shirt pulls tight across his chest, sleeves stretched just enough to hint at the muscle beneath, yeah, hard not to notice.
And for a second, I forgetwhereI am.WhatI am. Whatheis.
But then I see it—the uniform. It’s not standard cadet issue, it’s more tailored. A high collar with the Citadel’s crest worked in dark metallic stitching at his shoulder.An officer, of course he is.
Of course the one person I end up checking out is exactly the type I should despise. He’s not just a cadet, not just another cog waiting to be ground down by the system. Heisthe system. Thevery hand that turns the gears. An enforcer, a weapon, out there doing the work that keeps people like me in our place. Fighting for scraps while he guards the plenty. Deadly, obedient, built for control and everything I was raised to loathe.
But still, there’s a heat curling low in my belly, deep and unwelcome—like my body hasn’t gotten the memo that he’s exactly the kind of person I should avoid.
I should look away.
Iwantto look away.
But instead, I keep watching.
A few loose strands of hair glint in the sunlight as they fall across his forehead. He lifts his hand to brush them back and for half a second, he almost looks boyish. But his gaze quickly ruins the illusion. There’s nothing soft about the cold in his eyes, they’re old gold—bright, biting, and impossible to look away from. And right now, they’re locked on a girl near the eastern archway. Tall, dark hair, elegant and effortlessly stunning.
I’m still staring at him when a voice chirps beside me.
“Ohhh, I see you’ve noticedtheNightrose.” Ezzy. She’s paused a few paces ahead, glancing back when she realises I haven’t followed. She drifts back toward me, curiosity blooming across her face.
“Noticedwho?” I ask as I try but fail to drag my gaze away from him.
