Nolan tenses beside me. Says nothing, but the way his jaw ticks makes it obvious he’d like to say a lot.
“Blake,” Auron says smoothly, nodding in greeting like we’re casual acquaintances. “I heard about last night.”
I blink. “Didn’t realize it made the rounds already.”
He shrugs one shoulder, almost lazily. “Everything does here. You’re lucky it was only one attacker.”
Something in his tone suggests it wasn’t luck at all, but I don’t take the bait.
“I can handle myself,” I say.
His lips twitch like he finds that amusing. “Clearly.”
Then, without waiting for a response, he steps past us and continues down the corridor like the conversation never even happened.
I exhale once he’s gone. “Was that…weird?”
Nolan's still stiff at my side. “That was Auron pretending he’s not Bloodborn royalty with a superiority complex the size of the Western Tower. So yeah, weird.”
I shake it off the best I can, but something about Auron’s smile still itches under my skin.
We head into the dining hall, where Tamsin is already seated at a table, surrounded by her usual chaos, gesturing mid-rant with a mouthful of food and three cups of juice in front of her like she’s daring someone to comment.
She brightens when she sees us. “There she is! Look at that. Not dead. I owe myself five gold.”
I slide into the seat beside her. “Glad to know you had such confidence in me.”
Nolan drops into the seat across from us, still watching me like he half-expects Auron to reappear.
Tamsin leans in, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “So. Want to sneak into the Forbidden Wing tonight?”
I blink. “I’m sorry,what?”
She grins. “You heard me. Hidden archives, off-limit artifacts, mysterious spells no one wants us to learn? Youknowthere’s something good in there.”
“I also know I was nearly murderedyesterday.Forgive me if I’m not eager to test Fate again.”
“Or,” she says, raising her brows, “Fate is giving you the perfect excuse to stop being a rule-follower and start being interesting.”
“I’m not a rule-follower,” I mutter.
Nolan makes a noise that’s suspiciously like a snort, but I ignore him.
“Tam…” I shake my head. “Theforbiddenpart doesn’t exactly scream safe. And I’m not looking to tempt whatever’s lurking in those shadows.”
“Come on,” she says, nudging my arm. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Hiding somewhere with my self-preservation instinct,” I say, but even as I say it—I’m not entirely sure I mean it.
“I’m serious, Tam. I need like…one day without breaking any major academy rules or trying to get myself killed.” I tear into the bread on my plate and hope the conversation will drop.
But of course, it’s Tamsin.
She leans in again, voice low and sing-song. “You’re not even a little curious what they’re hiding in there? Because I am. And if there’s even the slightest chance it connects to your magic or that mark on your arm…”
Nolan perks up immediately. “Wait—why would the Forbidden Wing have anything related to her mark?”
Tamsin shrugs. “I didn’t say itwould.I saidwhat if.It’s literally where they keep the things no one’s supposed to see. Doesn’t that screamanswers?”
