“We may be first years, but we need to learn the campus,” Nym agreed.
“Let’s go,” Sylver suggested.
Tibby’s confusion switched to excitement as a sly smile curved on his lips. He finally caught on to the fact that they weren’t messing around and were interested in him.
After the triplets took off with my brother, one-by-one our group stepped through the archway of our house, the magical lock tingling against my skin where the pin was on my shirt.
One second, we were outside in the crisp evening air, and the next, we were walking into a wide, softly lit common area that smelled faintly of fresh linens. Warm light glowed from enchanted crystal sconces embedded in the white walls, flickering like natural firelight but casting no heat. The flooring was a rich, dark wood polished to a gleam, laid in a spiral pattern that pulled the eye toward the center of the room.
This was our new home for the next year:level one.
“Damn,” Slater breathed from behind me. “They really went full elite for first-years.”
“Tibby says the official houses are even better than this,” I murmured, taking it all in.
The central common area was wide and welcoming, shaped like a sunburst, with a slightly-domed ceiling overhead that was enchanted to mimic an open sky. The sun shifted across it in real time. In the middle was a square table with four pillows seated on the floor by each edge. The kitchenette was tucked into one curve of the room, fitted with sleek black cabinets, glass-fronted cupboards, and a granite island. A black refrigerator with glass doors sat against the back wall, fully stocked. Four heating crystals had grates above them on the counters for cooking.
“There’s snacks,” Aura gasped, throwing open a cabinet and pulling out a sealed glass jar of chocolate-almond bars like it was her favorite thing.
“Not just snacks,” Eleanor said, opening the fridge. “We have magic-infused drinks. And milk. Andcold brew.”
There were two arched doorways leading to opposite sides of the space, each etched with the same glimmering word.
Bathroom.
No door. Just softly glowing steam drifting beyond that acted as a privacy screen. I was curious to see what the bathroom looked like, but not enough to just barrel into it. How would we even know when someone was in there?
Slater bounded into the bathroom a second later, like he knew what I was thinking. The steam turned dark gray instead of foggy white, and then he jumped back out. It was white again. “Shit, that’s the nicest bathroom ever.”
I was glad to see there was a way to know it was occupied.
“At least there’s a way to tell if someone’s in there,” Aura murmured, echoing my thoughts.
“But is there a lock?” Eleanor asked softly.
“Yeah, I checked,” Slater said, rushing over to the rooms. “There’s a crystal lock you can put your hand on, and it’ll turn red when it’s locked. It’s green if it’s not locked.”
“That’s a relief.” Aura let out a breath.
Around the perimeter of the common room were ten evenly spaced doors. Each one bore a brass nameplate, already engraved with our names.
Mine sat between Zuko’s and Dimitri’s.
Slater paced in front of three specific doors like a restless phantom, glancing between his room, mine, and Dimitri’s with exaggerated grief. “Come out please, Dimitri! Could you switch rooms with me?” he pleaded, knocking on his door. “We’d be right next to each other, Rune and I. The Fates want that!”
Dimitri’s door creaked open two inches. His blood-red eyes narrowed through the crack. “The rooms are already assigned. Deal with it.”
He slammed the door in Slater’s face.
Slater stared at the wood like it had personally betrayed him. “Rude,” he muttered, shoulders slumping. “Guess it’s just me and my heartbreak tonight.” He turned to me, dramatically placing a hand over his heart. “If I scream in the middle of the night, it’s not nightmares. It’s my longing for you. I accept any form of comfort you will offer me.”
“Should I offer you comfort?” I tapped my finger against my chin.
Slater was justsoeasy to tease.
“Absolutely!” Slater pushed his bottom lip out in a pout. “I’ll besolonely. You don’t want that, do you, venom baby?”
Before I could respond, a muscular guy with sun-warmed skin and shaggy brown hair peered out from the doorway across the hall. His black eyes lit up when he saw us, and I could’ve only assumed he’d been here for a while already.
