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Mira’s enthusiasm ebbed.

The war is over, she reminded herself, because it felt like things were about to turn bad again. Any moment now, that feeling of safety would be pulled away from her.

Dawson had that glint in his eyes. She saw the gears in his head turning. He was always scheming.

“What’s your plan?” she asked. “We both know you have one. You’re a Dawson. The rules don’t apply to you, isn’t that correct?”

“You finally learned,” he said with a smirk. “There is one night when security is lax. The Solstice Ball, which is three days from now. I’ll go, and while the rest of them get drunk off mediocre whiskey, I’ll check out their ingredient library.”

Obryn gave a nod and stood, which meant they were about to be dismissed. “Once we know what they’re after, it will be much easier to narrow down our suspects. We shall reconvene after that.”

As she and Dawson walked out of the Highmage’s office, she had to pull her bag closer to squeeze by the bodies of students. Dawson seemed to glide through the crowd without a problem.

There was no denying that he wanted to push her out of the investigation. Perhaps she should welcome it. Pretend like she had never learned about the murders. Her scar hummed under her sleeve. What if things get bad again? it seemed to ask her. You’re not safe. Closing her eyes for just a second, she shook the thoughts from her mind.

“I’m coming with you,” she said.

Whatever was going on, she wanted to know. Needed to know.

Dawson lifted a brow. “You’re going to be my date, Winters?”

She stopped in her tracks and a student bumped into her, cursing as he moved past. Date. To a ball. She hadn’t really thought this through. The collar of her shirt felt too tight around her neck. “I…no…I mean officially, I guess yes.”

Dawson’s grin grew wider. “You’re blushing.”

“Oh, shut it.”

Thankfully, her classroom was just a few steps farther so she passed him and left him and his stupid grin in the hallway.

The next day, Saturday, she had no classes and was about to sink into her research when a loud knock interrupted her.

She opened the door and Amelia quirked an eyebrow, looking her up and down.

“So it is true,” she said.

“What is?”

“Dawson said you hardly ever leave your room.”

Mira winced. What else had he said? Had he made up scenarios to explain why they spend time together? Made fun of her for being an “infant” Wielder?

Amelia walked in—once again uninvited, and Mira feared this was becoming a pattern. This time the Wielder girl strutted to her closet and opened it. Her mouth hung slack when she saw it almost entirely empty except for a few shirts, a skirt, and a vest.

“What in the spheres is this abomination of a closet?” Amelia shrieked. “Tell me you have more clothes.”

“Yes, I do. I haven’t unpacked everything yet.”

Amelia shook her head and pulled a blouse and the black skirt from the closet.

“What are you doing?” Mira asked.

“I’m picking your outfit. Not that I have much to choose from, but I’m working with what I’ve got,” she sighed.

Mira still had the door handle in her hand. “An outfit? For what?”

“Getting you out of your room for the day. I’ll introduce you to Evren and my boyfriend, Kane. Time for you to meet a few more Wielders.”

Mira wanted to say no and stay home, but the best way to learn more about Dawson was perhaps to get to know his friends.