The morning after the library, Serena woke with a fire in her chest—not the dangerous spark of her powers, but a flicker of determination. Hart’s threats and the cloaked figure’s shadow loomed, but Gary and Jack’s support had shifted something in her. For the first time, she felt like she wasn’t fighting alone. The *Lineage of Fire Witches* lay hidden under her bed, its secrets about her blood’s power and the stabilizing ritual fueling her resolve. She needed to train, to master her fire before Hart or his mysterious allies could use it against her.
The Sloan mansion was tense, the air thick with the aftermath of the hockey match and Hart’s rage. Serena avoided the dining hall, grabbing a quick breakfast from the kitchen to steer clear of him. As she slipped out, intending to meet Gary an
