The next morning, Blackthorn Academy buzzed with its usual energy. The grand halls echoed with laughter, sharp whispers, and the occasional crash of a careless spell gone awry. It was almost easy to forget the chaos of the previous night—almost.
I slid into my usual seat in Professor Elara’s class, a sprawling room filled with towering bookshelves and an eerie collection of magical artifacts. Damon was already there, leaning back in his chair with that infuriatingly smug smirk plastered on his face. He caught my eye and winked, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“Late night?” he asked as I passed him, his tone low enough for only me to hear.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I shot back, though my pulse quickened.
I sat down, determined to ignore him, but his presence was impossible to block out. It w
