Avery
Lockdown loosens that night. We’re allowed to go to the dining hall, the library, the worship center, and classes.
Still, I don’t sleep.
Every time I close my eyes, the empty space where the emberlink bond should be is all I feel, continuing to get lighter when it should stay heavy.
I know what it’s like to feel broken inside and have everyone tell you it’ll be fine.
Tobias’s voice keeps playing in my mind, paired with memories of those pale blue eyes that saw into my soul. I keep circling back to the fact that he didn’t try to fix me. He just stood close and gave me what no one else has bothered to offer—the truth.
By the time the morning light filters through my window, I’ve given up pretending that sleep will be possible. So, I splash water on my face, cover up the dark circles under my eyes, clip up my hair that’s looking more dull-blonde than honey-blonde, and practice my smile in the mirror.
You’re fine. Everything’s fine.
The girl staring back at me doesn’t look fine. She looks like someone hollowed her out with a spoon and forgot to put anything back.
A knock at my door makes me jump.
“Avery?” Alessandra says, softer than usual. “Time for breakfast.”
The walk to the dining hall feels longer than usual. People cluster in groups, whispering and shooting glances at us they think we don’t notice. But they’re not just talking about Oliver and Callie.
They’re talking about Jade.
Of course they are. Everything since Jade’s arrived has been about Jade.
The moment I enter the dining hall, my eyes scan the room, searching for dark hair with streaks of silver at the faculty table. Tobias’s eyes catch mine for half a heartbeat before he looks away, returning to his conversation with Helen Finchman.
The ache in my chest shifts, turning warm and tight. It’s completely inappropriate, since I’m supposed to be grieving—not seeking out forbidden connections with Council investigators from across crowded rooms.
I do my best to shake it off as Alessandra and I take our normal seats near the hearth. She manages to smile and exchange pleasantries with the others, but I don’t have the energy to try.
When the food arrives, I force myself to eat. One bite of toast. Two. The bread tastes like cardboard, but I chew and swallow, because normal people eat breakfast. Normal people don’t feel like they’re drowning in plain sight.
Breakfast’s almost over when the chandeliers flicker, and Constance rises from her seat.
“I have an announcement regarding the events of the past few days,” she says, her voice carrying through the room with minimal effort.
My hands clench in my lap. Beside me, Alessandra goes rigid.
“Five more members of our community have departed the island of their own accord.” She surveys the room, her expression betraying nothing. “Professor Kieran Cross, fourth-year proctor Logan Ashford, third-year student Callie Bennett, and first-year students Jade Harrington and Evangeline Thorne.”
Of their own accord.
The words land like stones in my stomach.
She has to be lying, just like she did after Oliver and Professor Thad’s disappearance.
“The Council is monitoring the situation. In the meantime, classes tomorrow will resume as normal. Applied Flamecraft will be taught by myself until a suitable replacement for Professor Cross can be found.” Her lips press together and lift at the corners.
On anyone else, it would be a smile. “The Council members who are guests on the island have graciously agreed to help teach Fire Philosophy and Practices. Consider this a wonderful opportunity to learn from the best our community has to offer.”
I want to stand up, demand answers, and ask why everyone keeps acting like Oliver woke up one morning and thought, you know what sounds fun? Abandoning my sister, my emberlinked partner, and the girl I’m trying to date to take a field trip through a deadly sea with my professor.
But I don’t.
Of course I don’t.
Constance dismisses us, and the hall erupts into the chaos of people streaming to the doors, voices rising, and theories being spun out of thin air.
I stand on autopilot, ready to follow Alessandra back to our suite where we can fall apart in private.
“Avery,” someone says from behind me, stopping me cold.
I turn and find Nina Aldridge, the first-year with black braids wrapped around her head like a crown and sharp eyes that watch everyone.
Oliver mentioned her once or twice. Their families knew each other from way back.
The Thornes have access to rare texts, and Nina’s family deals in information, so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“Can I talk to you?” she asks, low and urgent. “Privately?”
Alessandra glances between us, one eyebrow raised. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine.” I force brightness into my tone. “Just... give us a minute?”
She hesitates, then nods. “I’ll be in our suite.”
Once she’s gone, Nina guides me to a quiet corner near the windows.
“Is this about Oliver?” I try to sound light and casual, as if I’m not falling apart inside.
“It’s about all of them.” Her dark eyes hold mine. “Because I know you don’t believe the official story any more than I do.”
My practiced smile falters. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean that you don’t believe they left voluntarily,” she says, her sharp gaze unwavering. “Neither do I. Oliver wouldn’t leave without talking to you or Evie first. He was too...” She pauses, searching for the word. “Considerate.”
Considerate. That’s one way to describe someone who remembered everyone’s coffee order, who noticed when people were struggling before they knew it themselves, and who asked me to be his emberlinked partner because he trusted me, even if he never loved me like I loved him.
“He wouldn’t leave without telling Jade, either,” I hear myself say, and there’s an edge to my voice I can’t quite control.
She studies me for a long moment. “Meet me at 10:30 tonight at the Crone Chamber,” she finally says.
I should say no.
But Oliver is dead. I know it in my bones, even if I can’t prove it, and someone in charge is lying about why.
“Okay.” The word comes out before I can stop it.
Nina nods once, sharp and decisive. Then she turns and walks away, disappearing into the crowd like she was never here at all.