Chapter 1 Emberfield Academy

The first time I saw Emberfield Academy, I almost turned around and ran.

The castle-like campus stood high above the cliffs of Valerith, surrounded by silver towers glowing with enchantments that flickered against the darkening sky. Massive banners carrying the dragon crest of the Dragon League whipped violently in the wind while hundreds of students crossed the stone courtyard below. 

Every single one of them looked like they belonged there, but I didn’t. I tightened my grip around the strap of my worn duffel bag and stared at the academy gates, trying to ignore the familiar burning sensation crawling beneath my skin.

The curse was restless again. “Not now,” I whispered under my breath.

A sharp pulse of heat spread across my wrist anyway.

I quickly pulled my sleeve lower to hide the black veins twisting faintly beneath my skin. If anyone saw them, questions would start. Questions always led to danger, and danger had followed me my entire life.

A loud horn echoed through the courtyard, making me flinch.

Students dressed in black and gold uniforms rushed toward the center arena while voices and laughter filled the air around me. Some students carried enchanted weapons glowing with elemental magic. Others were moving their school bags with their minds like it was normal. Maybe here, it was.

I swallowed hard and forced myself forward.

The giant gates opened as I approached, revealing a long marble pathway lined with dragon statues. Their jeweled eyes seemed to follow me as I walked past.

A group of girls standing near the fountain glanced in my direction.

“That’s her?” “The scholarship girl?” “She doesn’t look powerful.”

I lowered my head and kept walking. I was used to whispers. Back home, people whispered worse things like a cursed girl, a monster, and a deathbringer.

I shoved the memories away before they could drag me under.

The academy courtyard opened into a massive arena surrounded by towering seats. The field below shimmered with magical barriers, and floating score crystals hovered above the center circle.

My chest tightened. So this was the Dragon Arena. The place every athlete in Valerith dreamed of competing in, the place my sister once stood before she disappeared. Skylar.

The thought of her still hurts like an open wound. Three years gone without a trace, three years of searching, and three years of pretending I’d stopped hoping she was alive.

“You’re blocking the stairs.” The deep voice behind me made me spin around too fast.

And suddenly, everything stopped.

He stood a few feet away, tall and broad-shouldered in Emberfield’s captain's uniform. Black training gear clung to him, marked with silver dragon emblems across the chest. His dark hair was slightly damp like he’d just finished practice, and his sharp golden eyes locked onto mine with dangerous intensity.

Jaden Drake. I recognized him instantly.

Everyone in Valerith knew the Golden Captain, the future dragon league champion, son of King Robert Drake, and the national hero.

Unfortunately, he also looked incredibly annoyed. Heat rushed to my face.

“Sorry,” I muttered, stepping aside.

But he didn’t move. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re the new recruit.” Not a question. I crossed my arms defensively. “And you’re staring.”

One corner of his mouth lifted faintly. “I stare when something feels off.”

The words hit harder than they should have. My pulse skipped. Did he know? No. Impossible. I forced out a sarcastic laugh. “Maybe your people skills are off.”

A few nearby students gasped quietly. Apparently, no one talked to Jaden Drake like that.

His expression darkened for half a second before amusement flickered in his eyes. “You’ve got an attitude,” he said. “You’ve got an ego.”

A dangerous silence settled between us. Then he briefly looked toward my covered wrist. The burning beneath my skin intensified instantly and fear shot through me. I stepped back too quickly.

His eyes snapped back to mine.

For one horrible second, I thought the black veins might spread up my hand right there in front of him. But the curse barely settled again.

Jaden frowned slightly, as if he’d sensed something strange. Before he could say anything else, another voice interrupted.

“There you are!” A blond boy jogged toward us with a grin stretched across his face.

“Captain, Coach Mira’s looking for—” He stopped when he noticed me. “Oh. New girl.”

“Scholarship recruit,” Jaden said flatly.

The blond guy smiled brightly and held out his hand. “Rowan Ashford. Wind division. Occasional troublemaker.”

I hesitated before shaking his hand. “Sharon Wilson.”

“Nice to meet you, Sharon Wilson.” His grin widened. “You look terrified.”

“I’m trying not to be.”

“That makes two of us,” Rowan whispered dramatically. “Coach Mira once made me run twelve miles because I sneezed during training.”

Jaden rolled his eyes and finally stepped aside. “You’re late for orientation,” he told me.

I frowned. “I just got here.” “Then you’re already behind.”

I glared at him. Definitely arrogant. Rowan laughed awkwardly between us. “Okay, wow. Tension. Love that.”

Jaden ignored him completely. But before he walked away, he looked back at me once more. And something in his expression shifted. Like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

“You should be careful here, Sharon,” he said quietly. A chill ran down my spine. “Why?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “Because Emberfield destroys people who keep secrets.” Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I stared after him, unsettled.

My first conversation at the academy and I’d already offended the kingdom’s favorite athlete.

“Don’t mind him,” Rowan said casually. “Jaden acts emotionally unavailable as a hobby.”

I snorted despite myself.

Rowan pointed toward the academy towers. “Come on. Orientation starts in ten minutes, and Coach Mira eats late students alive.”

As we crossed the courtyard, I noticed students staring at Jaden everywhere he went. Some waved. Others whispered excitedly. He didn’t acknowledge any of them.

“You know him well?” I asked carefully.

Rowan shrugged. “Everyone knows Jaden Drake. Hard not to when your father’s the king.”

“And what’s he really like?”

Rowan glanced toward the arena where Jaden had disappeared. His playful expression faded slightly. “Complicated.”

Before I could ask more, a loud explosion echoed across the academy grounds. Students screamed.

I spun toward the sound just in time to see black smoke rising near the eastern tower.

Then, a pulse of dark magic slammed into me. Pain exploded beneath my skin. I gasped, stumbling backward as the curse awakened violently inside my veins. No. Not here. The shadows around my feet began twisting unnaturally.

Rowan’s eyes widened. “Sharon—” Another blast shook the courtyard.

And across the chaos, standing at the top of the arena stairs, Jaden Drake turned sharply toward me, toward the darkness spreading beneath my skin. His golden eyes widened in shock.

Because the shadows around me were moving on their own.