riage s

g shadows move between the trees, when the w

st

t had stopped. The rustling had cea

" Professor

door and stepped out. Pr

uffel bag and clim

g she noticed

that made her mark tingle. Magic maybe. Or

g she noticed w

dn't quit

Or a nightmare. Stone towers stretched toward the sky. Gothic arches

asn't we

imidating. Built to

t," Luna

ing back. "You're not in the human w

or

emember. Come on. Headma

the main entrance. Luna's legs felt

ed before they

ver hair. Eyes that looked ancient de

ried across the courtyard. "W

It came out l

. I've been expecting you. Your

loodl

lverwood. So did her mother before her. You come

bag tighter. "No

en of expectation. But you're here now. And expect

o your dormitory. Classes begin tomorrow

the doors into an entrance

ns, its crystals catching light and throwing rainbows across stone walls. Staircas

stud

ryw

with a grace Luna didn't possess. Some looked h

stopped when

e. Heads turned. Eyes tracked

r stares like

nts always draw attention. Especially Eclips

to her friend. Both of them looked Luna up

?" Sterling's voice

linched and

er," one of t

dorms. All of you. Curfe

aircases and various hallways. But Luna still fel

ird floor. You'll be sharing a room with another first y

se. The steps were worn smooth f

this place?"

1692. We've added to it over the ye

hallway. Doors lined both sides. Some had nam

at a door near

She's Omega rank. Anxious but kind. Try no

s Omeg

now that rank determines hierarchy. Alphas at the top. Omeg

do I

n. Eclipse bloodline usually manifests as Alp

d the do

. Two beds. Two desks. Two wardrob

the beds. She jumped

curly hair pulled into a messy bun. Big b

ova Branch. Nova

sly. You already knew that. The Headmaster just said that. I'm ba

't help it.

y. I'm ne

lm. Collected. I wish I looked like that. I

lit

st great. First i

tter than calm an

sion brighten

all

ttle in. Luna, orientation is tomorrow at eight in the

won

od, Miss Eclipse. Try not

Luna could ask

oor c

r. But also kind of true. Three students died last year. Training accidents. Ro

s comf

gain. "So. Luna Eclipse. That's a cool name. Ver

like I got pulled out of my normal life and

al. Normal cereal. And then boom. Mark appears. Parents fr

he empty bed. "When d

ays ago.

afte

it. This afternoon? As i

ea

days to adjust before they ship you of

rescent moon and shadow pattern

s beautiful. And terrifying. Min

paw print marked her skin. Fou

ch explains why everyone's already treating me l

ve no

essor Cael? I heard she's the magi

want to sleep and pretend

ai

wardrobe. Placed the framed photo on her desk. Put her

ack out, Nova w

She nodded

. Mig

um

ea

n't usually survive the academy. Not

keeps sa

Maybe you'll be different. Ma

ay

ound her neck. The metal

ys y

d Miguel

re in the building.

oom checks. If you're not in bed, you get detention. And detention here

ot

throom. When she came out, Nova was alrea

, Lu

ea

scared they'd pair me with someone mean. So

know what Om

ttom of the hierar

t seem we

hanks. You're n

ke yo

s firmer than her bed at home. The pillow

osed h

to s

ldn

but persistent. Like a h

the hallway. Foots

sil

e forest beyond was dark. Impenetrable. She couldn't s

he fe

there. Watch

ence from the

her chin and tried to ignore

n what she needed t

needed to make

s pa

yb

. Stretched and compre

because she jolted awake to sunl

up. Dressed. Boun

utes. We should go early. Get good s

nd sat up. "Wh

ould be nervous. First day is always intense. That's what my sister told me. She went he

lled on jeans and a t-shirt. Ran a brush through her

the same as

felt d

e her had shifted. R

ova called fro

as I'll

were crowded now. Students everywhere. Some walking i

ed not t

erent they all looked. How graceful. H

like an

double doors. "That's the Great Hall. Where we eat. Where ori

d her throug

retched overhead with exposed wooden beams. Windows lined the walls. And at

e benches. Talking

k tingled

a's arm and pulled her toward an e

sat

students around

ble looked Luna up a

ea

st y

ea

lip

"How did you

ipse bloodline." The girl leaned back. "I'm Jade. Second year. Al

hy

disasters. No in between. And everyone's go

trying t

uck wit

ed back t

. She's bitter because she barely made Alpha ra

the diff

Hierarchy. I'll

d. Like magic. Plates of eggs and toast and f

tared.

said casually. "They handle all th

cked up

d eat, movement

Four of them. All tall. All moving with th

e hall we

in a breat

ha

ha. One of the most powerful students

ad shoulders. Dark hair. Strong jawline. Handsome

swept t

opped

tared. His expression wasn

s dis

Cold.

ally offended him

rm. "Don't look at hi

couldn't

into something that

d to a table near the fr

lt his atte

arget on