**Harper''s POV **


    Demi looks different today. She has a glow about her and her smile is brighter.


    "How is life with your bonds?" I ask.


    We texted yesterday, and she told me the names of her bonds, but I have yet to see them.


    "Oh moons,st night was amazing! I was so nervous but they were so sweet with me," she blushes.


    "So you bonded with all three?" I ask.


    "Yes," sheughs.


    "Did it hurt?" I whisper, ncing around


    to make sure no one is paying attention to our conversation.


    "A little at first, but then it was great."


    The tutor calls for our attention then, and the ss falls silent. I have so many questions I want to ask her, but they''ll have to wait.


    The lesson flies by and I find


    myself quite interested in the subject as we learn about our origins


    and how the four original bonded groups reincarnate as spark-


    bonded groups like my parents. It''s strange to think this


    is not my parent''s first life together. I wonder if they have been my parents before.


    Dillon and


    Archie meet me outside of my ss and we head to lunch together. This time we sit with Demi and her bonds, who all look good at her like she has just hung the moon. I''m so happy for her. I just hope my bond group can be as happy.


    I nce over at the unbonded table and watch Finley as he eats. He sits alone, focused on his food. He looks a little sad. Is


    he lonely? My heart squeezes with a need to go to him. As if sensing my staring, he looks up and his eyes meet mine. A small smile spreads over his lips as he cocks his head in curiosity. Then his eyes move to


    I look at Dillon on my left, and his face is set hard as he looks at Finley. Did something happen between them? I decide now is


    not the time to ask and give Demi my full attention as she talks about how much she loves her new


    apartment.


    After lunch, we all separate to attend our next two sses. By the end of the day, I have made the decision to attempt to bond with both Dillon and Archie


    by tomorrow. Demi looks happier since she bonded and although my bonds say there is no pressure, I can''t stop reying Finley''s words about making them miserable.


    At dinner, Finley is nowhere to be seen, and I''find myself a little


    disappointed. Despite my initial dislike of him, I keep catching myself looking for him in the corridors and the dining hall. I must be softening towards him. I suspect an underlying issue drives his behaviour, and I The dining hall is quieter this evening. Maybe everyone is tired after their first full day back after the summer break.


    "Where


    do you want to start learning theyout of the academy?" Dillon asks when we have finished eating.


    "I think we should start in one of the buildings I''ve not been in yet. Emerald dorms maybe?" I suggest and Dillon''s eyes flick towards the unbonded table. Is he looking for Finley? "Fine, let''s go," he nods.


    I can sense that he is not pleased with my decision, and I think he knows that Finley''s absence might be a factor.


    Dillon walks ahead and Archie wraps an arm around my shoulders


    as we follow him to Emerald''s student amodation building.


    The building is bigger than ours and a little more basic, but it''s still a charming


    ce withrge double doors that are arched at the top. Big cknterns


    hand on either side of the green door and Dillon twists the brass doorknob, pushing the door open.


    The hum of music I could hear from outside now res, assaulting my ears, and as we step inside, I realise we have walked straight into a party.


    The entrance hall is simr to ours in


    Ruby. A green carpet unner sits on top of the stone floor and leads straight to a stone staircase. The inside almost reminds me of a castle my mum had taken usto visit in the human realm. To the right is amunal area where students are dancing,ughing, and talking.


    "This might be a bad time to explore," I shout over the music.


    "Yeah. I didn''t know they were having a party, otherwise I''d not have brought you here," Dillon calls back.


    We turn to leave when a familiar face steps in front of us, closing the door and leaning against it with a grin.


    "Who invited Rubies to an Emerald party?" Finley shouts.


    "Oh my god, she''s the new seer!" a female voice shrieks and before know it students surround us as the music is shut off and the room falls into silence as all eyes look at me expectantly.


    "Sorry, we didn''t mean to intrude. We are here on a seer assignment. We wille back another time," Dillon says, trying to move to the door that Finley is still blocking


    "What kind of assignment? Are you looking for someone''s bonds?" a male voice shouts from somewhere towards the back of the room.


    "No, we are just here to learn theyout of the building, that''s all," Archie says.


    A few students groan and begin to move away.


    "Then allow me to be your guide," Finley offers.


    "She already has two guides," Dillon dismisses.


    "Two guides who don''t know their way around? What use is that?" Finleyughs.


    Dillon clenches his fists, and I reach out, cing a hand on his forearm. He shifts its gaze to mine, searching my eyes before he detes with a sigh. "Great, you boys stay here and enjoy the party. I''ll give our newest seer the guided tour, starting with my bedroom," Finley says with a wink.


    "Finn," Dillon warns. His tone is more animalistic than human, and I suspect his wolf is close to the surface.


    “Chill, I was joking, let''s go," Finley says, holding up his hands in surrender before stepping around


    us to lead us up the stairs.


    I try to take note of each door as we


    Pet


    move through the upstairs hallway. Theyout seems simple enough that I''m sure I could manage it with my eyes closed. We head back


    down the stairs, and Finley guides us to the smallmunal kitchen and then to more dorm rooms. He exins that there are usually four unbonded in each small apartment.


    "Is there


    amunal toilet in the building?" I ask, as my dder calls out for release.


    "No, but you can use the one is my dorm," Finn offers.


    "Thank you," I smile as he unlocks a door and gestures for me to enter.


    Archie and Dillon attempt to follow me inside, but Finley steps in front of them, stopping them from walking through the door.


    "Sorry, but


    my roommates are a little territorial. You''ll have to wait out here," he exins.


    "Then you wait out here too,” Dillon demands.


    "Fine," Finley


    responds before closing the door and leaving me alone in the dark dorm room.


    N.O Darling Author


    Thank you for all your support. A second chapter will be publishedter today.