"Up. Now," Mira ordered, yanking Zane's blanket off.
Zane groaned and rolled over dramatically. "Why are you always dragging me everywhere? One day, Mira, you'll sprain your back hauling around my greatness."
"Greatness? You haven't even put on your uniform." Mira tossed the folded outfit onto his chest. "Change. We need to see how it fits."
Zane sat up, clutching the uniform to his chest like it was cursed. "I'm not dressing in front of my shadow—literally and figuratively. Mira, door duty."
The shadow writhed at his feet, forming vague teeth before slinking toward the door. Zane opened it just wide enough to shove the inky thing outside. Mira raised a brow. "Really?"
"Privacy, Mira. Even shadows have eyes."
She sighed and stepped out as well, muttering something about idiots under her breath.
That left Zane alone in the room with Asher.
Asher leaned against the desk, staring at him like he was a puzzle. Then, dead serious, he said, "What the hell, man? You couldn't even give her a compliment? She looked like a star in the night sky."
Zane tugged at the uniform shirt lazily. "Ehh. Stars are overrated. Always exploding or falling. What's the point?"
"Unbelievable." Asher shook his head, running a hand through his dark hair. "Good. That just means you won't mind if I take my chances. Beauties like that only come once in a lifetime."
"Oh boy," Zane muttered, buttoning the last of his shirt.
Asher straightened, fixed his collar, and swept out of the room like a knight heading for battle. He closed the door behind him. Silence.
Zane started counting under his breath.
"Five… four… three… two… one—"
Nothing.
He smirked. "One and a half—"
The door slammed open. Asher stumbled back inside, eyes wide. "HOW the hell did she get a dagger through here!?"
Zane leaned against the bedpost, fully dressed now, hair slicked neatly to the side. He was grinning like a cat. "I have no idea."
Asher pointed at him, flustered. "You KNEW."
"I suspected," Zane corrected, smoothing down his uniform jacket. The academy crest gleamed faintly against the dark fabric, and the cut of it sharpened his features more than usual.
By the time he stepped into the hallway, Mira was waiting with crossed arms. But the second her eyes landed on him, her face flushed red—ears, cheeks, all the way down her neck.
Zane blinked, utterly clueless. "Ummm… Mira? Why is your face red? You sick or something?"
She whipped her head to the side instantly, braid swinging. "Shut up and walk."
Zane tilted his head. "Is it the uniform? Do I look that bad?"
Mira muttered something into her hand. Asher just groaned, dragging a palm down his face.