School begins again, though it 's not as if it ever really ended for Damian, staying in the dormitories over the break as he had. At the very least, Ewen and Emile 's return to his side act as a reset for the new year.

Just like always, Blackbell and Forger arrive on campus at the same time. Damian pays them no heed as they pass him on the stairs, tittering over something he has no interest in. Somehow, he arrives in the classroom before the both of them. When they bustle past him, hands cupped to each other 's ears as they whisper and laugh, Damian notices the burnished pearls on Blackbell 's lobes.

Forger 's, too. Green gemstones. He doesn 't realize he 's been staring, all his attention trailing her to her seat until her eyes cut to his. His breath catches in his throat.