The cold marble floor clicked beneath Mia Sorrentino’s heels as she walked through the east wing of the castle. The Serpent hallway was dimly lit—green-glass sconces flickering on stone walls, casting a sickly glow that danced across the high ceilings. Her long white-blonde hair shimmered under the light, trailing down the back of her fitted black coat. Students stepped out of her way without a word. Some stared. Some whispered.

Mia didn’t care.

She was dressed to kill—pleated skirt just above the knee, a silk blouse that matched the blue of her eyes, thigh-high boots hugging her legs like a second skin. She wasn’t in the mood to be subtle today. She never was.

As she turned the corner near the House relics chamber, she heard the steps behind her—measured, heavy, familiar. She didn’t stop walking, but a soft, gentle and amused smile did grow on her gloss painted lips.

“You’re following me now?,” she called over her shoulder, voice sharp like a blade in lace.