Her Curse, Their Claim

e she barely understood, and zero clue how to find her dorm. The castle seemed to rearrange itself whenever she looked away - hallways stretched longer, doors v

t?" But before she could move, he was in front of her - faster than she could process - grabbing her wrist with one strong hand. Not hard, but firm. Dominant. "Don't touch me!" she snapped. His fingers flinched at her skin like he'd been burned. He let go instantly. Their eyes met. And for one breathless second - the air changed. Like the world around them paused. Like the castle was watching. "You're dangerous," he said quietly. "To me. To everyone here." Then he turned on his heel and vanished into the shadows. Seren stood there, pulse racing, trying to make sense of what just happened. And somewhere deep inside her, the mark on her arm pulsed. Warm. Awake. Seren stood frozen in the corridor long after the boy disappeared. The air still hummed with whatever that was - electricity, fury, recognition. Her wrist tingled where he touched her, like his energy had left a mark of its own. "You're dangerous... to me." What the hell did that even mean? She pressed a hand to her chest and forced herself to breathe. Just a guy, she told herself. Just a totally unhinged, freakishly fast, hot, growly- "Focus," she muttered. "Find your room. Lock the door. Maybe cry a little." The Valeblood dorm sat in the west wing, behind a heavy arched door covered in runes. Her key slid in easily - almost like the door wanted her inside. The common room was dimly lit and strangely elegant, with high-backed velvet chairs, a roaring fireplace, and books that whispered when she walked by. Her bedroom wasn't much, but it was hers: a four-poster bed with black curtains, a desk already stacked with old books titled things like Binding the Beast Within and Rituals for the Cursed. Comforting. There was even a mirror with her name carved at the top. But when she looked into it... Her reflection blinked a second too late. She stepped back fast. "Nope. Not tonight." She found the bathroom. Locked the door. Peered under the sleeve of her hoodie again. The