The room erupts into chaos, and Ingrid is immediately overwhelmed with requests to join a team. There are only two Bone Charmers available, and no one wants the girl who just started training. A pit opens in my stomach as I think of childhood games of Dead Man’s Prisoner. I remember the nagging worry of being chosen last and bearing the shame, not only of being declared the least worthy but having an audience for the humiliation.

A tap on my shoulder makes me spin around, and relief floods through me at the sight of Tessa. Her arm is looped through Jacey’s.

“Can we join your team?”

My gaze skips between them. “I think the more appropriate question is, can I join yours?”

Jacey laughs, her dark eyes bright. “You’re going to be in high demand,” she says. “Trust me, no one is clamoring for extra Healers and Mixers.”

“Well, in that case,” I say, sweeping my arm over the empty space beside me, “yes, join my illustrious team.”

Tessa grins. “Excellent. Now, if we can find a Mason, a Watcher, and a Breaker, we’ll be one of only two teams with all six specialties.”

At the mention of a Breaker, my traitorous eyes go searching for Bram. And like a homing pigeon, I locate him immediately. He’s standing near a group, but I can’t tell if he’s part of a team yet. And then I see Norah approach him. Touch his elbow. Whisper something in his ear. Bram nods. He lifts his head to search the room.

And then aims straight for me.

Hot shame races up my neck as I think of Norah’s words when I first arrived. I’ll do my best to make sure you have friends here.

Did she tell him to join my group? Does she think I won’t have a team otherwise? I don’t want Bram’s pity. His obligation. His false friendship borne from duty.

“Hey,” he says as he approaches us, “do you have room for a Breaker?”

Tessa grabs his sleeve. “Yes, that’s perfect!”

Bram’s gaze flicks to me, but I look away.

All I want—all I’ve ever wanted when it comes to romance—is a choice. To choose who to love. For someone to choose me. It’s why I begged my mother not to give me a reading for a bone-matched partner.

Latham has stolen everything from me, and only one good thing came out of all that loss—my bone-match to Declan died with him, so I recaptured the ability to love who I choose. And even though I vowed to keep my distance from Bram so I could protect us both from Latham, each time he looks in my direction, my resolve slips like a shawl over bare shoulders.