The Embermark Trials

Eira Vance has one year to survive the Embermark Trials, or her family loses everything that's left. The Trials are supposed to be solo. She's been assigned three partners: Rafe, who has been to three schools and burned down two of them. Kes, court-bred, honest about exactly why he's here. And Solan, who threw his first trial on purpose and won't explain why. Eira assumes it's a trap. It mostly is. But the Embermark Trials run three rounds, and each round takes something from whoever loses — and Eira's team keeps winning. Then a mark appears on her skin that has no business being on a scholarship girl's arm, and the mage-court's inspector stops pretending to be neutral. The mark is a claim. A court house claimed Eira's family's land seventy years ago and never let go. Whoever holds Eira holds the estate. Her three partners have other plans — and one of them involves a burned tent, a forged ward, and Eira walking home.