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“You know me, Marcus,” Darrius said. “I’m always up for a good party.”

“I wasn’t aware that you were on the guest list.” Marcus’s voice was as flat as his expression.

“It was pure chance that I happened by an invitation. Your chocolate mud cake is amazing, by the way.” Darrius seemed outwardly calm, but his silver eyes were as hard as steel as he took in their appearances, particularly the small cut on Alex’s neck.

“I was actually hoping to have a word with Alexandra before she departed for the evening,” Darrius said, turning to her. “May I have a moment of your time?”

Alex nodded frantically at him, her heart still beating wildly in her chest. She desperately wanted to get away from the two dangerous men, but she still didn’t move, fearing that one of them would reach out and grab her if she made to leave.

“How kind of you.” Darrius smiled at her and she felt her fear begin to fade. “If you’d like to follow me, we can speak outside. Marcus, Gerald, always a pleasure.”

Judging by Marcus’s expression, it was anything but a pleasure for him, but he still allowed Alex to step away. After a few careful footsteps, she raced out of the room.

“Darrius!” she cried when he closed the door behind them. Her relief was so strong that she almost hugged him. “What are you doing here?”

“Just a happy coincidence,” he answered. “You haven’t happened to come across the bathroom, perhaps? I must have taken a wrong turn at the top of the staircase.”

Alex was certain he wasn’t telling the truth but she was too grateful to demand an explanation. “I think you just saved my life.”

“No, I don’t believe that to be true,” Darrius told her seriously. “Had I not arrived, you would have found your own way out.”

Alex wished she had as much confidence in herself as he did. “Well, thank you, anyway,” she told him. “I owe you one.”

Halfway down the corridor she reached up to the cut on her neck.

“I can’t go back down there looking like this,” she said. “Jordan and Bear will freak—Jordan especially, since his father is responsible. And this is the Sparkers’house. Marcus could try and corner me again.” She shuddered at the thought.

“I can help you get back to Akarnae from here, if you want?” Darrius said. “If I’m correct, you’d only be a day or so earlier than your fellow students. You could even visit Doctor Fletcher for a healing salve.”

That was an appealing thought. And it would also mean no awkward questions from her friends.

“You have a Bubbler back to the academy?” Alex asked. “I thought they had to be specially made for the Gala?”

“No, not a Bubbler,” he said, but he didn’t elaborate. “Do you have a way to contact your friends so they know you’re all right?”

“I have my ComTCD,” Alex said, “but I don’t know what I’ll say to them.”

“One problem at a time, Alexandra,” he said. “One problem at a time.”

Darrius led her back down the staircase, past the ballroom, and out the front door, stopping only when they reached the rose garden where she’d arrived hours earlier. He pulled something from his tuxedo jacket and it took her a moment to recognise what it was.

“That’s a Communications Globe,” Alex said, looking at the cloudy sphere. “I thought they were only used at Akarnae?”

“They are. Fortunately for us, it will override the security restrictions placed on outgoing transportations from the chateau, and it will also deliver you safely through the wards surrounding the academy.”

“Convenient,” she said. “But how did you get it?”

“This one belongs to your headmaster,” Darrius informed her. “I’m certain he won’t mind you borrowing it, so long as you return it to him.”

“Oh,” Alex said. “But how will you get out of here?”

“I have some business to attend to first,” he said, not quite answering her question. “We’d best send you along now, before your friends decide to call out a search party.”

“What should I tell them?” she asked, fresh out of ideas.

“The truth is always a good place to start,” Darrius said, “but perhaps in this instance you should leave out some of the details.” He then pressed the Globe into her hands. “You should land just outside of your headmaster’s office. I recommend you visit Administrator Jarvis and advise him of your arrival. He’ll ensure the Globe is returned to its owner.”

Alex sent him a grateful look. “Thanks so much again, Darrius. For everything.”