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Maggie’s gaze slitted. “More lies.”

“He couldn’t,” Alex said, and in a whisper, she finished, “because I Claimed Niyx first.”

Maggie’s shock was so acute that she accidentally released the arrow. Alex’s Meyarin reflexes allowed her a split second to dive to the side, pushing Niyx down with her, but even then she was still clipped in the arm, the sharp arrowhead tearing through her coat and skimming her bicep.

She hissed at the sting of pain and Niyx was immediately pushing her off him and turning her around to frantically inspect her arm.

“It’s just a flesh wound,” she told him through clenched teeth, something he was now realising for himself, since the same injury appeared on his arm. His was much more noticeable since he wasn’t bundled up against the cold like Alex.

“Here,” he said, shoving the flask oflaendraat her. She was relieved they hadn’t finished it earlier. Not that her injury was bad, but she was still bleeding all over the snow. Niyx was, too, and his wound wouldn’t heal without hers doing so first.

A couple of sips and a few seconds later and they were both as good as new.

… Until they turned to look at Maggie, who was swaying on the spot, her hand covering her mouth.

“YouClaimedhim?” the Archery instructor whispered, horrified.

“It’s a long story, but yes, I did,” Alex said, just as quietly, fully aware that she’d just admitted to carrying out a ritual forbidden to Meyarins on pain of death.

“I was attacked by a Sarnaph, May,” Niyx said, apparently deciding it was a story his sister needed to hear. “I was dying. Aeylia saved my life. And when she later tried to Release me, I wouldn’t accept the Release. She can’t control me anymore, but we’re still connected—as you just saw.”

He looked pointedly to the blood dribbling down his arm from the now-healed wound and continued, “Because of that connection, when Aven attempted to Claim me, he couldn’t. Hethinkshe did, which is the only reason I’m still able to remain at Meya and spy on him, but Aeylia’s original hold on me is keeping me safe, since her will is stronger than his.”

Maggie was breathing heavily as she looked between the two of them, her eyes welling with tears. “You’re not lying, are you?” she whispered. “About any of it?”

Niyx released a weighty exhale and whispered back, “No.”

“But—But the king…”

Niyx didn’t answer, but Alex wouldn’t allow him to lose what might be the only chance he had to earn back his sister’s trust, so she said, “That wasn’t Niyx, either, but he made Aven think it was to prove his loyalty. No one can know, Maggie. His life will be forfeited if Aven discovers the truth. Do you understand?”

Maggie didn’t respond verbally. She also didn’t nod or offer any other confirmation of secrecy. What she did was hiccup a sob and launch herself at her brother, burrowing deep into him while crying thousands of years’ worth of anguished tears onto his steady shoulders.

I’ll, um, leave you to it, Alex silently told Niyx, knowing they needed some privacy.Share anything you need to with her, including any of my secrets if you think she needs to hear them.

Niyx nodded over Maggie’s head, gratitude clear in his eyes.

Just remember that more people are going to start waking up soon, Alex warned him.You might want to take her somewhere else to catch up. But also don’t stay away from Meya for too long—she’ll understand the risk, especially now.

I won’t, Niyx promised softly.Now go and get some rest before your fight.

Alex’s stomach lurched with sudden nausea.I’ll let you know as soon as it’s over.

And we’ll celebrate your victory, he told her, again with that confident assurance. But then he added,Long-distance celebration, since I shouldn’t leave Meya again today.

Alex grinned and turned away from her friend and her teacher, amused by the idea of what a long-distance celebration might entail.

But as she trekked back to her dorm with the intention of following Niyx’s suggestion to get in a nap before heading to Graevale, Alex realised she didn’t care what that celebration was, just as long as there was cause for it.

Alex couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t breathe because her nerves were crushing her windpipe, restricting the airflow into her lungs.

She couldn’t breathe because there were purple flames all around her, cutting her off from the masses of Shadow Walkers jeering from all sides of the Obscuria; cutting her off from her anxious-looking friends, her uneasy wolf, the tense Caspar Lennox, the stoic Shirez Ganare and three smug elders.

She couldn’t breathe because she was standing in the middle of the fiery central hexagon of the six-sided star, staring into the dark, merciless eyes of her opponent.

“It’s not too late to back out, human,” Trell said in a surprisingly deep voice, casually spinning the weapon held between her hands—a long, black staff with thick, jagged blades on each end.