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“I’ll call the meeting,” Hayden says, turning to me. A hint of a smile breaks out on his lips. “Which means you will be the new Head of The Snake, Rowan.”

Three pairs of eyes fall on me as Hayden’s words sink in. The title is closer than it’s ever been. It’s everything I’ve worked for, hours of studying The Snake, making alliances, collecting secrets. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and here it is, almost in my hands. And yet, I realise, for the first time, there is something else that feels more important than becoming The Head of The Snake.

Alex.

And there is no one I want more than him.

“Excuse me,” I say. “I’ll be right back.” I pull my phone out and walk down a quiet passageway, away from the watchful eyes of the guards.

Alex answers on the first ring, like he’s been waiting for me to call. “Hey,” he says, breathless. “Are you okay?”

I feel my shoulders drop for the first time since we were in bed this morning. Somehow, it feels like a lifetime ago.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel. I don’t think I’m sad. I don’t think I feel anything but urgency.”

He’s quiet for a second and I worry he might find that callous, like maybe I’m a monster who doesn’t deserve someone as good as he is.

“That makes sense,” he says. “She taught you to care about The Snake, not her. You can’t feel what you don’t know.”

I swallow, a weight settling in my throat because I don’t know if that’s true. My parents never taught me love, but I know I love my brothers. I love Alex more than the whole damn universe and its stars. I think they never taught me to lovethem.

“What happened?” he asks quietly.

“A car accident. Silly, right?”

“Rowan, I’m so sorry.” He pauses. “Do you know what happens now?”

“The Snake cannot live without its Head for long, especially right now. We have to pick a new Head tonight before the Scarlet Ravens make a move,” I say.

“Does that mean…?” he trails.

“Yeah,” I say.

He’s quiet again and my scalp prickles with worry. Is he disappointed? Will he not want me anymore?

“Maybe this is fucked up, but I’m happy for you,” he whispers after a long moment. “I know how much you’ve always wanted this.”

I exhale, warmth spreading through me. I want to keep talking to him. I want to keep listening to his voice because somehow he makes it feel like everything is fine, but I know I need to go and prepare for The Choosing.

“Thank you, Lexie,” I say, my heart swelling. “I’ll call you later?”

“Yeah,” he says. “Good luck tonight.”

“Yeah—”

“Rowan,” he half-shouts, cutting me off. “Wait. Hold on a second.”

“What is it? Are you okay?”

“You said she died in a car accident, right?” He’s breathing heavily. “What happened exactly? Do you know?”

I frown. “She was on her way home with her driver. The brakes failed.”

He’s quiet for a breathless moment then, “Rowan.” The way he says it makes it feel like the floor is going to swallow me up. “I don’t think it was an accident.”

“What?”

“Professor Hawthorne,” he says. “She also died in a car accident. Her brakes failed. Same M.O as your mother. Trist was shot, and so was Daniel. That can’t be a coincidence. This is the same person. We are right, they have been taking out anyone who poses a threat since Hawthorne.”