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The world around me tilts, the lights oscillating between bright and dim at Alex’s words. I remember now. Alex in my house. Alex telling me about Hawthorne. Alex kissing me.

How could I forget?

“Rowan?” he says.

I can barely make out my own thoughts. I suck in a breath, my heart racing at a thousand beats per minute. “I’ll call you later,” I say.

“Okay,” he says. “Be careful, okay? Promise me you’ll be careful. If they went after your mother, that means they are going to come after you too.”

I swallow, nodding. “Yeah. I promise.”

Alex stays on the line for a second longer, like he’s too afraid to let me go. I release a shaky breath, trying to sound calm. “I love you, Alex.”

“Yeah,” he whispers. “I love you too.”

Then the line goes dead.

I stand there for a long minute, clutching my phone and trying to keep my breathing calm. Alex is right. There is no way this is coincidence. My mother was killed.

Hayden appears at the end of the hallway, his hands in his pockets. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I’m not sure whether I should tell him about Hawthorne and the accident or not. As much as I know I can trust my brothers, I don’t know if this is the right place to talk about it. If Alex is right and my mother was killed, this could cause panic within The Keepers and delay The Choosing. I can’t allow that to happen.

Tonight, I become The Head of The Snake, and nothing can stop me—not even my dead mother.

“As okay as I can be,” I say instead. “But we need to talk after. Just you, Xan and I.”

Hayden watches me for a second, then nods. “They are going to pick you tonight,” he says matter-of-factly. “Are you ready?”

“I am,” I say.

There’s nothing I can do about my mother’s possible murder right now. I can only focus on The Choosing and I know they’ll pick me. I’ve made sure of it, but my stomach still twists in apprehension.

The Head of The Snake is selected by an exclusive group of people, including The Keepers and high-ranking officials within The Snake. Without my mother, there are seventeen of us, one to split the vote if there is a draw.

Once they have been selected, the chosen candidate goes through The Ritual and only once that’s completed are they are officially crowned Head of The Snake.

The Choosing ceremony is simple. I studied it countless times, picturing myself as the one they crown in the darkness of the Sanctum. For years, I’ve been making sure that when the time came, the Keepers would have no choice but to choose me.

My mother never taught me much about love, but she did teach me the art of gaining allies. Power isn’t just about fear. Sure, fear makes people obey, but it can be fleeting. What was terrifying yesterday can mean nothing tomorrow. True power is owed. If someone fears you, they bow when they must. But if they believe you can protect them, they bow willingly. People always want something and if you give it to them, they’re yours. Give them what they need, but never without a price.

The Keepers know that as well as I do.

And tonight is when they all pay up.

***

The Sanctum is located in an underground bunker, built under The Serpentine during the height of the war between The Snake and The Scarlet Ravens as a secret location The Keepers could come and speak freely without fear of unwanted ears.

I’ve only been in the Sanctum three times before, each visit to witness a new Keeper sworn in. Seeing it again now—under these lights, underthesecircumstances—makes my stomach twist.

She shouldn’t be dead.

Not yet.

But here we are, and I have no choice but to become the man I’ve always wanted to be.

The walls of the sanctum are raw black granite, cut clean, and left rough. The only ornament is the gold inlay: a single serpent coiled around the entire room with its tail tucked between gleaming teeth. The ouroboros. Life feeding on death. Power looping on itself.