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“This is ridiculous!” someone exclaims but I can’t tell who. I’m too focused on my father.

His smirk falters for the briefest moment before settling back on his face again.

“You’ve always been a coward, Father,” I continue, my tone icy. “Hiding behind others. Manipulating them to do your dirty work. You wanted to feel powerful, so you stole Hawthorne’s research, figured you’d come across a gold mine. You probably didn’t expect so many dead bodies. And now you’re standing here, making up lies, because you know the only way you could ever become Head of The Snake is by getting rid of me. You were never going to win a single vote tonight, which is why you’re doing this.”

He laughs, but it’s feeble. Around us, the room has settled, looking between us with curious eyes.

“But in case you didn’t realise,Dad, if they didn’t pick me, they were going to pick Hayden or Xander. You would have been the last pick in this room because no one respects you. No one thinks of you as capable. You were and still are an aristocratic trophy my mother could tote around at dinner parties. You were and always will be her bitch.”

He grits his teeth. “Watch your mouth,” he snaps.

I grin. “No, I don’t think I will.” I turn to The Keepers. “I say we continue the vote. If you’d like my father to be your Head, then so be it. I won’t fight it.”

The Sanctum holds its collective breath as my words hang in the air. The golden serpent etched into the walls gleams brighter, almost alive, as if it’s revelling in the tension.

My father’s face twists into something ugly—a mix of rage and desperation. I’ve struck a nerve, and everyone here can see it. He’s always hated being second to my mother. It was obvious growing up, but I never imagined he would sink so low. His most important duty was to remain her most loyal ally, and he failed at that. It doesn’t help that he’s been a pathetic excuse of a father, too.

“If my father is the leader you want, let the vote decide. But before you choose, ask yourselves this: do you want a Head whoengages in illicit drug deals which go against The Snake’s code and murders people for it? A Head who has put us under The Judiciary and the police’s scrutiny? A Head who conspires with Scarlet Ravens to destroy his family? A Head who murders his own wife for some misguided push for power.”

“He’s lying!” my father howls, his composure unravelling. He’s sweating now, his brow glows in the candlelight. Another thing about my father, behind the cool façade is a rabid animal.

I sweep my eyes through the room. “Have I manipulated any of you? If anything, I’ve kept all your secrets, hidden unspeakable indiscretions that would get you exiled from The Snake. I’ve protected all of you and I’ll continue to do so because, unlike my father, I don’t need threats to win.”

Heads bow; eyes avert. They all know I’m right. I smile as I look at my father. “If you think I’m lying, then let them vote, let them choose you.”

“You’re—” Just as he opens his mouth, the door to the sanctum opens, and a guard walks in, completely impervious to the tension in the room and walking over to whisper something into Xander’s ear. Everyone watches him. It is against strict rules to disturb a Choosing Ceremony, and this man may as well be signing his death sentence.

Only, as he whispers, my body goes rigid because I hear the distinct words:DetectiveAlexander Kimuraslipping from his mouth.

I turn to look at him, my heart slamming against my chest just as Xander nods. And just then, Alex appears at the threshold of the door. For a moment, my breath catches, unsure if I’m asleep and have fallen into some kind of dream, but looking at his wild eyes, I know this is real.

What the fuck is he doing here?

“Rowan,” he breathes, relief soft in his voice.

“What is this?” my father snaps.

“He says the police have a warrant,” the guard explains. “He said if we brought him here, he could stop it.”

“And youbelievedhim?” my father all but shrieks.

“Let him go,” I instruct the guard who is holding Alex’s arm in a way that makes me twitch.

As soon as the guard releases him, Alex rushes to me, and it’s like he’s all I can see. I don’t care about all the people staring at us. I pull him into a tight embrace, burying my face into his neck.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper against the shell of his ear.

“It’s your father,” he says, keeping his voice just as low. “He’s behind this.”

I let him go. “I know,” I say. “We were just in the middle of that right now.”

Alex looks at me, confused, but he holds up his phone to me. “This is proof that your father gave Hawthorne that faulty car and used the same mechanic who worked on your mother’s car to tamper with the brakes.”

I look at the phone, then at him, caught by how much I love him. Alex is here to my rescue, here to back me up—toprotectme despite the danger this puts him in. My heart stutters and my eyes sting.

“What the hell is this?” Cordelia demands, breaking the spell. “What’s going on?”

“This is the truth my father is desperately trying to hide,” I say. “He murdered the creator of Haze for her research and went on to murder my mother. If I take a wild guess, I’d say he was going to ask you to declare him Head of The Snake and convince you all to enter the Haze business for more control over Senna.”