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I make it a point not to miss dinner the next night, and the entire time I can feel Kaelis’s eyes on me. Eating at the center tables of the hall with the other initiates feels more and more like we’re caged animals. Everyone is always watching everyone else, sizing one another up.

But I can ignore a thousand stares as though they are little more than passing glances—save for his. Kaelis’s attention carries with it the weight of the world. That stare fills my mind with the memory of the sound of my name on his lips.

He says my name like a command. Like a plea…

Conversation offers minimal distraction, but I keep at it anyway. I hadn’t expected to make friends here, but I’ve grown admittedly fond of Sorza’s quips, Luren’s fussing, Dristin’s unexpectedly thoughtful insights, and even Kel’s constant dry skepticism.

It takes two days before I’m ready to go back to the Majors’ hideaway. Each afternoon I tell myself I’ll go. But there’s always an excuse. Luren asked for help…I had to re-ink the cards I used when fighting Eza…I want to run through the halls and train my body instead…

They are just excuses, though.

At night I can feel Eza at my throat as viscerally as I can feel Glavstone’s pen skewering my hand.

They alternate places in my nightmares, the familial resemblance in their hard jaws and sharp stares now undeniable.

I hardly sleep, despite the comforts of my bed.

Knowing that Alor is friendly with Eza and she’s right next to me makes it even worse.

It’s like my first nights in Halazar all over again—staying awake, afraid of what the guards might do if the opportunity of me sleeping were presented to them.

The third day, I make it a point to go back to my room early enough that Alor won’t be there.

I can take my time undressing from my daytime outfit and then re-dressing into a sleek pair of leather trousers and a simple silken shirt.

Leisurely, I go through all my cards—even the ones I’m not supposed to have—tucking them into my deck, which I strap to my thigh.

I pack my satchel with inking supplies and sling it across my body, then crawl into bed and pull the covers to my chin, putting my back to Alor’s side of the room.

A light slumber overtakes me, but I wake instantly when Alor returns. I don’t move, though. It’s agony listening as she goes through the movements of her evening routine. The sheets slide. I wait until her breathing is even before I slowly roll over.

Her back is to me, and she doesn’t move as I shift. The swell of her chest is consistent as I push my covers aside. My boots meet the carpet without a sound, and I pad to the door. The hinges and latch ease open and shut with hardly a whisper.

The initiates’ common area is empty at this hour. But the main common room for the four houses isn’t. As soon as I emerge, Kel calls to me.

“I thought you went to bed early?” The moment she says it, I feel like all eyes are on me.

“Trouble sleeping.” I cross over to where she sits with Sorza. “Looking to see if I can’t find a certain prince to comfort me.”

“Disgusting,” she says with a pleasant smile.

“Now, now,” Sorza scolds lightly. “If Clara wants to make heinous life choices, then that’s her business.”

“You two are the absolute best,” I say dryly.

“Don’t forget it.” Sorza gives me a wink.

“Pleased to see you finally acknowledge my greatness.” Kel preens, sinking back into her chair. She adds, loudly, “Now, don’t let us keep you from going to the prince’s apartments suspiciously late at night.”

Rolling my eyes, I head out. I only look exasperated. Anything to have people believing Kaelis and I are a real couple is worth it to me.

The academy and its endless passages are second nature to me now. It takes no time for me to get to Silas’s tucked-away abode. I give a few solid raps.

“Silas, it’s me, Clara.” I brace myself.

“Clara.” He lets out an audible sigh of relief at the sight of me.

Without warning, I’m engulfed in his crushing embrace, and I stiffen instantly, thinking of my conversation with Kaelis.

Of the suspicions that have been swirling within me over the past few days. “I was worried about you. After Eza…”

Silas slowly unravels his arms. There’s a familiarity in the way he holds me. He’s unhurried to let me go, so I’m the one to initiate it. I try not to be awkward, but it’s hard when I’m searching his face and asking myself if he was the one who led to my being caught.

“You heard?”

“I was coming to see you. But then…I’m sorry I didn’t help.” He averts his eyes and releases me. “I wanted to, but—”

“You’re supposed to stay secret.” I initiate contact, fingertips landing on his forearm, hoping the motion alleviates any suspicions. This brings his stormy gaze back to mine, and I try to offer an encouraging smile. “It’s all right. I’m not upset. And I can take care of myself.”

His sigh sounds unconvinced. “I wish I could’ve done more than fetch Prince Kaelis.”

“You went to Kaelis?” But he told me …

“I found him in the halls, conveniently headed in that direction, actually.” Silas nods, unknowingly confirming Kaelis’s claim that he was out looking for me.

“Is it Kaelis you answer to?”

He tilts his head slightly, and I instantly know my question was too direct. “I answer to the crown.”

Not what I wanted to hear, Silas… Torn about what I’ve come to him for, I remind myself I made up my mind and say, “Well, you can make up for it by helping me tonight. Can you take me back to my friends’ townhome?”

He tenses, and I wait. Through the conflict in his gaze, I know he’s going to say yes. His guilt over Eza will—

“You shouldn’t. It’s not safe for you to leave the academy.”

“There is nowhere safer for me than with my family,” I assure him.

Even though I’m not sure I can trust Silas, he already knows of the townhome, and I have no other way out of the academy.

Until I have proof, it’s better to keep my suspicions a secret: I could be wrong, and I won’t ruin a key alliance and friendship by being hasty.

“And it’s precisely because it’s not safe that I must go. I’ve thought through this, I swear.”

He inhales slowly and exhales agreement. We move into his room and back to his desk. Just like the last time, he collects his inking supplies and two cards with the Chariot already emblazoned upon them.

Silas holds out his hand to me and, in a blink and with a whinny, we’re standing in the entry of the townhome.

“Go ahead and ink in the lounge before we get there,” I say. Silas wasn’t allowed in the lounge last time, so he didn’t see it. Which means, I think, it’d still be a “new” place by the rules of his card. His lack of objection affirms my suspicions. “I’m going to wake up the rest while you do.”

Silas nods and heads toward the back.

Unlike last time, not a single candle or lantern is lit.

I slowly make my way up the stairs in nearly complete darkness.

The building is set so far off the main street that the lamplight can’t reach its windows.

The second floor is a repeat of the first—half stairwell, half hall with connecting doors. All shut. All silent.

Except one. In the far back, the faintest slit of light cuts across the floor. Not too late for all the night owls, I see. I make for it and knock softly.

“Enter,” Twino says from within, suspecting nothing.

I ease open the door to find a cramped study—little more than a closet, really.

In the back, spanning from wall to wall, is a little desk that faces a window.

Above the window is what looks like a signet of Clan Tower.

Odd. It likely belonged to the previous owner.

The desk is flanked by floor-to-ceiling shelves on both sides that are crammed so full of books and scrolls and inking supplies that one wrong breath would be likely to trigger a costly avalanche.

“Still burning the midnight oil, I see.”

Twino jolts upright, spinning in his chair. He tries to blink sleep from his eyes. “You’re not making a good case for not being a ghost when you show up out of nowhere like that.”

“Please, I’ve always shown up out of nowhere.” I scoff. “Here, I have presents for you.”

“Presents?” His brows lift. I step in so he doesn’t have to stand, squeezing to his side. I hold out my satchel and Twino sets it on the desk, letting out a gasp that could rattle the foundations of the house. “For me?”

“All for you.”

“You shouldn’t have.” It’s somewhere between a jest and completely serious.

“They’re keeping me well stocked at the academy—I have everything I could want and then some.”

“Not even Arina could sneak out this much.”

“My sister still had a lot to learn,” I say. “Did she ever mention anyone else? A Selina Guellith, maybe?” I ask, suddenly remembering what Kaelis said about another student disappearing at the same time. “Or anyone who’d been sneaking out with her?”

“No…” His expression turns serious as he looks back to me, and I know it’s not solely a result of bringing up my still-missing sister. “In all our searching, we didn’t come up with any mention of another student going missing. What aren’t you telling us?”

“I really wish you missed something, sometimes.” I take the bag back from him. He made quick work of emptying its contents and is already sorting out all the powders, papers, brushes, and pens I could spare.

“I’d be a shit strategist if I missed things, Clara.

” He never has. It’s why I’ve always trusted him.

“Though, clearly, I’ve had quite the blind spot.

” I can tell how much it frustrates him from his tone.

“So, are you going to tell me, or should I start guessing?” He doesn’t look at me as he speaks, instead decanting the powders into larger, half-empty containers already at the corner of his desk.

“Prince Kaelis has taken a special interest in me and has fed me some information as a result. Oh, and we’re engaged.” No point in hiding it.