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She stills, eyes darting to the corner of the room. A sense of guilt clouds the air around her. “Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to at night? Your family?”

“Sometimes.”

“Your parents?”

I shake my head and stand to finish clearing out my drawer.

“Father didn’t want anything to do with us.

I only vaguely remember him before he walked out, can’t even recall his face.

I’d want nothing to do with him even if I knew who he was.

” Mother never had to say so, but I always knew that it was because of him leaving that the money dried up.

We left the nice house that I can only vaguely remember and moved to Rot Hollow.

There was a distance in her eyes when she spoke of him that only now that I’m older I can recognize as shame.

“My mother died at the Descent. My sister…”

The words dry up in my throat, making it hard to swallow.

I don’t know what to say next. Am I prepared to admit to all this?

To have Alor know so much about me? Do I trust her that much?

I didn’t even tell the king about Arina.

But I didn’t say outright I didn’t have a sister.

I painted my backstory with broad enough strokes that there shouldn’t be suspicion if the truth ever got back to him.

For her part, Alor simply sits and waits patiently for me to continue.

“…my sister went missing.”

“When?”

“This past year.”

Alor considers this. “Then there’s a chance she’s still alive.

I have access to some records in Clan Tower.

I don’t know how helpful they’ll be. But if she landed in the care of Stellis, at any point, I should be able to find her.

Maybe she’ll seek them out now that she knows the truth of your lineage. ”

“I doubt it.” At least I hope not. The records of the Stellis are the last place I want to see Arina’s name. But, given the mysterious circumstances of her disappearance and the claim she ended up in a mill, which are overseen by the crown…

“Still, it can’t hurt to look into it, and I’d like to offer something in exchange for your magical tutoring.”

“You’d do that?” I turn to her, genuinely surprised by the sincerity of her offer.

“We’re helping each other. It’s fair.” She nods. “Besides, I know the importance of family, too.” It’s because of that last bit that I believe her completely.

“All right, then.” For the first time, I see Alor as more than an acquaintance, as a possible friend.

“What was her name?” The question is understandable, expected even. But I still freeze at it.

“Arina Daygar,” I say finally. This is the first time I’m confirming my connection to Arina with another initiate, and I can’t believe it’s with Alor of all people.

“Arina Daygar?” she repeats with horrible recognition, confirming my worst fears. All I can manage is a nod. “Surely it’s not the initiate from last year who ran away?”

“That’s the story I’ve been told.”

“Clara…they—she…” Alor sighs heavily.

I spare her from thinking she’s going to break any news to me. “I’ve heard what’s been said, that she ‘ran away,’ was caught, sent to a mill, and died. But I can’t find any mills with a record of her.” The club looked.

“So you want to know what mill she was sent to?”

“I want to know what really happened,” I emphasize and level my eyes with Alor’s.

“We came from very little. This academy was the best we had to hope for; we had no idea there was a different family name we belonged to with a noble lineage waiting for us,” I add at the end for the benefit of the illusion I must keep up.

What I’m saying begins to dawn on Alor. “She made it through the Fire Festival. She got in. She wasn’t a full-fledged student yet.

But she still had a chance. Why would she run? ”

Alor’s brows knit as she considers this. I take the fact that she says nothing as a good indicator of her reaching the correct conclusion.

“She wouldn’t,” I continue, filling in the blank I know Alor has filled on her own.

“At least, not without a really good reason—which I’ve not been able to find.

Or, what they’re saying is a lie.” There are some who would consider me delusional for going against the official story from the enforcers.

But it seems Alor isn’t one of them. I like her more by the minute.

“I knew my sister as well as I know you know yours. She wouldn’t have run, not after getting in. Something happened to her.”

“Well, I suppose that will make my investigation easier. If she was sent to a mill, those are under the purview of the Stellis, not the city enforcers. I should be able to find something.”

“Thank you.” I mean it, and Alor seems to pick up on my sincerity. For a moment, I almost see my sister’s eyes in her—a determination unique to Arina.

“So, your extended family—the Daygars—that’s where you’re going now?” “Extended family” is as good a way to refer to the Starcrossed Club as any.

“Not this time.” I stand and grip my satchel. “I’m moving in with the headmaster.”

“What?” She lets out a scandalized gasp. “It’s true, then? It really is? You’re actually, for real, engaged?”

I nod and force a smile. “Deeply in love, too.”

She snorts loudly. I blink at her. Alor blinks back. She blurts, “Oh, wait, was I supposed to believe that?”

I can’t stop a grin. But it falls quickly. “It’s…complicated. But I have my own deal with him. My safety is what’s at stake, and we care about each other enough to want to help each other out.”

“That sounds more like the Kaelis I’ve always known and heard of than a lovesick puppy.” Alor nods and pushes off the floor. “Well, I can’t complain about having the room to myself.”

“No more sleeping with a dagger.”

She shrugs. “I do that with or without you.”

“You’re an odd one.”

“So are you.”

I move for the door feeling like there’s more to be said. I guess I’m not the only one.

“If you ever need to…you can come back,” Alor adds the moment my hand lands on the door latch. I glance over my shoulder. She nods. “I mean it.”

“Thanks.”

“We have stories in Clan Tower about the second-born Prince of Oricalis.” A shadow crosses over her features as if Kaelis himself has walked into the room. “Even if you have an understanding with him…be careful.”

“Always am.” I try to wear a bold smile as I leave.

But it quickly deserts my face the moment I’m alone in the halls once more. All too soon, I’m crossing the bridge. This time, I walk on top. I make sure the Stellis see me entering his chambers as though it is my home, too. I suppose it is now.

Kaelis waits for me in the entry, pacing a hole in the floor. He hardly looks my way when he gruffly says, “This way.”

I follow him through the set of doors to the right—ones I haven’t been through before. They connect to a narrow passage with even more doors. But through the one at the end is a stately bedroom. Only a fourth of the size of his grand chamber, but still larger than anything I’ve ever had before.

“Will this do?” The prince seems…awkward. I hate it.

“Yes.”

“You know where to find me.” Kaelis turns for the door.

I nearly stop him. But I have no reason to, and he leaves without another word. We both must sort through this new arrangement alone tonight, I think. Especially since the heat from earlier seems to have cooled into mortification that we were prepared to rip off each other’s clothes.

With a soft sigh, I settle my satchel on the desk and then head for the bed, not bothering to change for the night…The thought of what happened between Kaelis and me earlier has sensations rushing back. I can still feel his hands on me, and that has me tossing and turning.

Just when I’m about to fall asleep, a soft scratching at the door jolts me awake. I look, waiting, listening. More scratching.

With my magic ready for whatever’s out there, I pad lightly over to the door, easing it open. My eyes drop and meet a golden pair.

Priss lets out a loud meow that turns into a yawn before she prances into my room and settles herself at the foot of my bed.

Letting out an amused huff, I join her, reaching down to scratch between her ears and wondering if Kaelis is lying awake, now questioning where his usual companion has gone off to.

She does like me best. I can’t stop a soft laugh.

Nothing is going to help me sleep better my first night here than the overwhelming, smug satisfaction of being chosen by his cat.

“I hadn’t expected to share my bed the first night I was here,” I whisper to Priss. “But, for you, I will gladly make an exception.”