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“Meet me at the combat fields.” It was the day before the bid when Archer called back.

Damien and I approached the combat grounds, where Monty and Archer stood across the field.

Their expressions were serious. Devoid of humor.

Archer’s eyes refused to meet mine, and I burned with questions I couldn’t voice.

Why had our rider bond gone cold for days?

Why had he left me to navigate the trial alone while he half-heartedly shadowed me?

I stopped in my tracks as the other four Serpents approached. Saani emerged within flames, Tydon through the wind. Jenessa's steps frosted the ground beneath her, while vines sprung up in Levisly’s wake.

Damien steeled himself beside me. “Prepare yourself,” he muttered. “Nothing like the day before the bid.”

The six Serpents stood before us as the surviving students gathered. Winter’s numbers had dwindled to ten. Robi’s index finger was missing its tip—frostbite, I assumed. Chanvin refused to lift her gaze from the ground, even as Bridger loomed between them.

Had living in the Winter trails sucked the life from them?

Jenessa’s voice broke the silence. “Stand with your Serpent, students. We’re doing a round-up.”

I stumbled into place beside Archer, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. He didn’t acknowledge me, even as I pounded on the paper-thin walls of our bond, desperate for any response.

Malachi joined the ten Night students—a mix of second and third years.

Only Antonia and Jace remained as first-years.

Antonia’s short silver hair was pinned back, with four gleaming swords strapped to her.

Jace looked rugged, his hair shaved into scorned lines.

He stood protectively beside Antonia, as if he’d made the same vow to Alaric as Archer had to Klaus.

I wondered how ruthless Archer was, that only two first-years remained under his command.

Perhaps impressing him was harder for most students.

And yet here I was, sleeping in his bed and tasting the remnants of his shadows on my tongue.

I gnawed on the thought of him, dreamt of his hands on my body in every stolen moment of silence—

Archer shifted, his shoulders tense beneath the black suit that hugged his frame. His breathing was uneven, and I wanted nothing more than to twine my fingers with his, to feel him again after a week of silence.

I was starved for him, quenching my longing with untamed shadows that barely sufficed.

Saani’s gaze lingered on me, unyielding, even as Damien stepped into place beside her. Knox had abandoned his exaggerated hobble, his supposed injury dismissed as a surface wound. Beside him, Everett stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their fingers brushing ever so slightly .

Saani cleared her throat. “There are students whose quells do not match their Serpent. Severyn Blanche, you will be placed under my mentorship. Everett Killian will move to Jenessa’s Winter realm, and Malachi Herring will be under Tydon’s watch.”

My stomach dropped. I glanced at Malachi. “Does this mean we have to move rooms?” I asked Saani softly.

Saani’s whip of fire scorched the grass. “Which room are you speaking of? You seem to switch beds often, including those of Serpents. I don’t think it will be an issue for you.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Excuse me?”

Her eyes raked over me. “I don’t take kindly to winks and pretty smiles, girl. Take your place behind me before I call in a favor to Malvoria and have you escorted out.”

Humiliated, I moved behind Damien.

“There’s an empty room beside mine,” Damien whispered. “I’ll help you move.”

I nodded quickly. Malachi joined Tydon’s Autumn group without hesitation. Everett followed Jenessa, his expression blank, as if still processing the shift.

Damien voiced my thoughts. “The day before the bid, and you’re switching students around?”

Saani clicked her tongue. “Orders from the king himself. He believes students should be mentored by the Serpent of their chosen realms. Do you disagree?”

My throat dried. Archer finally met my gaze, his expression unreadable. His silence told me everything. Saani had already decided I was unfit to be an heir. My fate was in her hands now… and Damien’s.

“Did you know?” I asked Archer.

“Yes.”

“Saani is going to send me to Malvoria… Myla is gone.”

“I won’t allow it,” he said softly .

Saani’s whip cracked again. “The ship will arrive at noon tomorrow. If you’re late, consider it a one-way ticket to Malvoria. Your attire has been chosen and placed in your dorm.”

Charles’s words echoed in my mind—the hidden threat to keep Damien in my good graces gnawed at my gut as I raised my shield. Could I trust him after everything he’d done and lied about?

Saani smiled at Monty, who nodded quickly. “Combat is canceled today. I suggest spending the afternoon projecting your quell. The king is eager to see what powers lie within the new students.”

Damien walked with me, and I couldn’t help but notice his slight nod toward Saani. He’d be just one door down from me, close enough to hear my thoughts anytime he wanted.

I shot a desperate glare at Archer, but he walked away before I could shout his name down our bond.

I followed Damien silently to the Summer dorms, where an empty room two doors down from his awaited me. “Does this happen often?” I asked when we were out of sight.

“I’m sure it will over the next few years. Our parents all came from various regions. Normally, the mark you got on your palm sorts you correctly.”

Damien opened the door. “I figured it was your quell, but Knox hasn’t shown any unexpected powers since the trial.”

A few hours had passed. Aides had delivered attire for the bid tomorrow.

The Summer dorms were hotter than the shadows of Night I’d called home.

Every corner of the room seemed lit, even under the pressing sunset streaming through oval windows.

A red gown lay on the bed, its flowing skirt embroidered with lace flowers.

It reminded me of the one Archer had given me in Ravensla.

Damien caught my stare. “What do the gowns represent?” I asked .

“Sometimes, the king handpicks the attire. That gown is vintage, passed down for new students. The lace bodice shows it was created by a quell.”

“What did Saani mean by projecting our quell?”

“We’ll get a chance to show off our quells to the Serpents.”

I glanced at the tapestries on the walls. “I probably shouldn’t burn the Summer halls down my first night.” I forced a nervous laugh, hoping he’d leave so I could find Archer.

He chuckled but didn’t smile. “The walls are thin, Severyn. I’ll know exactly when you visit those Serpents’ beds.” But Damien wasn’t staring at the walls; his gaze fixed on the mirror nailed to the door. A faint smirk curved his lips. “Goodnight, Severyn.”

As the door clicked shut, I sank onto the bed, my breath shallow and uneven. Somewhere down the hall, another door closed softly. My heart thundered as I reached for the dagger strapped to my thigh.

In one swift motion, I hurled it at the mirror. The glass shattered, shards cascading to the floor in a glittering storm. Silence followed, broken only by the erratic rhythm of my breathing.

He was watching my every move.

I needed to find Archer. I bolted for the stairs but barely reached the fourth step when hands gripped my mouth, stifling my frozen scream as I was shoved against the wall—an elbow pressing into my chest, pinning me in place.

A silhouette emerged within the crawling shadows, blue eyes burning with wicked fury.

“Severyn,” Archer whispered. “You shouldn’t be out. Not tonight.” His voice cracked.

His grip shifted to my wrist as he tried to pull me back toward my room .

“Archer?” His mask had fallen. What’s going on? You can tell me.”

“There’s too much to explain in one night. Please, stay in your dorm.”

“I was worried about you,” I said. “What was that back at the trial?”

A line creased his brow. “I have duties as a Serpent—ones I hope you’ll never have to face.”

“Why are you pushing me away?” My voice broke. I became a threat whenever he had more than five minutes alone with his thoughts.

His gaze locked with mine. “This shouldn’t be happening. You staring at me like I’m your favorite person in the world. We can’t exist, Severyn. When—if you win—they’ll never allow it. Victor… he’d have to die before an alliance between Demetria and Ravensla could form.”

“What is the worst that could happen, Serpent ?” I spoke his title as if it was a poisonous bile in my mouth, burning away at my gums.

His lip curled back as he recoiled a step down the stairs. “I fall in love with you, and this becomes a hell of a lot harder.”

I gripped the wall as if I’d forgotten how to stand. “And that’s so horrible? You told me sometimes you must fight for your heart… sometimes your breath. Fight back.”

“There are a million reasons why falling in love with you is wrong, and none matter right now. What matters is you are here and safe. The king ordered you to be out of my mentorship.”

I shook my head. “I’m going to be sent to Malvoria.”

“I won’t let that happen, Severyn.”

“What happened at the Capital?” I asked,

He pulled me inside my room, sucking a hefty breath in. “I told them I care about you, and the king wanted you out of my mentorship—made up some excuse and scorned me for spending time with a student.”

“You feel something more for me. I know you do. We can fight this.”

He stood there, maskless. A face of utter devastation. “Severyn—”

“Do not Severyn me, Serpent .” I held his stare as if it were the only thing keeping me upright. “Tell me or tell me I am crazy for believing you feel something other than caring for me. Other than a promise you made to Klaus.”

“I felt something for you the moment Klaus said your name, but I can’t be anything other than what I am supposed to be. It’s best if we don’t take this any further.”

Archer waited for my reply.

“Why are you pushing me away? I thought…”