Page 209 of Eternal Ruin

The air went sour with the scent of citrus and danger. Adjoa said nothing, turning her shoulder to the tree. With gloved hands, she snipped rotten leaves with shears. Kidan waited for her to speak but she was done.

Bristling at the dismissal, Kidan crossed the soft grass onto the cobblestones. Working with the Dirt Diggers had sounded like a great idea in the beginning, but she wasn’t sure how long she could influence them. With each step, her mother’s bones crinkled, speaking to her.

You need to learn the truth.

When Kidan turned onto the path that led to Faris House, a figure in a large jacket did too. Kidan and Slen froze, each surprised the other still existed. Time slowed down around them. In the stillness, Kidan saw their language lessons, late-night study sessions in the Philosophy Tower, drinking dangerous amounts of coffee. Their friendship appeared more fragile than ever, dissolving before their very eyes.

And for what?

To see who holds the most power.

Slen blinked first, adjusted her shoulder bag, and curled her short braids behind her ear.

After an extended silence, Slen’s gaze traveled to the northeast side of campus, in the direction of the Mot Zebeya Monastery.

“Did you find him?” she asked, her voice absent of its usual ice.

GK.

Kidan almost smiled. “Yes.”

A tiny speck of surprise passed over Slen. “Did you tell him I held his heart in my hands?”

The question broke the tension, and they fell into step, walking together. “I figured you’d tell him yourself.”

“Unlikely. He’ll probably kill me first.”

Close to Faris House, a pair of arms swung around their shoulders, Yusef’shead popping up between them. “There they are, my favorite girls. I miss seeing you two together.”

He smelled like warm coffee and toasted sandwiches. But above his smile, heaviness lingered in his eyes.

Slen was studying him with a touch of concern too.

Adjoa’s words came to Kidan. If Yusef and Slen had been spending time together, how much had he told her?

When she tried to catch his eye, Yusef avoided it, walking into the large set of russet doors. “Here’s to our last class.”

The last time they were in Faris House, the dean had told them about Lusidio. How dangerous he was. Kidan now knew he was the first immortal creature, unkillable. Uxlay’s protective edge appeared to dull with this knowledge. Thirty-one Acti Houses supported Varos the Night Lion. Kidan’s fingers trembled, tracing a square on the strap of her bag.

She took a moment, breathed deeply, and followed Slen’s footsteps.

The dean’s house welcomed them with silence, Sicions posted along every column like statues. Inside the dean’s study, three wooden chairs were set out.

Yusef took the middle seat, a trace of nerves in his eyes. Slen and Kidan sat on either side.

Professor Andreyas’s four cornrows were held together by a black clasp emblazoned with the Faris House sigil. It always intrigued Kidan, spying that silver-eyed raven, the visible display of loyalty to Faris House. Especially on something as intimate as hair. If the oldest vampire in Uxlay could be bound to an aging woman, what couldn’t be? Even now he stood near Dean Faris, a step forward from her chair, an imposing figure of protection.

The dean’s sharp eyes studied them one by one, hands laced. On the wide oak desk sat a veiled object, a stack of letters with Uxlay’s wax seal, and an impala figurine. Like Kidan’s mother, the dean believed creation came from the Last Sage.

It was only the three of them, but Kidan swore she heard the ghosts of all the other students whisper in warning. Urging her to get up and walk out.

“Most revolutions are started by students, so I’m not surprised you three are caught in one,” Dean Faris said. “I do apologize for the added stress this has caused you all, but the votes will be over soon.”

Something about that rang false to Kidan.

“Would you really be okay with Faris House moving to the border?” she asked, unable to stop herself. “Faris and Adane House have always remained in the middle.”

The dean didn’t react quickly to the confrontation. She took the tea, lemongrass by the scent in the air, and sipped it.