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R AMYN A JTAF RESCHEDULED THEIR MEETING TO BE IN THE G RAND Solomon Library. Kidan arrived early, glad to be far away from that haunting house and Susenyos. Every time she laid eyes on him, all sense abandoned her, the desire to attack him almost maddening. From the way he clenched his jaw and avoided her, she thought he must feel the same.

The library reminded Kidan of a tunnel, a very rich and self-important one. Instead of cracked concrete, smooth gold flooring stretched out, so polished she could pick something from her teeth in its reflection. Instead of unpleasant smells, all scents were removed; not even ink or paper was allowed to disturb the complete absence of odor. Every book held its breath and tightened its lungs to fit in its leather bounds. Lastly, any good tunnel had rats. In Uxlay’s Solomon Library, they appeared petrified and set in stone, statues of men and women wide-eyed in every corner. It was a beauty only the undead adored. In the middle of the library space, a three-tiered chandelier hovered over Uxlay’s crest, which was etched onto the floor. A banner wrapped around the lions and twin blades read, Seek mind above blood, and if you must bleed, use it as ink .

Kidan pulled out a book titled Weapons of the Dark: A Recounting of the Wars and Battles Fought Against the Dranaics and learned of two things that killed vampires: silver that had been licked by a vampire’s bloodied tongue, and the horn of an impala. The first one intrigued her. A vampire’s blood on silver created some sort of chemical reaction and made it deadly. So if red-slicked silver hit a vital artery, the dranaic would die. The second one, though, made her shiver. A horn was a reminder of a life that no longer existed. It was a memento, a treasure of a cruel act.

She settled on the stiff seats and flicked through Migration: A Dranaic History , by Nardos Tesfa.

RITES OF COMPANIONSHIP

A human acti’s blood is poison until relinquished by themselves at the companionship ceremony. If a dranaic drinks from an uninitiated child or adult, they will harbor reddened eyes for three days, and must face the Law Courts. The companionship ceremony with its blood sharing is only held after an acti graduates Dranacti.

Kidan touched the veins at her wrist. Was her blood really poison? Until it was relinquished at least, whatever that meant. Instead of relief, fear thrummed through her. June’s smiling eyes covered the page, then split wide with pain. Would she be tortured to relinquish her blood? Kidan scratched a triangle over the words, using the force to expel the image. Her jaw flexed. Rites and ceremonies. Their pretense at diplomacy grated on her nerves. She loathed anything that hid from what it was, unable to look itself in the mirror.

She skimmed through other headings: “West African Influence.” “The First War of Dranaics.” “Cossia Day.”

In celebration of the concord achieved over years, the lawless Cossia Day was monumental in converting rogue dranaics to Uxlay’s customs. Cossia Day serves as a commemoration of the nature of dranaics and the sacrifices they’ve taken on in the name of peace. Humans evacuate the grounds of Uxlay at midnight, and then all dranaics are free to engage in their anarchic activities.

Kidan read it two more times. Lawless Cossia Day. An entire event when the monsters were not held accountable for what they did. What had Susenyos done during the last Cossia Day? Had he left Uxlay to take June?

Kidan retrieved the public records of all the Cossia Days, which catalogued the vampires challenged, the championed, and the deceased. She gasped when her fingers tracked Susenyos’s name toward the very end. During the last five years, Susenyos Sagad had killed almost all of House Adane’s dranaics.

The sheer violence and calculation behind it made her fists clench. Every year, slowly, he eliminated anyone that threatened him. The rest of the year he acted perfect, within the laws, so much so that Dean Faris believed he was innocent of other crimes.

Her phone dinged, interrupting her thoughts. She rolled her neck and read the message from Ramyn. Sorry. Have to cancel.

Kidan pursed her lips. She needed to ask Ramyn about those bite marks.

On the way out, Kidan asked the librarian for one more book.

“Do you have a copy of a book called Ebid Fiker ?” It was the book Susenyos Sagad always carried.

The librarian smiled kindly at Kidan’s attempt at pronouncing Amharic. “You mean The Mad Lovers .”

Mad Lovers ?

“Is there a translated copy?” Kidan asked.

The librarian nodded, walking down the long aisles. “It’s very famous.”

With the book secured, Kidan exited and found a deserted area with a small fountain. The water ran smoothly, free of leaves or gunk. Kidan could make out the shimmering art at the bottom of the pool. Her fingers played with her bracelet as she thought of her sister. June would enjoy pretty scenery like this. Then the rippling water slowly turned red, blood swallowing the tiled art beneath until it spilled over the edge. Kidan staggered back, chest constricting painfully. She blinked—and it was back to normal, clear water. Her fingers trembled, and she opened the clasp of her bracelet, touching the pill lightly.

I’ll find you.

“Kidan, right?”

She jerked upright, knowing that voice immediately. A flat tone removed from the world, until it read poetry.

“Up here.”

Slen Qaros had positioned herself on the top step of a wide stairway. Her black jacket reached her thighs, but it appeared fashionable, not odd. She held a cigarette between her fingers. Cinders sparked, fueled by the wind, and caught in the frame of Slen’s pupils. Kidan blinked, and the wind carried away whatever light brightened the girl’s black eyes.

Kidan climbed to where the sun shone, the heat warming her chilled legs. Her gaze traveled to Slen’s bronze pin. She liked House Qaros’s sigil––an intricate upside-down trophy cup with three musical instruments spilling from its mouth like ruffling gold.

“Everyone thought Adane House would go to Susenyos Sagad, then you showed up.” There was no emotion in her tone, only fact.

Kidan tried to relax, glad for the natural lead into her question.

“Do you know him?”

“Not personally. All I know is he’s killed all his fellow house dranaics during Cossia, at least the ones foolish enough to stay. That’s why no other family will take him as their companion. Savage Susenyos always survives. That’s what my father says, anyway.”

Kidan slid her a glance. “I heard most of my surviving house dranaics joined yours.”

Ten of House Adane’s dranaics, to be exact.

Slen shrugged. “The more dranaics sworn to your house, the more power and sway you have on the politics of Uxlay, using them to vote toward your agendas and expand your business. It’s not personal.”

“I see.”

Slen tilted her head. “You’re taking East Africa and the Undead.”

“I am.”

“Is that what gave you your insight? The only human morality there is, is reflection and regret. Not many express Dranacti ideas like that.”

“Yes,” Kidan said, because it was easier to explain than firsthand murder.

“I see.”

Kidan took a deep breath. “Maybe we could form a study group.”

“I don’t form groups with just anyone.”

“The likelihood any of us will pass Dranacti is very low,” Kidan said, switching tactics. “They say philosophy is underpinned by the four pillars—art, literature, divination, and history. I want to make a study group with those skills.”

Slen thought it over. “Resar’s education circle… interesting.”

“I know Ramyn Ajtaf is focusing on literature. I’m sure she’ll be willing to join. I can introduce you two.”

“Everyone knows Ramyn.” Slen’s tone lingered with something Kidan couldn’t identify.

“Okay, good. We need an art student as well. I know House Umil runs the School of Art here, so if you know someone from there, that would be great,” Kidan said, thinking of her aunt’s notes and the portrait Omar Umil did.

Slen sighed. “Unfortunately, I know one.”

Good. This was all coming together.

“That leaves the hardest of all: divination,” Slen continued. “You should recruit the Mot Zebeya I saw following you.”

Kidan’s neck prickled. “What? When?”

“Before class. He was hiding in the trees.”

So, she did have a stalker. “What the hell is a Mot Zebeya?”

Slen raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know what they are?”

“I was raised far from Uxlay… customs.”

Slen considered this before explaining. “They’re called Mot Zebeyas in Amharic. Loosely translated, it means ‘the Guards of Death.’ Their monastery is past the northeast gate, up in the mountains. They’re taken there as infants and practice solitude, as the Last Sage did, to become keepers of all our laws.”

Kidan glanced in the general direction, but she could only see the University Plaza. “Taken as infants?”

“Those born during the month of August from all households are usually chosen. It’s not a desirable sacrifice the Acti Families want to make. The child is prohibited from knowing their family, status, or wealth—anything that could sway them from their faith.”

Kidan’s lips curled. “Why would anyone agree to give up their child?”

“Uxlay depends on them. Mot Zebeyas perform vampire transformations and companionship rituals. Their secluded upbringing acts as a check and balance. Since they have no affections or affiliations in Uxlay, everyone is their family.”

Kidan soaked in the information. Slen Qaros was articulate and devoured knowledge. She would be helpful.

“He’d be a solid addition. They are intelligent and very rare, if unsociable. It would be a victory to recruit him.”

“I’ll do it,” Kidan said reluctantly.

Why the hell was he watching her?

Slen regarded her carefully. “I also want one more thing— Traditional Myths of Abyssi . A rare book that’ll help with translating the Dranacti principles. Last I heard, it’s located in the collectors’ section of Adane House’s library.”

Kidan nodded, keeping her voice light for the next part. It was important that Slen said yes so Kidan could investigate House Qaros.

“So, should we meet at your house for our session?”

Caution crowded Slen’s words. “And why not meet at your house?”

Slen Qaros wasn’t Ramyn Ajtaf. A different type of approach was required, one that made Slen see Kidan as a worthy challenge. Those flat eyes… They burned colder than blue flame. She held them with her own burning fire.

“Because if I’m forced to spend another second with Savage Susenyos, I might just kill him.”

Kidan didn’t inject any humor into the words, yet… no flicker of fear or worry crossed the Qaros girl’s face. How interesting.

Slen tucked her gloved hands in her pockets and stood. “Tuesday, four p.m., at my house. Don’t show up without the Mot Zebeya.”