Page 17

K IDAN FOLLOWED THE M OT Z EBEYA BOY THROUGH THE CAMPUS grounds. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his formfitting black clothes and the pure white chain draped along his pocket. He walked with purpose, winding through an area of little buildings, past a formidable gated enclosure shrouded with dark, ominous clouds. Kidan paused to read the words branded above a silver-maned lion holding a long sword— Sicion Training Grounds . Uxlay had its own elite vampire army, but Kidan hadn’t seen any of the Sicions yet. She shuddered, hoping she never would, and continued on until a clearing sparkled in the distance. It was a field featuring various tall stone structures. Gravestones.

The boy bowed in the shadow of a stone angel, clearing something on the ground. He was focused so intently that Kidan moved closer to him, then stepped behind a monument, watching. He opened a holy book stained by scented oil from a purple flower.

“It’s rude to spy,” he said softly.

Kidan’s spine stiffened as his reflective eyes found her. “Why have you been watching me?” she asked.

He was brown-skinned and tall, and he rattled as he came toward her. The noise came from finger bones fashioned into a very long chain, beginning at his belt and disappearing into his pants pocket. He had soft dark hair and wore a black turtleneck and pants.

“I apologize,” he said with utmost sincerity, indicating his finger bones. “I’d like to give you a reading.”

Kidan watched him warily. “With finger bones?”

“Bones have vitality, will. They’re used in the study of Sageism and foretell who will die next.”

A chill ran down her spine. “You think I’m going to die?”

His forehead creased. “Whenever I’m near you, they stir, clinking together. They don’t usually respond so strongly.”

Kidan took a cautious step back. What if he learned about her blue pill, or worse, her murder?

“I came here to ask you to be in our study group for Dranacti.” Her voice tightened. “Not for a reading.”

A gentle breeze rattled the bells from the nearest monument and swayed the curls away from his face. “Then I will join your group.”

She lifted a brow. That was too easy. “Why?”

“All life must be protected, and if you’re in danger, it’s my duty to protect you.”

“But you don’t know me.”

“Why does that matter?”

Kidan didn’t know what to make of him. She didn’t trust that anyone from this place did something out of the goodness of their heart.

The boy regarded her in the same manner, like she was a creature he couldn’t decipher. She watched him gather his things, and they left the cemetery together.

She shot him a side glance. “I hear Mot Zebeya students are rare around Uxlay.”

His lips carried the ghost of a smile, and his eyes slid to the northeast campus gate. Kidan was close enough now to see the thick trees crowding the campus border, as well as the mountains in the horizon. Was there really a monastery up there?

“Yes,” he said after a while. “Most of us don’t seek a dranaic companion.”

“But you do?”

“When you spend a lot of time truly alone, you see how a dranaic’s soul feels. Cold and quiet. Solitude teaches us that. Companionship is what I seek, because it’s a brighter way to live.”

Kidan knew the hunger of being alone. Every part of her had ached when her sister disappeared, leaving her in that apartment where day and night melded into one. Yet it was no excuse. She hated the Last Sage’s weakness. He was gifted the power to erase all vampires from this world, yet he chose to settle alongside them. His lack of backbone birthed generations of believers who didn’t know any better.

Kidan told the Mot Zebeya to meet at Qaros House and studied him walking away. Other students parted around him as if avoiding a ghostly creature. He was the only one here without any house sigil on him. His air of loneliness pulled at her core. She swallowed the feeling away with a touch of her bracelet.

She glanced at West Corner Tea at the edge of the small courtyard. Maybe she should grab some doughnuts. Across Sheba Square, she spotted Ramyn’s familiar curls. Kidan’s hand rose to wave, then froze. Susenyos appeared, exchanged quiet words with Ramyn, and guided her to one of the Southern Sost Buildings with a hand at her back. The very place Dean Faris told her was off-limits to actis.

Kidan’s heart slowed, limbs going numb. She forced herself to put one foot after another, bolting to the door they’d disappeared into. She pulled on it, but it was locked.

“Ramyn!” she shouted, kicking against the iron door.

A large dranaic approached and hissed at Kidan to leave. She swallowed her rage, rounded a corner, and touched her forehead to the cool wall, trying to shake the image of Ramyn as June. She wasn’t June.

Quickly, Kidan dialed Ramyn’s number. No answer. She didn’t want to frighten the girl, so she bit her lip and left a voice message, telling her to meet at Qaros House on Tuesday.

She retreated, only to spot Susenyos Sagad watching her from a high window. The corner of his lips tilted upward in an arrogant smile.