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P ROFESSOR A NDREYAS TELLS ME HE ALREADY KNOWS THE STUDENTS who’ll fail today,” Susenyos said, ankles crossed on the couch armrest. He slid her a triumphant smile. “And your name is on the list.”

Kidan’s mouth parted. It was?

“It was a toss-up between the house forcing you to leave or Dranacti.” He flexed his arms behind his head and settled deeper into the couch, eyes closed. “Well, it’s been a true displeasure.”

Kidan scowled and slammed the door shut. There was no way in hell she’d fail.

For Dranacti’s first formal circle, the seats were arranged in a ring, the windows blinded and the temperature warm. Kidan never thought she’d detest a shape this much. It provided no protection. The arc of it pressed on their backs like an invisible, tightening band, and her eyes could only rest on other eyes, a disquieting violation of privacy. If she could see the sweat gathering on their top lips, surely they could see right through her.

“Welcome to your first formal circle. There will be two components to the test: this discussion and a private test, where I’ll speak with each of you alone. You should never entirely agree with someone else’s point of view. If you do, you will be dismissed. If you have nothing to say, you will also be dismissed. So, shall we begin?”

Funnily enough, he terrified them all into silence. A twinkle shone in his eyes. “Scales of Sovane—what does it represent? And can it be kept in balance? Be brave, actis.”

Unsurprisingly, Slen Qaros spoke first. “I don’t believe the scales should exist. The pursuit of balance ensures that one doesn’t progress, as the forces of nature plague it. Tilt either to greatness or wickedness, because they are better than indecision.”

There was no more pause after that. Each student picked up on others’ sentences and wove their own arguments until the hour ended. Ultimately, three students were dismissed.

Yusef sagged in relief when the professor’s eyes went past him. Ramyn didn’t lift her eyes from her desk. She’d been shaky throughout her talk.

“Well done to those of you present. You’ll have a five-minute break. Wait outside until your name is called.”

Yusef dabbed at his sweating forehead. He grabbed his favorite snack of roasted pumpkin seeds and started to peel the shells with his teeth.

GK dropped onto one of the lounge chairs and frowned at Yusef. “You kept distracting me.”

“I’m a nervous snacker. You want some?”

GK sighed and took a handful. Ramyn appeared meek next to Slen.

Poisoned. Looking for a life exchange. A vampire.

Kidan ground her jaw. How could she save the girl from destroying her soul?

“Kidan Adane,” the professor said. “Follow me.”

The space had been cleared to provide a single chair. It reminded her of the stale interrogation room she had been taken into after the house fire.

“What have you learned about Sovane?” The professor leaned against his desk.

Kidan took a deep breath. “Sovane was often plagued with a genius shadow that took the shape of a human and spoke to him of war strategies, brilliant power plays, ways to lead a nation. Sovane could never act on them because for every strategy, there would be severe losses. He kept himself balanced for years, trying to please his intelligent shadow and his human heart and lead the country. Until a famine ravaged the kingdom, and the scales could no longer be kept balanced.

“Sovane kneeled before his people and declared he was unfit to lead them. He had to destroy a piece of himself so his shadow self could rise. Sovane described the feeling as sacrificing a childhood friend, their cascading laughter haunting until unbearable silence fell. But only an iron mind could save his people, so his gentle heart had to fall.”

“Whom do you choose to fall?” he asked.

Kidan took a deep breath. She had to trust her gut. The professor had partnered them up for a reason. Even when it became clear the only way Sovane could succeed was by surrendering his humanity.

“Whom do you choose to fall?” he asked again.

Kidan met his black eyes. “Ramyn Ajtaf.”

Her next words scratched against her throat and tongue, cutting her open. “She’s inadequate, weak. She sees no future for herself.”

Speaking ill of a dying girl, using those terms… Kidan’s insides twisted. A part of her truly hurt, an emotion she thought was long lost. Somehow, Ramyn had brushed awake the pocket of light Kidan had suffocated under mountains of ash. There was a childlike ember of hope. A longing for the future instead of dread. Ramyn must have infected her with it when they touched, her ice-cold fingers and caring eyes brushing aside her blackened soul—and Kidan must have liked it. Wanted more. Why else did this hurt so much? Her chest swelled uncomfortably.

“It’s why you partnered us based on our answers, isn’t it? To show us how similar we are? So we would experience how difficult it was for Sovane to make that choice. That we cannot be good for all things.”

Silence extended between them. She felt like she’d wrenched out and crushed something vital and beating beneath her heel. Like that innocent bird she had wanted to help but instead killed. Blood found her hands no matter what she did. She wiped her palms on her thighs.

The professor still didn’t speak.

Her heart pinched in worry. This had to be right. Ramyn and she had both written nothing on their papers because neither saw a future, or rather only saw death in their future.

Doubt crept in. Had she misinterpreted the task? This could be the end of her time here. No more investigations into June. She straightened up, preparing to say more, when Professor Andreyas spoke.

“Well done. You may leave.”

Kidan’s ears buzzed as she got to her feet. She’d passed. Her relief flattened as she realized what it’d taken. Would Ramyn pass this test?

She got her answer a few minutes later when Ramyn came out in tears. Kidan swallowed bile.

“Ramyn?” Yusef said.

Ramyn’s lashes glistened. “I failed.”

Kidan couldn’t meet her eyes. She felt rotten, her skin scaly and slimy, and rushed to touch her bracelet. Breathed. This was what she did. She hurt those around her.

But she wouldn’t feel like this forever. After she found June, this would all end.

Ramyn sniffed and left.

Yusef ran a hand through his soft curls. “I hate this part.”

The test continued. GK, surprisingly, came through. Kidan had thought his religious views might be a conflict.

“How was it?” she asked him.

“Hard.” His eyes were troubled. “I didn’t expect this.”

Slen came through next, eyes black and sharp. No surprise there. Yusef passed as well.

Seven students failed.

The professor faced them, one hand in his long coat pocket. “It’s more than I expected, but do not congratulate yourselves. Soon, we will have our first practical test at the Acti Gala. Dress in your most decadent style. You will be presenting yourselves to the dranaics in the hope they choose you.”

Back home, Kidan waltzed into the study. Susenyos was at his desk, working with some books and scrolls.

“No need to pack.” His lip quirked. “Etete did that for you.”

Kidan dragged a chair to him and crossed her ankles on his desk, shoving aside his books with her boot. He leaned back, furious at the dirt on the pages.

“What the hell are you…” He drifted off, studying her pleased face. The piece of paper in his hand crumpled into nothing. “You passed.”

Her smile was smug. “I told you. I’m not leaving until I see you dead.”

Eyes boiling, he knocked her feet from the table, sending her flying off the chair.

It hurt . She swept her braids back, glaring from the floor.

He tidied his desk. “I guess I need to make it clearer just how unwelcome you are in this house.”