R UFEAL M AKARY’S BODY TURNED UP OUTSIDE U XLAY’S BORDERS, limbs scattered in the surrounding forests. A surprising report showed that he’d been mauled by a wild animal; his features were almost unrecognizable. Slen’s dranaic had a sick way of handling bodies.

House Makary painted their pins of feather and parchment in red and buried him in the family crypt, next to his aunt Helen Makary.

The campus hosted several opportunities for students to speak with counselors. Besides that, there were no investigations. No outbursts in the community. Kidan had come to understand that deep grief was reserved for the main children of the families, like Ramyn Ajtaf. Rufeal was nothing more than a side branch, thirteenth in line to inherit his house.

Yusef didn’t speak for the next three days. They regularly kept him company before Slen suggested they move him to the vacant room in Grand Andromeda Hall. If there were no events on, that space was often empty. She gave him canvas and paint and left. Kidan stayed. Save for eating quietly and painting, Yusef said nothing. Kidan worried as the hours melted into one another. She’d started to get used to the sound of his charcoal pencils scratching on paper, the smell of roasted pumpkin seeds that followed him everywhere.

Yusef stood back from his canvas, paint smeared all over his skin in white, royal blue, and gray strokes.

“It’s not there anymore.” It was a small, fragile sound—but it was him. Yusef was speaking.

Kidan straightened from her uncomfortable position, resting the book she’d brought.

It was a painting of a Black woman standing on a bed of hot coals. Her face was pinched in pain, and she carried four children around her body. They tugged at her clothes and scratched along her neck and back, biting into her flesh in desperation to escape the fire. Kidan stared, mesmerized by it. It was such a pure expression of maternal love she could neither bear to keep looking nor quite look away. He had titled it Quad Purgatory .

“What’s not there anymore?” Kidan asked softly, approaching.

He blinked, and a tear slid down his cheek. “I don’t want to destroy it. That voice telling me to burn it, it’s… not there anymore.”

“That’s good. Isn’t it?”

“Good.” His voice tightened in sorrow. “How is it good that I don’t loathe myself in the only moment I should?”

Kidan lowered her gaze.

“I… I killed someone, Kidan.” He gaped around the room as if suddenly realizing it. “Why am I not being arrested?”

“Slen and I took care of it.”

He shook his head violently. “Why are you two doing this? Why are you involved?”

“We know you’re a good person. We’re not going to let them ruin your life because of an accident.”

He stared at her, uncomprehending. “An accident?”

This was the truth she’d reminded herself of over the last three days. He was good. This act couldn’t tarnish that nature.

“An accident,” she repeated, and grabbed his shoulders. “You need to tell us if there’s anything else.”

He staggered backward, but she dug her fingers into his shoulders.

“It’s done, Yusef. We will help you. I promise.”

Kidan didn’t let go until he believed her, a small light peeking out of his curtained eyes. She couldn’t let him end up like her. How different would her life have been if someone had found her after Mama Anoet’s murder? Calmed her and told her it would be all right? Her spine locked with the memory. Never again.

Slen appeared by the door, watching them.

Kidan let Yusef return to his work and approached her.

“You’re good with him,” Slen said.

Kidan slid her a glance. “You are too. That’s why you brought him here to paint, right?”

Slen said nothing, but Kidan was beginning to see through her shield. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for Yusef, she just disliked showing it. And despite her cold confession, she did feel guilt about Ramyn. Kidan had spotted her visiting Ramyn’s grave early one dawn, even before morning birds chirped.

Kidan sighed. “I know you still don’t trust me, and I’m not sure I trust you, but I have a plan.”

“There was a plan. Get Susenyos Sagad arrested. One you ruined.” Slen’s tone tightened.

“I know you want to be free, Slen. But don’t let the 13th control you.”

This made Slen hesitate, then ask with reluctance, “What’s your plan?”

“After you tell me who killed Ramyn, Susenyos and I will eliminate every member of the 13th.”

Slen’s blank eyes assessed Kidan, checking for any trace of dishonesty, disloyalty. “That’s suicide. Almost half of Uxlay is part of the 13th.”

“I don’t care. They have my sister,” Kidan said fiercely.

Slen regarded her cautiously. “My father can’t get out.”

“He won’t. No one understands that more than me.” Kidan inhaled. “Now, who dropped Ramyn from the tower?”

An extended silence settled between them.

Finally, in a quiet voice, Slen spoke. “His name is Titus Levigne. I’ll talk to him first. He’ll meet with you after class tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” Kidan released her breath.

Slen watched Yusef reach for paint. “Speaking of tomorrow, you do know what you have to do to pass Quadrantism, don’t you?”

Kidan sighed. “Learn about my vampire’s most horrific act. Lovely.”

She’d been waiting for the right moment to ask Susenyos about his purgatory, until Yusef’s incident made her forget. Knowing how closely he guarded his secrets, this wasn’t going to be easy.