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I T WAS THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER, AND EVERY MATRIARCH AND patriarch of the great acti houses gathered in the Grand Andromeda Hall. The companionship ceremony was an event not to be missed.

The Ajtaf Family entered first, taking their place at the forefront. Slen walked in third, her mother and brother by her side. The absence of the head of House Qaros didn’t diminish the house’s excitement in congratulating its new possible heiress. Only her brother formed his lips into a line. Slen wore a traditional embroidered coat instead of her black jacket, and South African sterling silver for her graduation jewelry. The bronze pins were no longer. This silver glinted on her sleeve, the cup of musical instruments sigil emblazoned in the middle.

Yusef appeared from the eleventh row with his great-aunt, his right hand wrapped in a sling. He kissed her cheek and climbed the stairs to the dais, grinning at the light applause. He’d chosen a Somali silver-filled pin imprinted with the burning logs and woman made of blue flame.

Kidan went last. She had no relative, no people to fill the last rows of the grand room and cheer her success. She understood now what had taken them from this life. A plot to shatter a thousand-year-old curse by collecting powerful treasures. It was just rotten luck her family had become its guardians. And here she was, at her graduation, inviting those who had hunted for them to her house. Disappointment crowded her shoulders as she crossed the exquisite marble. So much sacrifice and blood. Would she ever make it amount to something?

Her house sigil shone on an Ethiopian-made silver plate. The pin settled on her sleeve, above where her bracelet had been, kissing her wrist gently and humming with its own frequency. Twin dark and light mountains intersected each other. It harbored its own heaviness, but she willed herself to carry it.

Professor Andreyas gathered the crowd’s attention. “It is my pleasure to announce our new graduates from Introduction to Dranacti. I’ve tested them all, and these three have understood the teachings that built the foundation of all we enjoy today. Houses, applaud your potential heirs and wish them luck as they continue their induction into Uxlay society.”

The applause vibrated under the soles of Kidan’s feet. Her eyes were fixed on the closed doors. Any moment now, the Nefrasi would be dragged forward by Sicions for trespassing.

“Now, dranaics who wish to change their companions or are currently uncoupled, please stand.”

Two dozen rose at once, freed their pins, and placed them in the wide cups provided, one for each of the twelve houses. Sleeves empty, they lined up in rows before the stage. As new initiates, they could only choose two companions but could collect more after they inherited their houses. Susenyos stood strong in the second row with Taj, black eyes trained on Kidan.

He gave a slight nod and her shoulders straightened.

Slen stepped forward. “May I say a few words before we start?”

Professor Andreyas arched a brow but allowed it.

Slen’s voice transformed whenever she addressed something aloud. Like the Ojiran poem she once read, it had the tendency to spellbind. “In our studies, we came across a group of rogue dranaics that have caused Uxlay continuous harm. As such, in honor of Demasus and the Last Sage, we have chosen to take companions of those that have strayed from the normal path, those asking for a second chance.”

Murmurs danced through the crowd.

Dean Faris, seated in the front, furrowed her brow. “Are you saying rogue dranaics have renounced their ways and pledged to our cause?”

“They will if you give them a chance.”

On cue, the doors swung open and three Nefrasi came in, restrained by the Sicions. Immediately, they were pushed to their knees. Gasps floated around the room.

Kidan followed Samson’s light eyes to where Susenyos stood. It could strike the devil dead, the malevolent force of that gaze. Samson’s lips quirked cruelly. Oh, he was pleased. Susenyos appeared bored, but his jaw moved. A habit Kidan now knew meant he was aware and alert and touching the tucked-away nail.

Dean Faris ascended the stairs to quiet the crowd.

The head of Ajtaf House stood, indignant. “This is ridiculous. We can’t have our children bond with these rogues.”

“This is clearly a plot to bypass our defenses!” another shouted, from House Makary.

The dean focused on the three. “Where did you find them?”

Slen continued calmly, “In pursuit of one of our assignments, we ventured to the edge of town and engaged in innocent curiosity—”

“Curiosity! They’re admitting to breaking the law!” House Makary again—Rufeal’s father.

Kidan’s blood boiled.

“Allowing rogues to enter the land is breaking the law.” One of the Sicions spoke, voice as expressionless as their face. “These Nefrasi allowed us to find them. They did not hide from us.”

Dean Faris searched Kidan’s face. “Are they threatening you? If they are, speak now and we’ll cut them down. I promise no harm will come to you.”

Kidan burned with the desire to tell her the truth. To have Dean Faris read her mind. For GK, she bit her tongue.

Slen didn’t rush to speak either, and Dean Faris noticed this hesitation.

Yusef spoke instead. “Isn’t this why you teach us Dranacti? To create peace with immortals and live alongside them? Many vampires in this room were once rogue, until they chose Uxlay.”

Another wave of furious whispers traveled, but they couldn’t refute this fact.

After a long moment, Dean Faris faced her companion. “Very well. You know what to do.”

Professor Andreyas smoothed out the slight furrow to his face and stormed to the kneeling Nefrasi, voice steely with authority.

“If you choose to join Uxlay, you must bow to all its laws. Any deviation from its Unbreakable Laws will result in your death or life exchange. You will attend personal sessions with me so I will vet your intention, and if I find one flaw, one error, you will suffer the consequences. Do you understand?”

Arin didn’t hide her distaste well, her beautiful mouth curling. Samson forced a nod.

“Raise your hand and repeat after me.”

They raised their hands and repeated the fealty of Uxlay’s coexistence with the families. Samson sneered at the recounting of the seventh law—to obey and protect the acti.

Professor Andreyas returned to the center. “Slen Qaros. Who will be your companion?”

“I will take two companions tonight. I pledge to treat them as my equals, ask no more of them than I would my own blood.” Slen kept her chin aligned with the floor. “Taj Zuri and… Warde.”

Warde, the mountain of a dranaic who had overpowered Iniko and carried GK on his shoulders, bore a face that could frighten the devil. His steps shook the chandelier’s crystals overhead. Even Kidan wanted to avoid his terror-filled eyes.

Taj appeared half his usual size next to the Nefrasi brute as they retrieved the House Qaros pins, put them on, and bowed. Although Warde’s bow couldn’t quite be called that—it was more of a slight tip of the head. They swore Slen the Uxlay oath, and then, with Warde at her wrist and Taj at her neck, drank from her.

The ceremony continued. Yusef shivered, unconsciously touching his injured hand. “I will take one companion tonight.”

He chose the deadly vampire who had burned him. Arin smiled like a mischievous cat, sliding a withering glance at Susenyos, who regarded her with a guarded expression. Swiping a House Umil pin, she climbed the stairs in those high boots and drank from Yusef’s other hand. Kidan locked her spine to keep her rage at bay.

Then it was her turn. “I will take two companions tonight and onward. I pledge to treat them as my equals, ask no more of them than I would my own blood.”

Kidan had practiced these words in her room, and they still sounded wrong.

“Susenyos Sagad and Samson Sagad.”

The two peeled away from the crowd and met in the middle, walking together. Their lips moved in silent conversation, although their eyes were on her. Samson reached for a House Adane pin and flicked it high into the air. The mountains spun in a golden arc, drawing gasps from everyone. Samson frowned, distracted by the crowd. Susenyos caught the pin inches from the floor and secured it to his clothes. A visible sigh came from the crowd.

“Lesson one, rogues,” Professor Andreyas barked, commanding all attention. “Your house pin represents house loyalty but also, more importantly, allegiance to Uxlay. Even with your dying breath, it should never touch the ground.”

It was the first time Kidan had glimpsed the professor’s stony exterior slip, and the vehemence of his words made her spine weaken a little.

The Sicions had all stepped forward, reaching for their weapons. Samson’s mouth twisted, but he retrieved another pin, carefully this time. The Sicions resumed their post.

Kidan’s companions climbed the stairs and bowed in perfect unison before her.

Susenyos moved close and tilted her neck to the ceiling. She shivered when he trailed a line down her collarbone and flinched when Samson’s cold hand enclosed her wrist.

“Ignore him,” Susenyos breathed into her ear, soft and warm. The feeling shot through her spine in delicious waves. “Imagine us there, in Arowa, alone.”

And imagine she did. The room disappeared around them.

His words lulled her into calm waters, so she’d forget how painful the act of it was. Searing and binding. When the second bite arrived at her wrist, she was already floating high.

It was a collision of two worlds, two minds. Samson was there, young, human, no silver hand yet. Susenyos was awash in bronze, handsome, princely. They sat in a field, a castle behind them. A girl with soft fawn skin passed by, and Samson pulled out grass, avoiding her eyes. Susenyos shook with laughter, teasing. They were sixteen, maybe seventeen.

“If you keep looking at my betrothed, I’ll tear out your eyes,” Susenyos said, mischief dancing in his own.

The image faded too soon. Kidan returned to earth and studied Susenyos’s red irises and brilliant hair, Samson a flickering shadow behind him. Their story appeared woven into the constellation of time, stitched with fierce friendship and betrayal.

After the ceremony ended, the attendees moved to the celebration hall. Light music played; food and drinks were passed around. Kidan snacked on the treats, smiling at Yusef, who was attacked with kisses from his great-aunt.

Samson approached, champagne in his gloved metal hand. It reminded Kidan of the armor displayed in the artifact room. The silver was gone. The rings and chains were gone as well, since Uxlay’s laws did not allow silver body decoration.

Kidan’s appetite died. Susenyos held her gaze across the room. Ready to come to her side if necessary. Slen lifted her chin. Yusef gave a tight smile. They were alert as well.

Samson lowered his voice, resting his drink on the tall table. “You give me the artifact, and you and your friends can walk away.”

“You know, I came here wanting to burn this place down,” Kidan confessed, brow tight. “I couldn’t stand it.”

“That could be arranged,” Samson mused. “Once you give me the artifact, we can set this place on fire. The hardest part was getting past those boundary laws.”

Yes. Uxlay was a beautiful fortress.

Then he said something that made her still as death. “June is in town and wants to see you. You can reunite with her tonight if you wish.”

Just like that. Yet the thought only soured her mouth.

How is Mama Anoet?

June chose to leave and never looked back.

“I’m not going.” Kidan stared at her amber drink. A smile threatened on her lips at the lack of guilt. The blissful quiet inside her mind after making the choice. A choice she made for herself, for once.

A storm gathered in his tone. “Your sister is waiting for you.”

Her lip curved humorlessly. “Well, tell her to go to hell for me then, will you?”

Kidan turned away. He seized her arm with his metal hand, causing her pain, bone deep, pulling her against his hard chest. She bit down on a cry. Susenyos started toward them, but she gave a firm shake of her head. He stilled.

“If you don’t care about your sister, I still have your devout friend—”

“Exactly.” Kidan’s nostrils flared. “And unless he’s freed and returned, you and I have nothing to discuss.”

“That wasn’t our agreement. You hand over the artifact first,” he forced through clenched teeth.

She gave him a cruel smile. “Welcome to Uxlay. Now let me go, or I’ll scream.”

His vicious fangs slipped free, launching her heart to her throat. A few Rojit students passed, and he let go but didn’t step back.

His scarred neck brushed her cheek like crushed glass, dark words pouring into her ear. “I’ll enjoy teaching you proper servitude, heiress. I’ll savor breaking you.”

Kidan glowered, shivers shooting down her spine. She turned her back to him and headed for the exit. Susenyos fell into step by her side.

“Well?” His voice was barely restrained.

“We’re killing him,” she returned. “I have a plan.”

Susenyos tucked his hands into his pockets, lips curving. “There’s that mind I love.”