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My uncle’s lips twisted. “When will you learn there is always logic behind all I do, Nephew? I have not lived this long for naught. Everything I do I do for House Drakharrow.”

I scoffed. Everything Viktor did was for himself and only himself. He was destroying my father’s legacy, one step at a time.

“Lord Drakharrow,” Professor Allenvale gasped as Quinn shoved her down before the dais. “I don’t understand how I’ve come to offend you. I was aiding injured students. Blightborn and highblood, yes, but nothing more.”

Viktor’s lips stretched in a parody of sympathy. “Aiding? Don’t play the innocent, Professor. We confiscated your correspondence. I’ve seen the notes you had in your desk.”

Allenvale’s dark eyes widened with guilt, and my heart sank. Whatever mistake she’d made, I knew he had her.

Viktor looked over at me. “Our little visiting professor has been funding a rebellion. An uprising nurtured by House Orphos right under our very noses.”

Allenvale’s eyes were on me, panicked and pleading.

“Let her go, Viktor,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Aren’t there more important things to deal with right now? Who the fuck cares what Orphos has been doing? Their house is weak. We both know that. They could never stand up to ours. Let her go, and we’ll discuss this when things have settled down.”

“Pleading for traitors? And you, my heir? You’re pathetic, Blake. You’ve always been too soft. You act as if mercy were a virtue. Now, Marcus, there was a lad with foresight, with ambition. You’re correct that Orphos is weak. They are weaker now thanks to Marcus.”

“Marcus?” I snapped. “I don’t see Marcus here by your side. He took off as soon as he had a chance.”

Viktor frowned. “He was hasty. Impatient. Yet what he’s done may do more good than harm, in the end. He’s given us an opportunity to crush Orphos and their treachery now, here—beginning with her.”

Cade suddenly lunged against his chains, snapping at the air as Quinn propelled Allenvale closer towards him.

“Talk to Lysander,” I said quickly. “Surely our quarrel is with him, not this woman. You need her. She represents proof. Take her to Lysander, and let’s have this all out. Stop the games. You’ve made your point. Let me help you deal with Orphos.”

Anything that would buy Allenvale a little more fucking time. Anything that would get the four of us out of this blooddamned death chamber.

“Stop the games? I’ll stop as soon as you prove to me you can do what’s really necessary.” His eyes moved to Pendragon, still pinned by Larissa, flanked by Bloodguards. “Now, our Cade must be fed. I owe the poor boy that much for his unswerving loyalty. But I’ll be charitable. I’ll give you a choice. This traitor or your consort.”

Time crashed to a standstill.Theo strained against his guards, his eyes wild. I could feel Pendragon’s furious eyes on me. Don’t you dare choose me, they cried. She twisted in Larissa’s arms, trying to break free.

Viktor spread his skeletal hands. “Choose, Nephew. Our dear Cade grows hungrier by the second.”

“What do you really want, Viktor?” I shouted, my voice echoing across the refectory. “Power? Allegiance? My head bowed lower? Just tell me what you want, and leave them out of this!”

Cade’s chains rattled. The infected highblood slavered in anticipation as Quinn shoved Allenvale another step closer. Pendragon’s eyes were on me, wide, pleading for me to think of some way out of this—for all our sakes.

Viktor’s smile faded, and he rose to his feet. “You want to know what I want? Then, enough games. Show them what you truly are. Transform, right here, right now.”

I clenched my fists. “I can’t do that. I’ve already told you, the dragon is gone.” I wouldn’t meet Pendragon’s eyes. I didn’t dare. Deep inside, something stirred—scales flickering, talons clicking.

Viktor sneered. “You lie to yourself, boy. I see its glow behind your eyes. Now, shift. Shift and fly to Veilmar. Rain fire down upon the infected city, and burn it clean.”

I stared at him, understanding quickly dawning. “So that’s what you’re really up to. Cleanse Veilmar? You don’t want me to cleanse the city, you want me to purge it. Thanks to the Avaris, the most powerful highbloods in the Thralldom are lodged in the city tonight. You don’t want me to stop a plague. You want me to wipe out your enemies.”

There was a buzz of sound as the other highbloods grasped exactly what Viktor was trying to get me to do. Clearly he hadn’t shared his little plan with them before he’d conscripted them all to do his bidding.

“Silence!” he roared. The hall quieted. He looked down at me. “Let Veilmar die tonight, and House Drakharrow will rise from the ashes to build a New Sangratha. The students of Bloodwing will stand at the forefront. A Pure Blood army in service to a most righteous cause. Marcus and Catherine were heralds of a new dawn, but it was one which I’d already set in motion. Already the infection grows within the city’s walls. The Avari roost within, smug and selfsatisfied. One blaze and their line ends.”

Their line? But not Kage—as far as I knew, he was still at Bloodwing. Or did my uncle know something I didn’t … Had Kage gone into the city? If my uncle did this, would the Avaris truly be wiped out?

“You’d have me scorch an entire city of innocent people and blame it on an outbreak?” I demanded.“Even you can’t be that stupid.”

“I’d have you do what I command,” Viktor bellowed. “My patience has run out. If you fail to obey me tonight, I swear to you, Nephew, I will destroy every person you ever cared about. Not just your consort but also your cousin. And your mother.” He leaned forward, with a cruel smile. “Your pathetic, traitorous mother, who I have kept alive solely for your sake. Your friends. Every person who has ever paid you a single kindness. All will die in throes of agony. For I warn you, Nephew, my limits have been reached. You will do as I ask.”

I flinched. “Why not do it yourself? We both know what you’re really capable of. Or are you too much of a coward?”

Viktor hissed.