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“Silence,” Kage roared. “What do you mean? Tell me now. Tell me quickly before I rip your throat out.”

“Go ahead, Tanaka. Go the fuck ahead.” Theo sounded exhausted. “It won’t help. It won’t stop anything. Blake flew into the city, just like I said. He went to destroy Veilmar.”

Kage looked skeptical. He glanced at me.

“I don’t know anything about it,” I whispered. “I had no idea.”

He nodded.

“You don’t believe me?” Theo challenged. “Everything I’m telling you is true. Get to a fucking window and look outside if you don’t believe me.”

I tugged at Kage’s sleeve. “Hurry. Come on. Let’s do as he said.”

Everyone followed as we went out into the hall. Even the injured students were rising from their beds, determined to see if what Theo Drakharrow had just claimed could possibly be true. We all knew people in Veilmar, almost every student at Bloodwing had family there.

Across from the infirmary lay an alcove full of tall bookshelves and plush armchairs, clearly used for waiting or for studying. Now we quickly crossed the space, to the far side where three tall arched windows overlooked the sea—and beyond that, the jewel of Sangratha, the greatest city in the Thralldom, Veilmar.

Kage rushed towards the window in the center, yanking it open, and peering out over the water. But I’d already seen the telltale glow. As soon as the window opened, a hot blast of wind rushed in—tinged with the scent of smoke.

“Bloodmaiden,” I breathed.

On the far horizon were the lights of Veilmar. The glittering streets and towers were consumed in roiling plumes of orange flame. As we watched, a tower in the Banking District collapsed, slowly caving in upon itself. Clouds of smoke and ash billowed out over the water. Over it all, flying just beneath the clouds, was a dragon. Not black like Nyxaris, but crimson—scales glowing in the inferno’s glare. From its jaw, a torrent of white-hot flame arced downwards, transforming another street into a river of fire.

“Dear gods.” It was Rodriguez. He’d come up beside us and was standing at the window to our left. Healer Elycia stood beside him, silent and trembling. Behind them came Florence, with Medra right beside her. To my shock, I saw Medra was weeping. The tears ran down her blood-stained cheeks as she looked out at the city. Kage stepped back from the window slowly. I touched a hand to his arm and felt his muscles trembling. Something passed between us, secret and fleeting.

“We have to stop him,” Medra whispered, looking at Kage.

He nodded. “I’m leaving. Now.”

“But what can we do?” I demanded, helplessly. “He’s a dragon.” The thought of Kage going out there and trying to take on a dragon filled me with terror. I glanced at Florence. “There’s only one way to stop another dragon.”

Around me, I could see everyone else having the same thought. “I—” Florence stammered. She looked at me, then Kage, then Rodriguez, and finally back at Medra. “She’s right. That’s why you’ve come, isn’t it?”

“I came because I needed to know you were all right.” Medra shook her head helplessly. “What Regan said may be true, but you’re not ready for this, Florence. You’re not prepared. You don’t have to do this.”

“But I do, don’t I? I’m not ready,” Florence said, her face ashen, “but Nyxaris is. He’s trained for this all his life. If anyone can stop Blake, he can. He’s the only one who can.”

Kage didn’t wait to hear Medra’s reply; he was already moving. I chased after him, following him towards the stairs. “Where are you going?”

He paused, looking back at me. “Into the city.”

I took a deep breath. “You, or the wolf?”

He didn’t reply.

“Let me come with you.” The words came out in a rush. But once I’d said them, I knew they were right.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Viktor will be there. If Nyxaris and Florence fly into the city, Viktor will follow them. I know it. He might even be there now. For all we know, he’s riding on Blake’s fucking back. I can stop him. I know I can. He’ll listen to me.”

I actually had no idea if that was true. In fact, it probably wasn’t. But I did know one thing:Viktor had to pay for what he’d done—to me, to Persis, to Blake, to everyone. And I wanted to be the one who made him hurt. Even if I died trying.

I knew another thing, too. I wasn’t letting Kage Tanaka walk away from me ever again.

“There’s no time for this,” Kage growled, his face strained. “I need you here. I need you safe.”

I clenched my fists. “I’ve never been safe,” I burst out. “And I never will be. Not with Viktor. You know that. You’ve known it all along. Now look at what he’s done. He’s sent Blake out there to kill everyone—to kill your family. Your entire family is in the city, Kage.”