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“You are the key, Florence.” The old highblood woman’s voice was gentle. “You are the most vulnerable piece on the board.”

Nyxaris stirred in my mind. She is speaking the truth about Viktor. About the soulbinding.

Why didn’t you tell me this before? I hissed.

“Viktor will come for you,” Lady Avari went on. “Because you are the key to Nyxaris.”

I swallowed. “So, what do I do?”

She smiled faintly. “You let us protect you.”

Try not to panic when you hear what comes next.

What is that supposed to mean? I hissed. I am already panicking. But I didn’t have to wait long.

“The solution is clear,” Lady Avari said calmly. “You and my grandson must be betrothed at once.”

“I beg your pardon?” I squeaked.

I blinked. I stared at Kage. His shoulders had stiffened, but he didn’t speak, didn’t exclaim in shock. It was obvious he’d known exactly what was coming.

“It would be a great honor, Miss Shen,” he said slowly, “if you would consider becoming my consort.”

“This is a very generous offer,” Lady Avari pointed out, as if I should be jumping up and down on the sofa with glee. “And a very strategic one. Someday Kage will take a second consort—a high-blood, of course. Together, you will form a strong triad. Together, you will protect the bond you have with the dragon. Not to mention safeguarding your very soul.”

I found my voice. “It also brings strength to House Avari. You’d have a dragon on your side. It’s politically brilliant, isn’t it?” I was training to be a strategist—my education hadn’t completely evaporated despite my anxiety.

Elaria didn’t flinch. “Of course it is. We hope this will solidify Nyxaris’s allegiance, not to mention showing him our good intentions. We wish to protect his rider, after all.”

Nyxaris snorted derisively.

You don’t believe them? I ventured.

I believe they want my allegiance. As for whether they’ll protect you … they will as long as it is in their best interests. It is … a wise arrangement.

You really want me to do this? I asked in disbelief. Become betrothed to Kage?

He is a highblood, Nyxaris replied contemptuously. You could do better. But in terms of power, you could do no worse.

I stared at Kage. If we did this, he might expect to feed from me. I’d never felt a highblood’s bite before. But Medra had. She’d survived. She’d even started to seem to, well, like it.

That is the downside, yes, Nyxaris said coldly. Of course, you may be able to negotiate a marriage contract that excludes feeding.

A contract? My throat felt tight. This was all happening so fast.

“I would treat you with kindness and respect, Florence,” Kage said stiffly. “You would be an honored consort and part of the Avari family.”

Do you believe the boy?

I … I don’t know. He’s my House Leader. He’s always been true to his word. He’s shown me kindness before, yes.

Then, it might not be so bad. Nyxaris sounded remote.

“It is an engagement, Florence, not a marriage,” Lady Avari pointed out. “Not yet. But it will make a powerful statement. And it will be a shield—one which you desperately need within the walls of this school where Nyxaris cannot always protect you.”

Nyxaris growled, but I could hear the frustration in his voice. I could burn the walls down to powder right now, if I chose.

Yes, but I’d be powder, too, I pointed out. And Medra. And Neville. And …