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“It’s my honor to stand here tonight as I appoint the next House Leader for Drakharrow. Theo Drakharrow is one of the bravest men I know. He’s fought for this school, for those he loves, and maybe most importantly, for himself. He’s fought hard even when it cost him. And so to me, he’s always represented hope.”

Tears ran down Theo’s face. I saw Vaughn wrap his arms around Theo’s waist, his own face lit up with quiet pride.

“Please join me in welcoming Theo to the position. It won’t be an easy one, cuz. You might need a bullhorn sometimes.”

The room erupted in applause and laughter. Visha gave such a piercing whistle I saw a few people flinch. This was it. The start of a new tradition. No longer would House Leaders have to kill for the honor. They’d be chosen.

Finally, Blake lifted a hand for quiet. “There’s just one more thing.” He glanced down at his notes, and I saw a little of the tension return. “And this one really matters to me.” When he lifted his head again, his eyes were brighter than before. “I’d like to announce a new scholarship. It will be awarded each year to two female First Year students, one highblood and one blightborn, who show extraordinary promise and potential.” He swallowed. “It will be called the Regan Pansera Award.”

A hush fell over the room. Then Sankara began to clap loudly—and everyone joined in.

The Graduation Ball was in full swing. Blake pulled me onto the dance floor. His hands settled at my waist as I twined my arms around his neck. Around us, Bloodwing glittered. And the best thing of all was that I knew Viktor Drakharrow wouldn’t be breathing down Blake’s neck. Tonight, Bloodwing didn’t feel like a battlefield. It felt like a school again.

“You did good up there,” I murmured.

He grimaced. “I think I blacked out for most of it.”

I laughed. I looked around the room as we moved slowly to the melody. I caught sight of Visha, sitting at the Drakharrow table. She had one leg crossed over the other, the red silk catching the light, as Kazmyn leaned in, grinning like he’d just said something he thought was charming. Visha was rolling her eyes, but I caught a smirk beginning to blossom on her lips.

A group of dancers passed between us, blocking them from view. I saw Theo and Vaughn drift past, Theo’s hands wrapped around Vaughn’s waist, and Vaughn’s head dipped low. He was saying something to Theo I couldn’t hear. They were smiling at each other with a quiet tenderness that told me the rest of the room might as well have disappeared.

“Hurts to be snubbed,” Blake joked. “Right after I honored him, too.” His face softened. “Shit, Pendragon. I really never thought it could be like this.”

I touched his cheek. “You’re emotional tonight.”

“Don’t you dare tell anyone.”

Before I could tease him anymore, though, a pair of dancers moved up alongside us—Rodriguez and Sankara. I looked at them with amusement. Rodriguez’s tie was already crooked. His hair looked like he’d run his hands through it at least ten times. By contrast, Sankara looked as immaculate as ever. They danced well together, like they’d been doing it forever.

“So, you two really leaving us tomorrow morning?” Rodriguez asked.

Blake nodded. “All packed up.”

I rolled my eyes. I was packed. His packing was a work in progress.

Sankara tipped his head down. “Before you go, there’s something you should see in the Dragon Court.”

“All right,” Blake said, frowning in puzzlement. “We’ll check it out before we turn in.” But the two of them were already drifting away with the music. Blake looked down at me. “Should we be worried?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. But now I’m curious.”

We only stayed a little longer after that. Then, before anyone else could pull us into another dance or wish Blake congratulations again, we slipped out. The noise of the ball faded as we walked side by side through the quiet corridors. Eventually we reached the cloisters that bordered the Dragon Court. The night air was warm and smelled like summer. But I suddenly shivered anyway.

Blake shrugged off his jacket before I could even say a word. He draped it over my shoulders. It held his warmth and the scent of him: mint and green apples, yes, but with a hint of something just a bit darker—and perhaps draconic.

“Thank you,” I murmured, pulling it around me. We stepped out from beneath the arches and stopped.

“Fuck,” Blake whispered.

The court had been cleared of rubble, and new sculptures had been erected. There were five altogether. Four of them formed a wide, protective, semicircle. They were massive—as large as the dragon ones had been. One was a wolf, carved in pale silver stone, head lifted in watchfulness—or as if to look up at the moon. Beside it rose a black dragon, obsidian wings furled behind its back. It looked regal and dangerous. Across from the dragon, formed from bronze, stood a tall, armored bear. My throat began to tighten. Hawl.

Lastly, not at all true-to-size but absolutely true-to-ego, was a gigantic fluffin cast in gold. It sat up straight, eyes bright and wide, with its tail curled around its feet.

My heart clenched as I saw the fourth statue that sat in the center of the three.

This one was bronze. Three figures had been cast together. A woman stood hand in hand and back to back with two men, the three of them forming a kind of a triangle, as if facing the world head on from every side. The sculptor hadn’t included any identifying details. There were no colors, no house insignias. Yet as I stepped closer I recognized the tilt of the woman’s chin, the proud set of her shoulders. The silky smoothness of her long hair.

Blake came up beside me. He let out a long breath. “The one on the left looks like Kage.”