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“I’d like to hear it,” Lysander said.

“So would I,” I agreed. “Spit it out, Rodriguez.”

He glared at me. “Catherine Mortis revealed herself to be a powerful necromancer that night in the Dragon Court.” He gave a bitter laugh. “Marcus Drakharrow was never the most astute pupil. However, Alastor Vane tells me that Marcus was showing a renewed interest in blood magic just before he and Catherine disappeared.”

“Fucking Vane,” Visha muttered, kicking the table leg. “If he’d kept his stupid mouth shut we might not be in this position at all.”

“Vane seems to have unwittingly provided Marcus with some much-needed guidance,” Rodriguez agreed wearily. He looked over at me. “For instance, he told him about the necessity of rider blood.”

I stared at him. “My blood?”

He nodded. “They almost certainly had some of your blood that night. They used it in the ritual they performed. Combining a dragon rider’s blood with an ancient bloodline of dragon masters.”

“House Orphos blood,” Sankara said grimly.

“Yes.” Rodriguez looked across at Lysander as if reluctant to proceed.

“Please go on, Rodriguez,” Lysander said coolly. “Let’s hear the rest of this theory.”

“I believe Lunaya was not just forced into a triad. I believe she was forced into a lifebond with Molindra. The dragon is dead. Some of us saw her that night—I’m sure you understand what I refer to. The only way that Molindra was able to rise was because of Lunaya’s blood. The girl and the dragon are tied together symbiotically. I believe Lunaya is in essence powering the dragon for Marcus and Catherine.” He shook his head sadly. “That sort of a bond cannot be sustainable.”

“So it’s killing her,” Elycia said softly. She looked at Lysander with sympathy.

The House Orphos leader said nothing. Part of me wanted to ask him if he’d already known. But I didn’t dare.

“Where exactly is this Bonewood?” Sankara asked suddenly. “I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“You might have heard it in passing. It runs along the tip of Sangratha’s northern border.”

“Isn’t the O’Rourke estate up that way?” Sankara rubbed his chin. “I’ve never traveled that far north before.”

“Yes, well, we may have to now,” Rodriguez said grimly. He looked at me. “Is that what you propose?”

I stared at him. “What?”

“Obviously you thought we should know all of this. I assume you have some sort of a plan.”

I shook my head in exhaustion and disbelief. “Rodriguez, don’t be an asshole, all right? I mean, don’t be any more of one than you have to be. Do I look like I have a fucking plan, or any idea how to solve this?” I looked down at my hands. They were shaking again.

A smaller hand slid over one of mine, squeezing gently. I looked at Florence, and my chin wobbled. She smiled reassuringly, then turned her head to look over at Rodriguez. “Nyxaris said that he and the others paid a very high price to keep the Veil closed.”

“He did,” Rodriguez replied. “He paid with his life. His soul.” He met my eyes. “Until Miss Pendragon gave it back to him somehow.”

“And Molindra?” asked Florence quietly.

“She is a half thing. Neither dead nor alive.” He shrugged helplessly. “Does she have a soul? Who can say? But whatever she is, she cannot continue like this indefinitely.”

The implication was clear: Nor can her unnatural rider—Lunaya.

His eyes moved to Florence. “Nyxaris paid the price by choice. Perhaps he already told you this.” He looked around the table. “The four dragons in the Dragon Court—”

“Chose to be there,” said Professor Stonefist. She’d been so quiet that I’d nearly forgotten she was there.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“They were the first line of defense. Marcus and Catherine destroyed that. Then they went after the second line. The Veil Guardian.”

“That’s right,” Rodriguez said slowly. “How did you—”