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She shook her head. “No, not after what Headmaster Pansera did. House Mortis released their hold. My aunt got involved, too. Professor Stonefist is my aunt, you know. My greataunt.”

“I didn’t know that,” I said, impressed. “She’s a fantastic combat instructor.”

“Yes.” Dani shuffled awkwardly. “She didn’t know what was going on last term. If she’d found out earlier, well … she would have stepped in.” She flushed. “It was my first year. I was trying not to ask for any help. I wanted to show I was all right on my own, that I could be independent.”

I thought of Naveen with a pang of guilt. He hadn’t had Professor Stonefist for an aunt. If he had … would he still be alive now? “I understand,” I said softly. “I’m glad Regan was able to help and that you’re safe.” I gestured to the office. “So you work for the headmaster now?”

Dani nodded enthusiastically. “My aunt thought it might be best if I took a leave of absence from my studies. The headmaster agreed and approved it. Now I work in his office part-time.” She touched a piece of paper on the desk. I noticed everything had been perfectly arranged. “Hopefully now I can enjoy more of my first year aboveground.”

Considering there had just been a devastating dragon attack as well as a deadly plague, I wasn’t so sure how normal the rest of Dani’s first year was going to be. But I decided not to point that out. “So you came from a dwarven city?” I asked curiously. “What was that like?”

“I lived all my life underground. I’d always dreamed of coming to study on the surface.” She looked eager to say more, but just then the door to the main office swung open.

A tall broad-shouldered young man emerged. I might have considered him handsome … if I hadn’t happened to know he was a bloodthirsty sociopath.

Silvio Santos had made sure one of his first acts as House Mortis leader was barricading the doors of Bloodwing to desperate blightborn refugees fleeing Veilmar. Silvio was a true believer. He didn’t just benefit from the hierarchical system. He embraced it and believed it was the natural order. So why had I let him live? Sometimes I wasn’t sure. Maybe because I knew he was in some way Blake’s kill; if I killed him, it would be like admitting Blake wasn’t coming back. Or maybe it was because I was merciful—and because I knew Silvio Santos was not exceptional. If he fell, someone else would simply rise up to take his place, a Quinn or an Edward or a Larissa. Another Cade or a Lucian.

House Mortis still had supporters. Some students had chosen to remain in that house. But change was coming. Eventually, everyone would be forced to take a stand on one side or another. In the meantime, they still had time to make a choice. To change their minds. To choose a different path. Even Silvio Santos.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had to play nice in the meantime. I crossed my arms and fixed my eyes on Silvio’s. If he wanted to cross the room he’d have to detour. I watched his brown eyes narrow. A scowl crossed his golden face. He kept walking at the same pace. For a second it seemed like he might plow right into me. Then at the last second, he veered around and marched out into the hall. I heard him laugh and turned to see him lightly punch a House Mortis boy in the shoulder. Then they walked off together.

“Ah, you’re here already.” Rodriguez stood in the doorway, looking harried. “Come in, Miss Pendragon.” I followed him into the office. He leaned back against his desk with a sigh, then ran his fingers through his hair, leaving dark strands sticking up in various directions. “What a day.”

“It’s only noon. Trouble with Silvio Santos?” I said, closing the door behind me.

“With Silvio, with Elaria Avari, with every highblood left in Veilmar.” He shrugged impishly. “You know, they’ve taken to calling me the Usurper.”

I stared. “The Usurper? What, are you supposed to be Viktor’s replacement or something?”

He laughed. “Close enough. I took a position meant for a high-blood, which apparently makes me as bad as a murderous despot in their books. I expect we’ll see graffiti and pamphlets any day now.” He gestured to the pile of correspondence stacked on the desk behind him. “My complaints pile. And this is just from today.”

“At least it’s tidy,” I observed, eyeing the stack.

“Well, that was Dani,” he said sheepishly. He touched a hand to his throat. “She’s been encouraging me to wear a tie, too. Apparently ties lend you a greater air of authority.”

I tried to picture Professor Stonefist wearing a tie and decided she didn’t need one. I stared at the undone piece of fabric at Rodriguez’s throat. “If she’s going to insist then perhaps she should teach you how to tie it.”

“Well, it was tied until Silvio arrived. Then I started pulling at it and now …” He gestured helplessly.

“Who tied it for you this morning, anyhow?”

“Oh, that was, uh, Sankara. He said he was pleased to see I was dressing the part.” Rodriguez’s ears turned just the slightest bit pink, and I smirked.

“Well, you clearly have Dani’s and Sankara’s support. What do you need me for?”

“Right.” He cleared his throat. “Please take a seat, Miss Pendragon.” He moved to sit behind the desk.

I raised my eyebrows but did as he said and sat down in one of the empty chairs. He leaned forward, steepling his fingers, his face more serious. “Oh no,” I said.

“What?”

“I can read the signs. It’s one of those meetings, is it?”

He gave a nervous chuckle. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Just get to the point, Rodriguez. What’s the bad news?”

“Miss Pendragon … Medra, I mean,” he said, already wincing. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot and—”