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Behind her, unseen and unheard, the fluffin padded along as the stone hall swallowed them both.

Chapter 30

MEDRA

I stepped out of the carriage. In front of me rose the Sanctum of the Bloodmaiden. In the sunlight, the white stone glowed with a soft luminescence. Tall fluted columns bordered the front facade. A crepidoma of wide, shallow steps wrapped around the temple. At the top of the steps, standing to one side of the temple doors stood a contingent of highbloods from which Elaria Avari stood just a little apart. The older highblood woman had centered herself under the lintel, beneath the carving of the Bloodmaiden. The goddess towered over Elaria, larger than life, her hands cupped in front of her breasts, cradling what I’d always assumed was some of her own blood.

Some might say it was a beautiful piece of artwork. I loathed the thing.

I tried not to raise my eyes too high as I walked slowly toward the Sanctum, with Rodriguez on one side and a space where Blake should have been at my other. Blake had surprised me that morning. He’d wanted to go on ahead, said that there was something he needed to do at the temple and he’d meet us all there. That had seemed fine at the time, but now it had suddenly become a problem—because it looked as if the meeting wasn’t going to happen inside the Sanctum after all. No, this little showdown was going to take place right here out in the open. On the plus side, there wouldn’t be any suffocating incense burning or priestesses chanting creepily. On the downside, it looked like Blake might completely miss this happy little gathering.

Unless … Where are you? I queried. I don’t think this thing is going to happen in the atrium after all. Looks like Elaria wants to talk out in the fresh air. But I got only silence in response. Either Blake couldn’t hear me or he was ignoring me. If he was ignoring me, I knew he must have a good reason.

I glanced over my shoulder. Behind me came the Bloodwing group, a mix of staff and students. Kage Tanaka and Lysander Orphos strode behind Rodriguez and me, both looking very official in Bloodwing uniforms that matched their house colors. Kage wore a high-collared, military-style black jacket with silver piping along the edges. Lysander’s coat was a longer-cut pale gold with a purple silk lining that flashed when he walked, and gold chains instead of buttons fastening down the front. Both had the Bloodwing school crest emblazoned on the right lapels. I’d never seen these styles of uniforms before. Maybe they were used only on special occasions like graduations. Regardless, they were a nice touch. Behind them, Visha walked alongside Theo and Vaughn. I’d noticed Vaughn and Theo were holding hands. They seemed to have made up, despite the trauma they’d both just gone through.

Theo’s asshole father had killed Vaughn’s poor grandmother. But then, I guess Theo had made up for that a tiny bit when he’d shot a dragon for Vaughn’s sake and ultimately, helped rescue him and his grandfather. In Sangratha, maybe that was actually a happy ending. Trauma and romance certainly seemed to go hand in hand here. I wondered if Theo had told Vaughn that Viktor Drakhar-row was his father yet.

I looked back at the temple. Elaria Avari looked distinguished as always. Her silver-white hair was pulled back, highlighting her beautiful cheekbones and unyielding jaw. She wore a black fitted knee-length gown, with a silver jacket overtop. The jacket looked like something a commander in the army might wear. My heart sank. That was probably not a good sign.

To the left of Elaria stood a group of about twenty elite high-bloods. I recognized some of them as members of House Avari and House Mortis. Silvio Santos stood near the front, his handsome golden-toned face smooth and unreadable. Catherine Mortis might be gone, but clearly Santos hadn’t minded stepping up.

I was surprised when I recognized one of the faces in Elaria’s little group: Aryel Drakharrow. Theo’s mother looked painfully out of place. She wore House Drakharrow colors, but that was where any sign that she was the new official leader of the house ended. Her shoulders were hunched forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. I watched as her eyes leaped nervously to Elaria, then away.

“I can’t believe you dragged me into this,” I muttered to Rodriguez. “This is going to be a shit show.”

Rodriguez didn’t bother denying it. “Sure is.” He glanced behind us at Kage and Lysander.

I knew if Elaria had had her way, Kage would be up there beside her right now. I hid a small smile. Instead, he was standing with us, a big fuck you to Lady Avari. It must have been humiliating to see her grandson come walking up in such mixed company. I walked up the steps until I stood a few feet away from Lady Avari, with Rodriguez right beside me. The others arranged themselves around us.

“Lady Avari,” Rodriguez said politely, “you asked for this meeting. Here we are.”

She inclined her head. “I summoned you, yes. I did not instruct you to bring—” she gestured with a silver-gloved hand “—an entire delegation of your rebel supporters.”

I raised a brow. “Rebels? Now, that’s a new one.” I looked down at the step where Kage was standing. “Your grandson is here with us. Is he a rebel?”

“He should be up here beside me. With his blood,” Elaria said coldly, dodging the question.

“We’ll let you talk that over later,” Rodriguez said, impatience starting to tinge his tone. “You called for a meeting. We’re here to discuss what needs to be discussed.”

“There will be no discussion,” Elaria declared.

I felt my spine stiffen.

“You might consider this a series of announcements.” She looked at all of us. “Since you happen to be here, you’ll be privileged enough to hear the news before the rest of Sangratha does.”

There was a murmur among my friends, and I exchanged a brief glance with Rodriguez. He didn’t say anything, but I saw his shoulders tighten.

Elaria turned slightly, then lifted her voice. “I’m pleased to announce to you all today that House Avari has entered into a binding alliance with House Mortis.”

Mortis. Of course. Behind Elaria, Silvio’s mouth turned up in the hint of a smirk.

“Under the new authority given me by this alliance,” Elaria continued, “and in light of recent … instability, I will be assuming the mantle of High Regent.”

“High Regent?” Visha demanded, stepping up beside me. “What the fuck is a high regent?”

Elaria fixed her with an icy stare. “The title may be a new one, but I should think the answer is obvious.”

Visha snorted. “You’re really going to announce a coup in front of the Sanctum?”