God, I hope so. Or my life is essentially fucked. And even if Laasya or Quinton do come up with something to block Alexei’s pull, I can never not be mixed breed. Full-blown bloodsucker hangs over my head like a guillotine and always will.

I draw back to look up at him. “We’re going to get those Channelers back, though. Right?”

His jaw tightens. Ice-cold fury floods his eyes. “I assure you we will retrieve every last one of my students. But it will be a challenge. History is not on our side.”

“We’ve got to. Some of those taken were teenagers. They’ll be slaves.”

Sorrow chases the fury from his gaze. “I know. Though Channelers are a treasure to the Anlu’kyr, they will be kept in a deep Haze, collared and sold.”

Collared and sold? So Hazed out of their minds they won’t even fight what’s happening to them. My fists clench. White-hot determination burns my insides. There’s no way I’m letting Alexei keep those Channelers. Whatever I have to do to get them back, I’ll do it.

“I have things I need to see to,” Flanagan says. “I don’t want you here in the infirmary. I would rather you rest in my room. I have soldiers coming to escort you there.”

“Your room? You’re not… I thought you might want to, you know, lock me down or something.”

His brow crumples. “Michael, we would never have survived that attack without you.”

“You would never have been attacked without me.”

He gives a slow nod. “Alexei took advantage. And I will take precautions. But I don’t want you in a cage. I want you with me.”

My stomach flutters. I can’t meet his eyes. If it were my decision, I’d lock me in a cage and bury it. I’m grateful he doesn’t agree.

With his hand still in my hair, he draws me closer. “It was not your fault,” he repeats.

“I just… I’m not…”

My words are cut off when he lowers his lips so close to mine I taste his warmth. “Tell me you’re staying,” he whispers against my mouth.

“I don’t have a choice.”

“You have a choice. Tell me.”

I swallow a gritty lump. He’s right. I could run. I could get on my bike and peddle into the rain as fast as my legs will let me. Away from Blackriver, from the Council. Away from chains. But if I run, I run forever. Into the same cold and lonely night as I did when I was ten. And there’s no escape from Alexei.

If I stay, I either strain against Flanagan’s protection or commit. I might get answers here, might yet discover information about my parents. I’ll learn more about the Flame. I’ll be able to help Blackriver find its students.