I look from my dad to Ash and Layla, trying to make sense of his words. Their mother went to the Academy with my dad? Is that why Layla and I were paired as roommates? And then it occurs to me that my dad’s favorite whittling knife has a wolf handle. He told me his best friend gave it to him when they were teenagers.

“She always spoke highly of her days with you as well, sir,” Layla says, but Ash matches my look of shock. I could groan. No matter what is happening, Layla always manages to know more than the rest of us.

“Matteo,” my dad continues, his voice taking on a meaningful tone. “You and Layla were invaluable today. Your strategy and skill were advanced far beyond your years.”

Matteo seems almost embarrassed under my dad’s prideful look. “It was an honor to be a part of it,” he says with polite and almost shy formality.

“There have never been Academy students who have taken so much risk or accomplished so much as you all,” my dad says, and I feel my cheeks get warm at the dadness of his gushing. “Because of what you did here today, the power balance will not only be restored among Strategia, but the world at large will be safer. Of course this adjustment will take time and it will take work, work that will involve the Council of Families and all of your respective Families.” He pauses. “Now, I’m certain you all have questions,” he continues, “and if I can answer them, I will.”

“Did you know that Jag intended to start a war with the Bears?” Layla asks, wasting no time, and I look from her to my dad.

“I did,” he says. “But by the time November’s aunt and I realized what was going on, the Regent and Jag were already planning their attack. If we didn’t act immediately, the other Families would be forced to take sides and Strategia as we know it would be forever changed.”

I reflexively look at Ash and he meets my gaze, an understanding passing between us. This is the reason Ash had been searching for. This is the reason everything happened when it did.

“November’s aunt took care of the Regent,” my dad says, confirming what I already suspected. “We sent November to the Academy to protect her and to keep Conner from killing Matteo, and I came here to stop Jag.”

They all look at me, but I’m just as surprised about Matteo as they are.

Aarya chuckles. “Boy, Matteo, I bet you feel like a jerk for punching her.”