I’d never done it alone before. But if I’d survived all this, maybe it would be no big deal.

I held onto the counter and breathed. In, out, steady. Careful. Until the weird nauseating pain in my

middle went away. The skylight let in blind sunshine, touching my hair and face. It didn’t burn me

or hurt my eyes. Sunlight was deadly to nosferatu. At least, nowadays.

I’d sucked blood, and the sun didn’t hurt me.

When I opened up the bathroom door, ducking through the strap of my bag and settling it against

my hip, Christophe looked up from the window seat. The light fell over him again, making him into

another kind of statue. He had one of the books in his hands, and his blue eyes took me in and

warmed.

But he didn’t smile.

“Good morning.” He closed the book, laid it carefully aside. “The Council’s called a meeting. As

soon as you’re ready, they want to see you.”

I swallowed hard. “What if I don’t want to? I want to see Ash and August and . . .” And I’m leaving.

I couldn’t say it to him.

“I checked the Broken and Augustine not half an hour ago. Augustine is awake and eating breakfast;

the Broken is on the mend. Samuel says he’ll make it.”

I grabbed at the doorjamb. Searched Christophe’s face for any sign of a comfortable lie, found none.

“Really? He’s sure?”

He nodded. Eased off the window seat and took a few steps toward me. “One hundred percent certain, he says. Benjamin and his crew are fine, too; you’ll see them at sundown.”

It was hard to tell if the weakness had come back, or if it was just relief so deep and wide I could

drown in it. It took work to open my mouth and ask the more important question.

“Graves?” I croaked. Please. Please tell me he’s come back.

Christophe’s expression didn’t change. “The entire Schola Prima has been searched. He’s not here,

and nobody saw him leave the grounds. I’m . . . sorry, Dru.” He even sounded sorry, though a flicker of something passed through his blue gaze. It was there and gone before I could figure out what it

was.

Disappointment crashed through me. “What does the Council want?”

“I don’t know. Only that it’s important. And I can guess they are eager to make amends to you.”

Oh, yeah, I’ll bet. “What about you? You’re the one they put on Trial!”

“Some of them probably already suspected, though they could not move without proof. It’s of little

account, Dru. You’re safe. Anna is on the run. Sergej’s bid to divide and conquer has failed.”

“Sergej.” I didn’t flinch when I said his name, though it did make my head hurt. “He . . . But Anna . . .”