“Neither, really,” Aarya says, and for the first time ever, she looks vulnerable. “He stumbled into a situation he couldn’t handle and got knocked out like a dumb—” Aarya stops herself and coughs.

Blackwood turns to me.

I look at Ash. He was once on the wrong side of this, too. And it didn’t stop me from doing everything I could to save his life. He could easily have been in the position Felix is in right now.

I make eye contact with Aarya and nod. “It’s like Aarya says. He just got caught in the middle. Conner has a bad habit of blackmailing people.”

Blackwood nods at Aarya, who doesn’t lose a second. She pulls Felix into the hallway and past the guards, whistling as she goes.

Blackwood makes her way to Conner, who’s dragging himself across the floor, leaving a trail of blood.

“One way or another we’re going to find your father,” Conner says through clenched teeth. “And when we do, you’ll wish I’d killed you in this room.”

“Very moving last words,” Blackwood says. “But I think the material point is that if someone finds him, it won’t be you.” Blackwood glares at Conner like he’s a loathsome parasite and she’s trying to decide what to do with him.

I don’t spare him another glance. Aunt Jo was right about Dad’s family—good riddance.

“After you take Ashai to the infirmary, November,” Blackwood says over her shoulder, not taking her eyes off Conner, “please meet me in my office….And close the door on your way out.”

Chapter Forty

ASH IS DOZING in the infirmary. He tried to stay awake to talk to me, but whatever the nurse gave him knocked him out cold. He only mumbled an incoherent sentence or two before his eyes fluttered shut.

I watch his chest rise and fall and I exhale audibly. If Aarya hadn’t showed up when she did, I honestly don’t know how much I would have lost tonight. Probably both our lives, and maybe my dad’s as well.

“We should get your cuts cleaned up,” the nurse says, and I turn around. She wears her long black hair in a braid that reaches her waist. A single gray streak near her temple makes her look like a sorceress. And she’s petite, but her voice is raspy and commanding.

“I know. And I promise I’ll be back. But Headmaster Blackwood told me to come see her first,” I say, and she gives me a stern look.

“Get on with it, then,” she says, and I do.

I make my way through the silent hallways, passing three guards as I go. They all watch me, but no one looks at me like I shouldn’t be there, which makes me think they already know what happened with Conner.