"I am a skilled mate, and performing the ritual with another elemental would require several days. When you are less likely to get yourself killed in my absence, I may do exactly that. For now, I must remain watchful and vigilant."

I know I don't have to tell him I'm glad he's here. He'll feel it through the tether.

I'm especially grateful as I walk through the chilly halls on my way back to the water tower. Every time I learn more about siphons, I feel more terrified by the idea that one of them is lurking on campus, searching for something.

But what the hell is it they're looking for?

22

"Um... Beck? What exactly is this?"

Beck smiles wide as he gestures to a group of five first-year waters he has paraded into the common room. It's late, but our promotion to aspirant privileges means we have a light day of classes on weekends, so we're all less exhausted than usual. At least most of us are. Some seem to be using the extra time to sleep with everyone they can.

The fear that every day could be our last has a lot of students acting without reserve. Who is sleeping with whom doesn't even qualify as an interesting rumor at this point. If anything, my lack of sexual activity is more rumor worthy than someone bedding a different partner every night.

I eye Beck and his small parade of pretty girls. A prickle of foreboding crawls up my spine—whatever he's doing, I'm sure it's going to be stupid.

"Agreed," Typhon says. "His elemental, Uther, also lacks deep intelligence. And he's rather promiscuous, from what I hear."

"Elementals gossip about sex, too?"

"We do not gossip. We simply exchange facts, suspicions, and bits of news."

"So you gossip."

Typhon blows out a puff of steam from his nostrils and turns his head slightly from me, his reptilian pride clearly wounded. "In any case. It seems the yellow-haired human is displaying his mating conquests. Impressive. I can deduce he has a preference for large milk glands in sexual partners. Curious. Would those not prove a hindrance in combat?"

"These," Beck says, sweeping his arm with a flourish, "are my suggestions for our fifth Crucible member. Each woman here was carefully vetted.”

One of the girls—a redhead with a curvy figure and, as Typhon noted, large "milk glands," cocks her head. "You said you had a surprise for me."

"Right, Misti!" Beck says, moving to touch both her arms and bend down to her height. "You've got a one in five chance of being added to our group. That's the surprise."

"But who are these other girls?" She asks, pointing at the others, who all look equally confused. "You told me you didn't talk to Havi anymore."

"Excuse me?" Havi asks. She's a dark-skinned girl with upturned eyes and cat-like features. "You said Misti was 'old news.'"