My phone had several messages when I finally left solitary. My guilt didn’t stop me feeding on the sullied man one more time.

I called back Ashley and was told about a meeting with the other coaches scheduled for nine o’clock this morning. At least I had time to go back to my apartment to freshen up before the meeting, sure I wouldn’t get a welcoming reception in the bloody clothes I was in now.

When I reached the conference room, Aaron, Mac, and Anderson were already waiting in the hallway since the door was closed. I nodded to each of them, receiving only the same in return.

It didn’t take long for the double doors to open. They were power operated, so no one in the Assembly of Seven had to rise from the oval conference room table.

“Come in, gentlemen,” Janice called from the far side of the room.

We filed through the doorway as a group while Aaron made a snide comment to Anderson about not all of us being “gentlemen.” He knew there was nothing I’d do about it here.

I felt everyone’s eyes on me as we lined up at the nearside of the table. The majority of them were hostile, though the eyes of my biggest adversary, Douglas Fiennes, were less critical than usual.

“Thank you all for coming,” Janice said. “We’ve had a very eventful candidacy for our final class, but ultimately a successful one. I want to thank you for all the hard work you’ve put in, in preparing these candidates for the tumultuous road ahead.”

The others sitting around the table nodded agreement.

“I would like to officially let you know all candidates have passed their final tests. The initiation ceremony is being scheduled for one week from today—10 p.m. sharp. Please inform your candidates—or pre-initiates, rather—and ensure they’re prepared.”

She’s done it, I thought. Everything Fiona had gone through had paid off. The future was unfolding just as it was supposed to—which also meant her end was coming much too soon. There had been a great many things we’d known would happen, but when they did, there was still a level of surprise. I was still waiting for that moment we knew would arrive, that for some reason didn’t—and what that would ultimately mean.

“Thank you, President Bolt,” Aaron said. “Thank you for giving Mallory a second chance to prove her commitment. She is increasingly committed to our cause.”

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by her transformation,” Janice said. “As well as Fiona’s. I’m confident they will be great assets.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Unless anyone has anything to add, the coaches are dismissed.”

No one raised a voice, so the four of us walked out in single file. The other three went one way down the hall, and I went the opposite—more out of wanting my own space than really needing to go this way.

I stopped at the nearest bank of elevators, to get back to the ground floor. The North Building was relatively quiet at this time of the morning. It didn’t have the opposite schedule like Sisters of Mercy, but the work hours were mostly later than the typical nine to five.

The elevator to the left dinged and the doors opened, and I instantly regretted not following the other coaches.

“Going up?” Taylor asked. She was wearing a navy-blue business suit with a knee-length skirt—looking quite conservative—not how I was used to seeing her.

“I think I’ll wait for the next one,” I said, remaining firmly planted in place.

“Don’t be such a child, Matthew,” she scolded, pressing the button to hold the doors open when they tried to close. “You’re the one who bites, not me.”

I balled my hands into fists. “How is this building not big enough to keep us from running into each other?” I asked and reluctantly lurched forward, then stepped into the elevator cab. I made a show of angling myself away from her. “Ground floor, please.”

“It seems our common destiny continues. Are you feeding on your new human pet now, or are you still abstaining altogether—or trying to, anyway?” she asked as the elevator began to move.

“I’m not going to talk about this with you.” I kept my eyes on the numbers of the changing floors.

“It’s against your nature to abstain from human blood. I never asked you to go against your nature.” She reached out to touch my arm and I shrugged her hand away.

There weren’t many floors to go, but it felt like each took longer to reach than the last.

“I’m sorry about last time,” she said sweetly. “I’m just hurt you’re trying to shut me out. I don’t understand why. We were good for each other.”

“No, we weren’t,” I snapped. “I don’t like myself when I’m with you.”

“For being yourself? I don’t care you’re not human. I think you should embrace what you are.”

“I’m really not interested in your opinion.” My phone began to buzz in my pocket.

By the time I got the phone to my ear, the doors opened for the ground floor and I sprang out of the cab ahead of Taylor, not glancing back to see if she was following.

“Mr. Mercer, this is Jeremy Salts, executive assistant to Gideon Brent,” the young male voice said. “Mr. Brent would like to arrange a meeting with you. Are you available Monday?”

“See you around, Matthew,” Taylor called from somewhere behind me. I kept right on walking.

“I can make myself available,” I said. “When would the consul like to meet?”

“Would ten or eleven a.m. work?”

“The sooner the better. I’ll be there at ten,” I said and hung up. I’d just learned Fiona’s fate, now I had to wait three days to find out mine.

I need some blood.