I grimaced in sympathy. “That’s why she freaked about the law limiting the number of Unclaimed.”

Killian shrugged. “She could have been adopted into another Family. With our numbers dwindling, most Families welcome adopted vampires now.”

“Yeah, but that’s a pretty new thing, isn’t it? I heard some of the Drake Family chatting, and it seems like being adopted usually puts a vampire in a lower position.”

“If you are trying to talk me into feeling pity for her, it won’t work,” Killian darkly said. “She killed vampires and humans alike.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “She clearly had a loose screw. I’m not at all trying to justify her actions, but it doesn’t make you second-guess your new law?”

“No,” Killian said. “Because every vampire life is precious. And Unclaimed don’t survive long.”

“Why is that?” I asked. “They can purchase blood—it’s not like you guys are reliant on other vampires for provision.”

“No,” Killian agreed. “We rely on our Families for power and protection. Unclaimed don’t survive long because they are walking targets. They have no allies among the vampires, which makes them easy prey for the rest of the supernaturals.”

“I don’t believe that,” I protested. “As a community we have to get along—or we’ll collapse.”

Killian raised his other eyebrow. “And I suppose your experience has disproven this?”

I shut my mouth so hard my teeth clicked.

When the other Houses had refused to help me, I knew I was dead. Everyone knew what would happen, and the werewolves hadn’t tried to stop it, and the fae nobles my parents had been allies with hadn’t sought me out after I pledged servitude to Killian.

I was able to survive because of the Drake Family, not because of the goodwill of our community.

It was heartbreaking. Knowing that magic was dying should have united us…but while on the surface everything seemed okay since there weren’t many conflicts and no wars, in reality the magical races had drawn lines of separation.

Except I’m a wizard living here in Drake Hall. Does that count for anything?

“Isn’t there a way you could make things safer for the Unclaimed?” I asked, not quite ready to let go yet.

Killian tilted his head as he thought.

“I mean, you’re the all-powerful, intelligent Killian Drake,” I said, buttering him up for all I was worth. “Creating an alternative should be easy for you.”

The flat set of his eyebrows and the line of his mouth said he knew what I was doing and wasn’t falling for it, but he played with my fingers as he thought. “I could require contact or nearby living quarters with other Unclaimed. If they form their own sort of community—even if it’s small—it would provide more protection than living alone as a sitting duck.”

The light in his eyes was curious now—he was thinking about it.

Which surprised me. I didn’t honestly think he’d be willing to change something he’d done. Maybe his concern for the preservation of the vampire race as a whole really was what drove him, rather than a general thirst for power.

“You don’t regret your decision?”

“Huh?” I snapped my eyes to Killian’s face.

He finally set my arm down on my mattress—though he still held my hand. “You don’t regret your decision to kill the vampire?”

I furrowed my brow. “No. Why would I?”

Killian raised his eyebrows. “Because of your sanctimonious and precious House rules?”

“Oh. That.” I briefly pursed my lips, then shook my head. “No. I did the right thing. It might go against House rules, but I feel it here.” I thumped my chest with my free hand, breaking off in a wheeze when I realized it was my mangled shoulder. When I recovered my breath I added, “I’d rather fight and spill blood than let my friends die in front of me.”

“Even if it means you can’t lead your House?” Killian asked.

I considered his words. “Yeah. It was right,” I repeated.

He stared at me with an intense scrutiny in his eyes I couldn’t quite place. Did he think I was stupid? Did he believe I had fallen into whatever plan he had concocted? (If so, he had another think coming to him: just because I’d stop someone from killing him didn’t mean I was going to do his bidding.)

I figured he’d keep pestering me about it, but he abruptly replaced his stare with a smug smirk. “Then you consider me a friend? My wizard, you are more naïve than I thought.” His voice was such a rich velvety purr it was obvious he was playing it up to cover whatever he was thinking.

“Let’s just say I don’t want to see you die,” I said.

“An acceptable beginning.” He leaned closer, his eyes at half-mast. “I can’t say I’ve ever seduced a wizard, but it might be fun to give it a try.”

I sucked my neck into my shoulders. “No,” I said. “Don’t do that.”

Killian inched closer. “Do what?”

“Look here. You need to learn about personal boundaries and comfort zones.”

“Quite right,” he agreed, his faint British accent thickening into something much stronger. “Why don’t you teach me?”

I scrunched my nose at him. “Come any closer and I’ll purposely open my shoulder wound and stink you out of the room.”

Unexpectedly, Killian froze, his head half-cocked. “Touché, little wizard.” He leaned back in his chair just as the door thumped open.

“I thought I heard your voice!” Celestina had a big smile on her face—and a smoldering potion in each hand. “I’m so glad you’re awake!” She set the potions on my nightstand and sat at the edge of my mattress, leaning in so she could give me a hug. “You were amazing.”

“She was no such thing.” Killian let his head loll on his neck in exasperation. “She nearly got herself killed with nothing to show for it. Idiotic, that’s what she was.” He reached around Celestina so he could flick me on the forehead. “Once she is healed there is going to be a discussion about the stupidity of flinging herself into danger.”

I was pretty surprised Killian would have anything to say about that—particularly since he only gained from me attacking Solene. But I ignored his comment—and the flick to the forehead—and leaned into Celestina’s hug. She was nice and cool, and I felt a little warm.

Celestina, however, didn’t ignore her boss. “She nearly bested a vampire without magic, and she destroyed her seal all by herself,” she said. “I think we should celebrate.”

“You’re going soft,” Killian grumbled. “Throwing the wizard a treat just because she survived—ridiculous.”

Celestina pulled back and gave me one of the smoldering fae potions. “Drink these—your shoulder is still in rough shape.”

“Is Rupert complaining that I’m stinking the house up again?” I took the glass bottle from her and chugged the potion. This one had a thick, chalky texture, but it looked more appealing than the liquid-y bright pink one she passed off to me next. Right before I tipped it to my lips, my brain caught up with my mouth. “Oh—gosh. Did someone get his car back to him? He’s going to hate my guts if the city towed it!”

“We brought it back,” Celestina assured me. “And he wasn’t at all put out about it.”

I sniffed the potion—which oddly smelled of coconut. “Yeah, and if that isn’t the biggest lie I’ve heard this year, I don’t know what is.” I threw my head back and tossed the potion down. It fizzed almost painfully in my mouth and throat, but my shoulder ached enough I didn’t care.

Celestina watched with the care of a nurse. “You should eat. Think you can make it down to the kitchens, or should I call for someone to bring something up?”

“I can make it.” I rolled my shoulders, making my body creak. “I think it’d be good for me.”

Celestina backed up so I could slide out of bed. I stared down at my pajamas (Drake issued and silken, of course) then shrugged. Pretty much everyone in Drake Hall had either witnessed me screaming or dripping with sweat. I didn’t think pajamas could hurt my reputation.

I limped for the door, my joints getting looser with each step I took, but paused in the doorway.

Killian remained seated while Celestina circled my bed, collecting the empty potion bottles and a few used blood pouches.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” I said.

“Of course,” Celestina said. “Go eat. I got some fae bath bombs online. When you finish eating we’ll throw one in the tub for you.”

I nodded and glanced at Killian, waiting to see if he’d look at me. (He wouldn’t.)

I shrugged and padded from the room.

“Remember, Wizard. We will discuss your actions later,” Killian called through the open door.

I grinned as I started down the hallway, feeling better than I had in ages. Killian probably just wanted to lecture me before forcing more training on me. But after my fight with Solene, I was more than happy to accept more free training.

Yeah, life still sucked. My parents were dead and Mason had taken over House Medeis…but I was starting to appreciate the Drake Family—even if I didn’t approve of Killian’s ways. And somehow…I felt better.

Maybe it was that my senses were now blasted open to the magic that soaked the air, but a part of me suspected it was more than that.

Over the past few months I’d come to realize how off some of House Medeis’s rules were—like the no killing, even in self-defense one. But I’d made up my mind that I wasn’t going to follow that law, and it weirdly made me feel freer.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about Mason or House Medeis, but I was also pretty sure I first needed to get used to my new powers. Given the other Houses’ attitude, I was probably safest testing them out and training here in Drake Hall.