“I don’t have the ring.”

“What?” Momoko’s face turned white with fear. “Wasn’t it in the vault?”

“I can’t get in the vault,” I said. “I need an ID.”

Momoko released me so she could rub her eyes. “And Mason still has your stuff stashed so we can’t get at it. Ugh, it is the worst possible scenario.”

“Mason can’t get in either, unless he convinces the council to make him Adept.”

“Well, even if the ring is in the vault, at least he can’t get it, and you still have the House deed,” Momoko said. “I don’t think they’ll make him Adept without those things.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Momoko’s dark eyes were shiny with fear. “Why?”

“The other wizarding Houses refused to help me—our allies wouldn’t even answer the door. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that if they made a big enough show of united strength, they might convince the council.” My temples pounded as I clutched my paperwork—now useless. I couldn’t wait months for an appeal. I needed to get in now!

“But everyone heard about how you unsealed your magic,” Momoko argued. “They can’t see you as an unfit Adept anymore.”

“Maybe, but no one is lining up outside Drake Hall to offer their support.” I chewed on my lip. “We’ll figure this out. Mason isn’t going to win.”

Momoko combed her fingers through her hair, making her silver bracelet hang from her wrist. “You’re right.”

I bitterly stared at the bracelet. Silver is one of the easiest metals to enchant—which is why it can be effective against werewolves and can hold a spell that cancels magic. Mason had essentially collared all the House Medeis wizards with these magic-canceling bracelets shortly after I left, making them easier to control. I briefly squeezed my eyes shut, then tried to smile. “How is everyone—and the House?”

“We’re surviving,” Momoko said. “It’s rough—the only reason it isn’t worse is there’s enough people who belong to House Medeis that he can’t keep us under watch all the time.”

“And the House?” I prompted again. “Is it weakening?”

Momoko hesitated.

“What is it?”

“It’s stabilized,” Momoko slowly said. “To the point where it’s actually doing…better.”

“What?”

Was the House accepting Mason? But it was common knowledge that if a House was passed out of the main bloodline, it went crazy and things were hard. Why, then, was House Medeis improving?

“Mr. Clark said that maybe Mason has been trying to magic the place, but it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Does the House obey him?”

“No. It still won’t do anything any of us ask. But it’s improved a lot. Mason claims it’s because he’s brought power back to the House—as if we’re stupid enough to believe that.” Momoko grunted.

I stared at a crack in the sidewalk, still trying to process it.

The House was doing better. Without me.

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Momoko swept me up in another hug. “You’re the Adept. House Medeis is waiting for you.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said—though I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Momoko carefully studied my face. “I wish we could talk more, but I do have to go. If Mason suspects I talked to you…”

“Call me,” I said. “I have a phone now.” I hurriedly gave Momoko the number, which she entered in her phone.

“How did you get a phone?”

“Killian gave it to me.”

Momoko paused. “Do you think it’s safe to use? What if he planted a hearing device?”

“Momoko, I live in Drake Hall. He already hears everything I say.”

Momoko gave me a wan smile. “I suppose that’s true.”

“I miss you. Tell everyone I miss them, too.” I hugged her again, blinking back tears.

“Everyone misses you. Felix is going to be so mad that he missed seeing you—his shift is next. And Ivy asks about you all the time,” Momoko said, referring to Felix’s young niece.

I smiled and stepped back. “Be safe.”

“You too.” Momoko squeezed my hand, walked backwards a few steps so she could wave, then hurried down the sidewalk.

Killian stood directly behind me. “News from the House?”

I was tempted to back up and lean against him as I watched Momoko run. I missed my family like a hole in my heart.

But if I wanted a hug, Celestina was a much better candidate than Killian—as comfortable as it was to be near him because of the coolness he radiated.

I made myself stand tall. “Yeah. A lot of complications. Hey, Killian. Could I attend the next Regional Committee of Magic meeting with you?” I turned around to peer up at his face and gauge his reaction.

Killian narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

The news poured from my mouth as I explained everything Momoko had told me.

Killian was silent—even though he’d probably overheard everything we said. He didn’t stop me even when the SUV pulled up and he opened the door for me—the back door, of course.

I slid in, finishing up as I moved to the far side of the bench seat. “Legally Mason shouldn’t be able to get the position of Adept, but nothing has been going the way it should. And if my allies weren’t willing to back me up when he first tried his coup, I don’t think they’re going to step in now.”

I felt tears sting my eyes. Not tears of sadness—well, maybe a little—but mostly frustration.

I had been betrayed by a member of House Medeis, by my own parents, by our allies. And I was sitting here telling this to Killian Drake of all people.

It was like the world had gradually turned upside down while I wasn’t paying attention. Why was I telling Killian anyway? Even if he was invested in my training and my physical wellbeing, House Medeis was way beneath his notice.

Worried, I watched Killian slide into the SUV and shut the door.

He didn’t say a word as he arranged himself in the seat, then turned to meet my gaze.

There was no sense of boredom in his eyes—and no cunning light, either.

He was just…listening.

His eyes—black with flecks of red—were fathomless, but it was obvious I had all of his attention.

I don’t know if I lost my mind for a minute, or if all of the news from Momoko just broke me, but before I knew what I was doing, I scooted back across the bench seat and set my head on his chest with a thump.

I squeezed my eyes shut and almost sighed at the slight chill he radiated. I had always liked it, but today there was something extra calming about it. I breathed deeply, relaxing into Killian’s welcoming coolness, and about the time I sagged against him so he took most of my weight, my brain finally caught up with my body.

I snapped my eyes open, but before I could throw myself back across the car and begin the apologies, Killian curled an arm around my shoulders.

He didn’t say anything. When I risked peeking up at him, he wasn’t even looking down at me, but out the window.

For a moment I tried to figure out if it was better for my health to stay, or lean back. Another glance at Killian revealed he still wasn’t watching me, though he brushed my shoulder once or twice with his thumb.

I opted to stay.

If Killian wasn’t bothered, I wasn’t going to give up the comfort I had found.

I closed my eyes again and let myself rest my head on him for several long moments before I gathered up my emotions and stuffed them down again.

“I’m okay.” I took a breath and nodded a few times. When I glanced at Killian, he was watching me with a curious tilt to his head. I forced myself to sit upright and scooted back to my seat to buckle myself in for the drive.

Killian and the driver exchanged looks in the rearview mirror. Killian shrugged, and the driver switched gears.

“Thank you,” I said once the SUV was finally moving.

Killian had been poking around on an app on his phone, but he looked up long enough to give me a nod that I almost missed.

I clasped my hands and tried to forcefully pull myself together.

“Do you require another cookie?” Killian asked.

“Kitchen’s out of them,” I automatically replied.

“You seem to be under the mistaken belief that the kitchen staff sets the menu for us all,” Killian dryly said. “The point of hiring such a staff is that they provide what you want.”

“Chocolate chip, please.”

Killian tapped away on his phone. “If I had known wizards can be easily bought with baked goods, the beginning of my political career would have been much smoother.”

I laughed. “I can’t see you exchanging cakes for political votes—it wouldn’t match your brand.”

“Yes, that is more something the Paragon would attempt,” Killian admitted.

“You don’t want a naked cat for yourself?”

“I don’t want to even see that mockery of nature, but it’s impossible to talk to the Paragon without him pulling out a photo of that abomination.”

“I think she’s actually got a pretty sweet temperament.”

“Certainly—for something that looks like a hobgoblin.”

I laughed, and by the time we got back to Drake Hall I was feeling a lot better.

I had learned two things on the car ride, however.

Firstly, I wasn’t going to roll over and let Mason take House Medeis from me. Secondly, Killian had to have cared for me at least a little, or he wouldn’t have let me throw myself at him and then trouble himself with polite niceties. He knew what he was doing when he lured me into our discussion. And that—more than the phone, my clothes, and hauling me off to see the Paragon—made me unexpectedly happy.

By the time the next Regional Committee of Magic meeting rolled around, I had a plan.