I had a clearer head than the rest of them, but not by much. I led the way back up to school and tried not to trip over my own feet as we stumbled up the stairs leading to the dormitories. Alexei fell over, and Theo giggled behind him. Gods, we were so drunk.
Then I smelled it. The blood. It was metallic and tangy, stinging my nose. I threw my arm out to stop the boys behind me. “Wait,” I told them. “Something’s not right. Can you smell that?”
They sniffed the air, and immediately sobered. It wasn’t that late in the evening, just past dinnertime. I bet everyone was still in the cafeteria. The blood was fresh, warm. The smell only got stronger as we came closer to it.
We rounded the corner to the main hallway that led to the dorms. There, in a place where someone would want a body to be found, was Professor Waldron.
But he wasn’t alive. His corpse had been attached to the wall several feet above the ground. A large spear was embedded in his chest, pinning the body in place on the wall. Blood dripped down from the corpse and onto the floor below, creating a thick pool that spread throughout the carpet. His gut had been cut open, and entrails spilled out of it, hanging in a grotesque display.
There beside him on the wall was a message written in his own blood.The Black Claw has found its master. Hail to the dark god Droga. Hail to the Hidden King.
Chapter Twelve
Emma
“But who’s the Hidden King?” I asked.
Ethan gave a long sigh. “I don’tknowwho the Hidden King is. Nobody does. That’s why everyone is freaking out.”
I put eggs benedict and bacon on my plate, my favorite breakfast of all time. The usually-bustling cafeteria was quiet and somber today… as it had been since Professor Waldron had been murdered a week ago, and that hideous message had appeared on the wall.
Ethan seemed irritated and on edge. I couldn’t blame him. He’d been one of the people to find Professor Waldron’s body, along with Stefan, Alexei, and Theo. It had to be traumatic for all of them.
“But you must havesomeidea,” I insisted as we sat down at one of the nearest dining tables. Ethan had a plate piled high with bacon, eggs, sausage, ham, and about a million other meats.
Perfect for a wolf, I guessed. I don’t think I’d seen him eat a vegetable since I’d met him.
Ethan shook his head and bit into a strip of bacon with a sullen look. “I don’t. The Black Claw has never had a leader, let alone a king. It’s like they just made it up to scare people.”
“Leaving a body hanging from a spear in the middle of Arcanea University is more than a scare tactic. It’s a clear threat,” I pointed out.
Ethan rubbed his face. “I know, Emma. It’s just weird. A few months ago, people… including me… thought the Black Claw was gone for good. Now since my dad’s been gone, it’s like they’re out in full force all over again.”
A permanent frown was embedded on his face— as if Ethan thought he was the reason for the Black Claw’s return, and blamed himself for Professor Waldron’s death.
I reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it lightly. “Hey. It isn’t your fault.”
He gave me a slight grimace. “You’d have a hard time convincing me of that.”
I bumped my foot against his underneath the table. “Maybe I’ll kick it out of you.”
His grin faltered. “It’s just… there’ve never beentwokings in Malovia. This… Hidden King has got to be some sort of challenge to the throne,” Ethan said. “They see an opening now that my father’s gone, and want to take it.”
“They can’t overthrow the Malovian monarchy, can they? They’ll never have enough support from the people to back them up,” I said.
He shook his head. “All I know is, the King’s Contest can’t get here quick enough. We need someone to hold the crown. Things are getting darker every day.”
I munched on my eggs. “Are you still thinking of entering that thing?”
He nodded. “Yes. It’s my duty.”
“But is it what you want?” I asked.
“Does it matter? Malovia needs me.” Ethan finished wolfing down the rest of his meal, then stood up. “I’ve got class. There’s a sub now for Interspecies Cooperation. Let’s see if he’s worth his weight.”
“I hope things go all right,” I told him. “But don’t go blaming yourself for what happened to Waldron. There was nothing you could do. Even if you guys got to the hallway earlier, there’s no guarantee those Black Claw freaks wouldn’t have killed you, too.”
He let out a huff. “Just… be careful, okay?” Ethan warned. “Arcanea University is supposed to be safe, but somehow, the Black Claw broke in and managed to kill Waldron without being seen. Don’t go anywhere unless you have someone with you.”
