Page 36 of The Fifth Heir

“There were five,” he said.

Malcolm’s face tightened. “We still do not know what this wing was intended to house.”

Rafe picked up one of the cups from the table. “I have a theory.”

Sebastian took it away from him again.

The headmaster’s gaze moved around the common room, taking in the five chairs, the five place settings, and the five colored flames now burning in the hearth.

“So do I,” he said.

Malcolm looked at the four traditional heir torcs, then at mine.

“The tower must be examined before anyone remains here.”

The wall runes turned cold white.

Every door leading deeper into the Fifth Wing closed.

The headmaster watched the reaction. “I don’t believe the tower agrees.”

By nightfall, our belongings had been delivered.

The officials inspected every room the wing permitted them to enter, found no immediate danger, and accepted that the five of us would remain there under guard. Malcolm protested until the headmaster asked where else they intended to place an heir whose torc had been waiting inside the academy longer than anyone could determine.

No one had an answer.

Leander called us together in the common room after the last attendant left.

“We need rules,” he said.

Rafe dropped into one of the chairs. “Of course we do.”

“We are sharing living space during a politically unstable succession. Privacy and security must be established immediately.”

Torren took the chair nearest the hearth. Sebastian remained standing beside the study corridor.

I chose the seat farthest from the center.

Leander noticed.

He did not comment.

“No one enters another person’s bathing alcove,” he began. “No one searches another heir’s belongings. Information concerning the Trials remains within this group until we agree otherwise.”

“Within this group?” Rafe asked. “You believe she’s part of it now?”

His eyes shifted toward me.

Leander’s did the same.

The crystal torc rested lightly against my throat. I had touched it at least a dozen times since it fastened itself there, checking that it had not disappeared.

“The Prism chose her,” Torren said.

“The wing admitted her,” Sebastian added.

Rafe leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. “I was asking Leander.”