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“Shen,” Kage said, his voice low. “Move. Now.”

I realized I’d stopped, frozen in horror. The girls’ backs were to us. They hadn’t seen us yet. “But—but that boy …”

“He’s gone. We can’t save him. I can’t help him. All I can do is get you and Regan out. Now move!” Kage barked.

The Avari is right. Listen to him.

But maybe if you just …

Nyxaris roared. I jumped. Go now. Listen to the wolf. Get to your tower. I’ll meet you there.

“Not a sound, Shen,” Kage commanded, looking at me as my lip trembled. “Eyes on my back. Follow me. Don’t look.” He started moving again.

But as soon as we’d passed by and turned the next corner, a sob ripped free from my throat. Kage paused at the next junction, shifting Regan a little in his arms. He glanced at me. “There was nothing you could do. You can’t save everyone.”

“I know,” I said, hiccupping. “But their clothes. The girls were in gowns. They’d come from our …” I trailed off.

Kage’s eyes were hard and resolute. “If we fall here, the same thing that happened to him happens to everyone in Avari. You’re our only rider. We need you.” He started moving again, then threw a last command over his shoulder. “Steel yourself.”

I nodded, choking on guilt and grief, but doing as he said. They needed me? How could Nyxaris and I possibly help with … whatever this was?

We took the next corner at a trot—and nearly collided with Professor Rodriguez. He was holding someone in his arms, too. The dwarven girl I’d seen the Bloodguards feeding from earlier. Behind him streamed at least thirty blightborn First Years, disheveled and bleeding. Some were being carried, others leaned against a friend’s shoulder. Most were wearing nightclothes. Some clutched candlesticks. A few had knives. One brandished a battered, sharpened broom handle.

Kage halted. “Rodriguez.”

“What the fuck is going on here tonight, Tanaka?” Rodriguez snapped, blunt as a brick as always.

“Something bad,” Kage retorted.

Rodriguez’s lips twisted. “Bit of an understatement, but I suppose that sums it up.”

“Where are you headed?” Kage asked. “What’s the state of the First Year tower?”

“The First Year tower?” Rodriguez shook his head. “The First Year tower is lost. It’s been overrun.”

“Overrun with what?” I asked, my voice small.

The professor looked past Kage to me, then back to Kage. “Surely you’ve seen what we’ve seen. Students. They’ve all been infected with …” he shook his head “ … with something.”

“Infected how?” Kage demanded. “Some of these students are highbloods. How is that possible?”

“I have no idea how it’s possible. But it’s obvious, isn’t it? Something is stripping away their rationality, heightening their hunger. They’re like animals.” He glanced behind him, then lowered his voice. “I think the ball may have been where the outbreak began. The infection spread from there.”

Kage’s face hardened. “Which means it either came from or has been carried back to Veilmar. Where my family is.”

Rodriguez nodded. “Seems that way. Look, I need to get to an infirmary—now. Several of these First Years were injured in the attack. The girl in my arms was already wounded. She’s lost a lot of blood.”

“What happened to the First Years’ healer?” I asked.

Rodriguez shook his head grimly. “He’s gone.”

Kage’s jaw tightened. “Follow us. The Avari tower has an infirmary—and reinforced doors.” He raised his voice. “First Years, stay close and stay silent. We move as one. Form pairs. Those of you with weapons, eyes sharp. Let’s move.”

Rodriguez took up a position at Kage’s side, angling Dani higher. The two men started forward, and I followed, the crowd of fright-ened First Years shuffling behind us. My tears were drying to salt on my cheeks. As we funneled through the castle, into the dark-ness, I prayed we could find some safety in this night of horrors.

The Avari tower doors slammed shut behind us, and two stern-faced Fourth Year wardens took up positions in front of it immediately on Kage’s command.

“All uninjured First Years—common room, now!” Kage’s voice boomed.