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“House Leader,” Medra quipped. “To what do we owe this great honor?”

He looked right past Medra and directly at me. “I’m afraid that I need Miss Shen to accompany me.” His voice was strained.

“What? Why? Not back to Regan’s fucking office again!” Medra exclaimed hotly. She crossed her arms over her chest. “We’re not going back there. Florence is not going back there. Unless everyone wants another taste of dragon fire.”

She is very protective of you. Nyxaris was back.

She is, I agreed, feeling happy. She’s a very good friend.

Of course she is. She gave you me, Nyxaris said with shameless self-centeredness. In any case, I’ve been expecting this. Don’t overreact.

Overreact? What do you mean, “Don’t overreact”? I hissed back. I like to be prepared for everything. You know that! Tell me, Nyxaris.

But he was gone again.

“No, not back to the headmistress’s office,” Kage responded. “My grandmother is waiting. She’d like to speak with us.”

I looked at Medra. Kage had said us. What did that mean?

My friend was frowning. “Us?”

“With Florence and me,” Kage said stiffly. “Florence, will you please accompany me back to my room? She’s waiting there.”

I got to my feet slowly. “Of course.”

Medra glared at Kage. “She’d better be back here in an hour or I’ll be banging at your door. In one piece, do you hear? And not crying.” She glanced at me. “Will you be all right? Do you need me to go with you?”

I shook my head. “I’ll be all right. But thank you. I’ll see you back here soon.”

I followed Kage into the hallway. He led the way up the next flight of stairs, down a narrow hall. Finally, we stopped in front of a door etched in silver.

“What’s this really about?” I whispered to him.

But he just shook his head and flung open the door. “Grandmother, may I present to you Miss Shen.” He gestured for me to step into the room. “Miss Shen, may I present my grandmother, Lady Elaria Avari.”

Lady Avari stood on the far side of the room, near a white marble hearth. With the firelight flickering against silver hair pinned up with diamonds, she looked like a portrait of highblood royalty come to life. Slowly, she turned to face us. She was dressed in a long black velvet dress with a silver jacket overtop. The motto of House Avari, Luna Sanguinea Surgit, was stitched across her left breast. A silver crescent moon pendant hung from a pearl choker at her throat. Her eyes were dark like her grandson’s. They found mine instantly—sharp, assessing. Not unkind exactly, but not completely warm either.

“Miss Shen.” She came across the room and stopped halfway near a cluster of comfortable-looking armchairs and sofas. “It’s so good to finally meet you. My grandson has told me how eager he was to make sure you were recruited into his house. I understand you’re something of an academic prodigy.” She sat down in an armchair and gestured for me to come take a seat.

I selected a sofa across from her and sat down slowly, feeling ill at ease. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Avari. But I assure you, I’m no prodigy. I just work hard.”

I glanced up as Kage crossed the room. He took a seat by the window, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

Lady Avari was watching me. “You’ve led a very eventful life these past few weeks, haven’t you, Florence?”

“I suppose so,” I said carefully. How much did she know? I wondered.

Everything. Nyxaris’s voice was grim. The Avari boy will have told her everything. There is no point in hiding, fireheart.

Fireheart?

A pause. I have decided it is no longer fitting to address you as fledgling. You are not a hatchling, after all. You are a rider.

Thanks, I guess, I stumbled.

Do not thank me yet.You are in the wolf’s den now, remember.Tread warily.

That was a little alarming. I sat up straighter.