Chapter 14 · Keep Him Out

Cass hit the dorm stairs running. His boots slapped stone and he didn't care who heard. The sky outside the narrow windows was wrong again—pink and gold, first-period light, same as every reset. He'd left Mara standing in that tunnel with blood drying on her palm and a message neither of them wanted to read twice.

Don't let him enter First Bell.

He shoved through the common room. A couple second-years looked up from their card game, but Cass was already past them, taking the spiral up to his floor two steps at a time. His chest burned. His father's ring felt hot against his finger, like it knew he was about to do something stupid.

Nix was awake. Sitting on his bunk with his alchemy notes spread across the blanket, chewing on a piece of dried apple. He glanced up when Cass slammed the door.

"You look like hell," Nix said.

"I need you to keep me out of First Bell."

Nix blinked. "What?"

"Lock me in. Tie me down. I don't care." Cass crossed the room and gripped the bedpost. His knuckles went white. "Just don't let me go to that exam."

Nix set down his apple. Slowly.