Chapter 17 · Mom Behind the Door

Seraphina held the second ring between two fingers like she was showing off a prize fish.

"Put that away," Mara said. Her blade was still out, blood running down the hilt and onto her wrist. "Now."

Seraphina smiled. Not the council smile. Something sharper. "You already bled on yours, Flint. Little late to be squeamish about mine."

Cass's hand was still burning where Mara's blood had hit the metal. The skin under his ring looked red, blistered. He tried to pull it off. It didn't move. "Where did you get that?"

"Same place you got yours." Seraphina stepped forward, boots scraping stone. The passage behind her was dark, but Cass could see markings on the walls. More of the script from the exam hall. "Your father's office. Third drawer, false bottom. He kept two."

Mara shifted her weight, angling the blade between Seraphina and the tunnel mouth. "You've been in the dean's office."

"I've been in a lot of places." Seraphina's eyes flicked to Cass. "Your dad liked insurance. One ring to open doors. One to close them. Guess which one he gave his useless son."

Cass's throat went tight. "He didn't give me anything.