Chapter 22 · No Grave Under the Tower

Mara's knife didn't move from Cass's throat, but her hand started shaking.

"What did you just say?"

Cass's eyes were his own again. Scared. Human. "Downstairs. Under the exam hall. I don't know what she is anymore, but she knew your name."

Mara shoved him back and ran.

She didn't care if it was a trap. Didn't care if Cass was lying or his dead mom was lying or if the whole school was one big lie at this point. Her mother had been gone for three years. Three years of clinics telling her to let it go, of her sister asking when Mom was coming home, of scholarship boards looking at her like she was one bad semester from washing out.

If there was even a chance—

The stairwell down from the dueling hall was supposed to be locked. The door hung open. Someone had melted the lock from the inside, metal pooled on the stone like candle wax.

Cass caught up behind her, breathing hard. "Mara, wait—"

"Shut up." She took the stairs three at a time.

The air got colder as they went down. Not winter cold.