“No Eclipse-born will be safe,” Baz muttered, feeling all hope dwindle in his chest. Everything they’d been working for, all the planning on how to show the world that the Shadow’s curse was a falsehood, that those who Collapsed could live with their abilities intact, as Baz and Jae and Kai were proof of—all of it would be for nothing if the Regulators decided to weaponize the Reanimatoragainst them. There would be no convincing anyone then. Fear of Eclipse-born would burn brighter than ever, spreading like wildfire through the town, the island, the world at large.
“What about Artem?” Baz asked, holding out a bit of hope as he remembered Virgil had spent the solstice at Artem’s holiday home. “Did you find anything that could help us?”
“Other than Artie’s weakness for whiskey? No. I swear, the guy can’t hold his liquor. Thought he’d surely slip up at some point, but all he did was reminisce about Liza and Keiran and the good old days, getting so drunk he mademefeel sorry for him. Then he’d spend hours locked away in a room he didn’t want me going in.” Virgil cleared his throat. “Pretty sure I heard him crying in there.”
Baz’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“I’m sorry, Brysden.” The car came to a stop halfway up the hill that led to Aldryn. “You should get out here so we’re not seen together.”
“Right. Okay.”
“I’ll let you know if I can dig up some more.”
Baz got out of the car, hand on his chest at the pain his movements elicited. Before he could close the door, Virgil added, “And for Tides’ sake, get that fixed before the Quadri. No one wants to see you hurt.”
“Someone does,” Baz muttered as he started walking up the hill.
The empty corridor that led to Obscura Hall was a welcome reprieve from the bustling campus—that is, until Baz spotted the man from the train hiding in the shadows. He detached himself from the wall he’d been leaning against. Baz held his luggage up, wielding it like a weapon, andscreamed.
“Tides, calm down, it’s only me.” The man threw his hands up in the air in a show of surrender. He still had that hat tucked low, hiding his face, but that voice…
That Tides-damned, impossible voice.
“Kai?”
The Nightmare Weaver laughed as he took off the hat. He tugged his hair out of the bun he’d tied it up in, running a hand through the long dark strands. “Guess I nailed the disguise, huh?”
He looked absolutely ridiculous in that tweed suit and tie and that too-large coat, his fine golden chains hidden away somewhere beneath the stuffy collar. Even without the hat, Baz might have had a hard time recognizing him. Except maybe for that smug grin he wore.
“What in the Tides’ name are you—ow.” Baz winced as the pain in his chest knocked the breath out of him.
Kai was at his side in a flash. “You okay?”
“Fine,” Baz grunted, though he was anythingbut.He should have turned back time to heal himself before walking up the hill, but instead he’d let the pain fuel his fire, his determination to make Artem and every single Regulator pay.
Kai swore. “It’s that piece of shit Artem, isn’t it?”
Baz couldn’t believe he washere. He didn’t know what to say, so he shoved past him to call the elevator, and didn’t deign to speak to or look at Kai even as the metal gates opened and they stepped inside and the gates closed again, drowning them in silence. The elevator jerked into motion. Baz could feel Kai’s gaze on him, but he didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of speaking first.
“Come on, Brysden,” Kai said at last, voice low and soft against the metallic grating around them. “I told you I had to get away from that lighthouse. I know being here’s a risk, but after what happened the other night… I couldn’t stay there anymore. I have to figure this out.”
The elevator came to a stop. The doors opened onto the illusioned fields of Obscura Hall, the tall grass heavy with snow, the skies above a muted gray. Baz couldn’t get out fast enough.
“Baz.”
Kai gripped a fistful of his coat to stop him. Baz whirled on him. “Did you ever consider it’s not just your life you’re putting at risk here? If they find you, that might as well mean the end for my dad, too. And what about the consequences for me and Jae and everyone else who’s been helping? I guess you don’t care about the risk to us, either.”
Hurt flashed in Kai’s eyes. Before he could say anything, a familiar voice sounded behind Baz.
“All valid questions.”
Professor Selandyn stared at the two of them with her hands on her hips, looking sterner and more displeased than Baz had ever seen her. He was glad not to be on the receiving end of that displeasure.
Kai averted his gaze, kicking at the ground. “Look, I won’t stay long, just—”
“Kai Salonga,” the aging Eclipse professor interrupted, “you do realize this campus is about to be crawling with students from all over the world? IncludingEclipse-bornstudents who’ll be staying with us for the duration of the Quadricentennial.Here. In Obscura Hall. Which is now home to a fugitive.” She huffed, then looked at Baz. “And you, Basil. Of all people, you let him come here?”
“I didn’t—”
