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"Theryn?" Someone says. Silence. Everyone knows.

I step toward the table. "She's corrupted." My voice shakes. First time. I hate it. "Students are hesitating because they recognize her."

The Headmaster looks at me. "What did you tell them."

"That it isn't her." A lie. Maybe. Maybe not. Necessary.

Professor Kaelis isn't here. Of course. Deployed?

No, maybe among professors left? Doesn't matter.

"We cannot bring her down without killing her."

My stomach turns. No one answers.

A runner enters. "East courtyard lost!" Another behind him. "Village breach expanding!" Another: "Two dragons down!" Everything at once.

Father points to the map. "Close inner access."

"No." I say. His head turns. Everyone's does. Oops.

"Eirea."

"If you close it, everyone outside loses shelter."

"The Hollowborn can follow them in."

"They're already inside." Silence. True.

The Headmaster looks at me. "What do you propose."

Oh. I don't know. Everyone waiting for me to be right.

Fuck. Think. Don't protect territory. Protect people.

"Controlled entry." I say. "Two doors. Identity code. Visual inspection. White eyes don't enter. Everyone else gets inside."

Professor Vayne nods once. "Do it."

There. Decision. Runners move.

Nyra comes beside me. Cassian on the other side.

For one second, all three of us stand there. Alive. Dirty. Bloodied. Breathing.

"This is significantly worse than cards." Cassian says.

A laugh breaks out of me. Wrong. Horrible. Needed. Nyra looks at him like she might cry or kill him. Maybe both.

Then another explosion shakes the Academy. Dust falls. Everyone ducks. I don't even flinch as much now. That's probably bad.

I look toward the western windows. Smoke turns the sky black. Magic keeps flashing through it. Dragons.

Fire. Screaming.

Somewhere four hours away, Caelen is in Elarion.

Rhyven too. Good. They need to stay there. They were sent for a reason. Varethia has us. We can do this. We have to.