Page 19 of A Fate Everlasting

I dragged a hand across my face, wiping the hot tears threatening to blur my vision. I hated them. I hatedhim.The way he stood there, untouchable, beautiful and terrible in equal measure.

“She wasn’t saved.” Dorian folded his arms across his chest, his words impatient. “She doesn’t belong. This is what it’s like here.”

My chest heaved. I wiped my hands on the hem of my sleeve, though there was nothing there. Nothing but blood and grass and the kind of silence that made your thoughts louder. Somewhere behind me, the prefects laughed. It sounded far away, like it came from underwater.

“Saved?” My voice scraped raw. “Saved by what?”

Dorian only sighed, as if I were the one being difficult. The sound of more laughter scattered through the night like shards of ice. The robed students had gathered at the mouth of theclock tower, their faces bright with an excitement I couldn’t begin to comprehend. And then?—

“Ruby?”

I barely recognized my own voice. She practically skipped toward me, her curls in wild disarray, her cheeks pink with exhilaration.

“We did it, Arabella!” she squealed, hands clasped together, bouncing on her heels. I felt something crack inside my skull, severing. I was grateful to see her alive, but a girl had died right in front of us, and Ruby was smiling.

My mouth was bone-dry. “How can you be happy about this?” I hissed. “A girl isdead.”

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh, I know, but she’ll be resurrected. Verrine just hates doing it.”

The world swayed. “…What?” I didn’t know if I whispered it or screamed it.

Ruby tossed her hair over one shoulder. “It’s such a pain. It takes a ton of power to clean up a mess like this.” She leaned closer. “But it’s better for us. Less competition, at the end of the day.”Less competition?

I took a slow step backward, breathing shallow and uneven. That was not a normal thing to say. That was not a normal thing to think.

A voice cut across the courtyard. “Still playing these pathetic games, Cavendish?” Dante called.

He approached, a rolled cigarette dangling between his fingers, the glow catching on the defined lines of his jaw. His posture was all indifference, but his pewter eyes were locked onto Dorian with something colder.

Dorian narrowed his eyes. “You forget I run things here, not the other way around.”

Dante exhaled, rolling the cigarette between his fingers. “Run things?” He tilted his head. “Your father wouldbe thrilled, wouldn’t he? You’re a real credit to the family name. What was that phrase he used to preach? Straight and narrow? Or was itonwardsandupwards?”

A muscle flickered in Dorian’s jaw. It was brief, barely noticeable. But Dante had seen it, too. “We both know I never intended to go upwards,” Dorian bit back.

Dante let out a mirthless laugh. “Enjoy the fun while it lasts, Cavendish.” He turned, cigarette in hand, disappearing into the dark. The Thread was quiet. Still,as if holding its breath.

“That was a new one.” A robed girl stepped forward, red-polished nails flashing as she extended a hand. “No one’s ever grabbed a prefect mid-fall before. Nice one, Davenant.”

“Thanks,” I said bitterly. I didn’t take her hand, but her smile only deepened.

“I’m Rosaline. Your third roommate.” She studied me, gaze sweeping over me like I was something unexpected.

“You and your friends killed an innocent girl tonight,” I said, gritting my teeth.

Then, to my horror, she laughed. “Innocent?” she echoed, shaking her head. “That’s not a word we use around here.” My skin prickled, but not with anger, not entirely. She took a step back, her robes swishing. But before she turned, her voice dipped lower, just for me. “Be careful, Davenant.”

It wasn’t a threat, but it wasn’t a reassurance. I braced against them but the words took root inside of me, somewhere deep the Thread could not reach.

Dorian turned back to me, brushing off Dante like dust on his sleeve. “Celebratory drinks are on me,” he said easily, as if nothing unusual had transpired tonight. “Crossed Keys. Midnight.”

I barely heard him. My eyes were locked on the body still sprawled on the grass. Dorian nodded to Rosaline. His attentionflicked down, lingering on the corpse for no more than a second. “Dealwith her,” he said.

I felt sick. He didn’t need to clarify. “I’m going to Verrine. Right now.”

Dorian was in front of me before I could move, grip curling firm around my wrist. “No, you’re not,” he said, voice low. “My mother doesn’t care, Arabella. Come have a drink instead. You passed the initiation. Now, don’t you want to know what comes next?”

“This is when you learn our secrets,” Rosaline said with a wink.

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