Elias stood outside the boys' dormitory room, his heart hammering against his ribs. The leather-bound book from the chapel pressed against his spine through his backpack, and Mallory's folder felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. He had six hours until midnight—six hours to decide whether to join Maren's conspiracy or become their enemy.
But he'd already decided. The prophecy about Isabella Rivers, the evidence of decades of Moonblood purges, the calculated manipulation, it all pointed to one truth. Bella wasn't the monster. Maren was.
He knocked on the door with three sharp raps.
Then he heard movement inside, hushed voices, finally, footsteps approaching the door.
The door opened a crack, and Cassian's face appeared suspicious and guarded. His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles underneath suggesting he hadn't slept. "What do you want, Elias?"
"I need to talk to you. All of you. It's about Bella Rivers."
