“He might be able to tell you if there have been any blightborn consorts. Even what they did to survive,” Naveen said. “It’s worth at least asking about.”

“Maybe they just liked their fellow consort and actually worked together,” I said. Deep down I knew that wouldn’t be happening with Regan.

“The person who would really know the most is Professor Hassan. But I don’t think you should approach her,” Florence said regretfully. “She really doesn’t like you.”

“Not the biggest Professor Hassan fan,” I acknowledged. “Though she is certainly knowledgeable.”

“I think she’d be more likely to accuse you of trying to cheat than to give you any helpful information,” Naveen said. “I wouldn’t bother.”

I nodded and pushed my plate away. “Well, no use putting it off.” I rose from the table.

“Now?” Florence looked surprised. “You’re going now?”

I shrugged. “May as well see if he’s in his office.”

When I got to Rodriguez’s office, the door was ajar.

Usually I’d wait in the hallway if I arrived at one of our lessons early and he’d always come to the door of his office and beckon me in.

But now, when I peeked through the crack in the door, it looked as if the room was empty.

Rodriguez’s tall shelves lined with books caught my eye. He had quite the collection. I knew his interests went beyond restoration magic. He knew a great deal about dragons. What else was he interested in?

Ignoring a slight twinge of guilt, I pushed the door open, then shut it behind me exactly as it had been–slightly ajar.

I was just waiting in his office, I told myself. I wasn’t going to touch anything. I knew I shouldn't be in there, not without his permission. But desperation was gnawing at me.

I glanced around the room, taking in the dark wood bookshelves that lined the walls from floor to ceiling.

My gaze locked onto a row of books that seemed older than the others. They were at the top of one of the shelves in the far corner.

I was tall but not that tall. I’d need a rolling ladder just to reach them.

Fortunately, Professor Rodriguez had one built in alongside the shelves.

I grabbed it quickly and slid it over to the shelf. Climbing up, I scanned the books quickly, keeping my ears open for sounds from the hallway.

Some of the volumes were on dragons. Others were on blood magic. One book called Blood Magic and the Serpents of Flame caught my eye, but I kept scanning, hoping to find something more relevant to my immediate situation.

I had almost reached the end of the shelf and was running out of titles to read when I saw it.

The Dark Art of Eternal Bonds.

My fingers brushed the edges of the cover. I felt a cold tingle pass through my hand, as if the book itself might be aware of my intentions.

I froze for a moment, listening for any sounds from the hallway. But it was quiet.

Carefully, I lifted the book from the shelf and cracked open the cover. The parchment was brittle and as I flipped through the pages, the words at first made no sense. Just a jumble of letters, shifting and moving like smoke.

I blinked, feeling panic rise in my throat, but then, the text suddenly sharpened and became legible.

This was the right book. I could feel it.

My fingers flew to the table of contents, my eyes scanning the page. And there it was: “A Ritual to Undo the Binding of Souls.” The words jumped out at me, like a beacon in the dark.

My hand hovered over the page, torn between ripping it out and shoving the whole book into my satchel.

“Find something interesting?”

My heart lurched and I almost dropped the book. I grabbed at the ladder before I could fall backwards, then turned my head.

Professor Rodriguez stood in the doorway, his hands shoved in a pair of shabby brown trousers.

“I’m sorry,” I said automatically. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just waiting for you to come back.”

“You’ve got quite an eye for rare books.” Rodriguez stepped further into the room. He was watching me closely, as if unsure I really knew what I'd found. “Few students can read Classical Sangrathan.”

“I can't,” I blurted. “Read it, I mean. I just thought the cover was beautiful.”

I looked down at the cover, praying it was unique. I hadn’t even glanced at it yet.

Fortunately, the book wasn’t the dullest I’d seen. It was covered in deep, black leather, cracked with age but still rich and polished as if it had been well-cared for over centuries. Silver filigree was coiled around the edges, curling into patterns that resembled wisps of smoke. In the center of the cover was embedded a serpentine silver dragon. I touched it lightly with one finger, feeling its ridges.

“Yes, it's a beautiful book. And rare. Put it back.” Rodriguez’s voice was soft, but his eyes were hard.

I quickly did as he said, then climbed down the ladder.

“Now, did you need something, Miss Pendragon? I don’t recall us having an appointment. Or were you simply snooping?” He dropped a stack of papers onto his desk with a thud and I jumped.

Yes, something was going on with Rodriguez, I decided. He was always on edge, but now he was practically on guard. What was going on with him that he was this suspicious? Or was it just the fact that I’d touched the book?

Part of me wanted to ask him about the ritual, but with his suspicious attitude, I decided I’d better not risk it right now.

“I need something,” I said, walking up to the desk.

“And that something is?” He sank into the wooden chair behind his desk and leaned back.

Even with his misguided sense of fashion, Rodriguez was a handsome man. It wasn’t the first time I’d thought so. With his dark hair and long legs he was exactly my type. Or he would have been, if I wasn’t fairly certain he already had a crush on Professor Sankara.

Or the type I thought was my type before a certain crooked aristocratic nose forced its way into my nighttime dreams...

I forced the thought out of my head.

“I need help surviving the Consort Games,” I said bluntly. “Why did you never tell me about them?”

Rodriguez looked up at me from dark eyes, with a considering expression. “Teachers aren’t permitted to tell students about Bloodwing rites. Especially not that one.”

“Well, I know it exists so it’s not a big mystery. I even know when it will happen,” I bluffed.

He raised his eyebrows. “Do you? That’s interesting. I don’t.”

“It’s always held after the Frostfire Festival, right?” I guessed.

The House Leader rite was happening first. Florence and Naveen had seemed certain of that. And we were too close to midwinter for the Consort Games to be squeezed in before the break. They’d have to take place sometime afterwards. Probably in the spring.

“That’s traditionally when they happen. But who knows about this year?” He looked at me directly. “Things change. The unexpected happens. Just look at you, for example.”

“Speaking of the unexpected, I understand the consorts are expected to work together.” I glanced at the door. Rodriguez had already shut it behind him. “How am I supposed to survive these Games when Regan Pansera hates me?” I hissed.

“That’s certainly a problem,” he agreed. “For you. Not for me.”

I groaned and sank down into the hard wooden chair he always left out for students. I knew better than to take him at his word.

Rodriguez was a hardass, yes, but he didn’t hate me. He might not like me as much as Florence thought, but I doubted he actively was hoping I’d die.

At least, I hoped not.

“Professor,” I wheedled. “Please.”

He laughed. “Whining will get you absolutely nowhere, Pendragon.”

I sighed. “Can you at least tell me if there have been any situations like this? Any precedents for consorts who can’t or won’t work together?”

“Oh, there have absolutely been situations like that,” Rodriguez said. “But you won’t want to hear about any of them.”