Page 11 of Severed Heir

I blinked, caught off guard. “Where are you really going now?”

The wind whipped her silver hair into a frenzy. “I told you,” she said. “I’m spending time with the Serpent of Night. As you mentioned—being beneath him might be fun. And I’m long overdue.”

Flame crawled up my throat. “Archer wouldn’t dare let you in.”

She leaned over the reins, eyes glinting like polished silver. “You and Archer might share a rider bond, but he chooses when and if you hear him. He, however, always hears you.”

“That’s not how rider bonds work.”

“No,” she said, tugging the reins. “But what’s between you two isn’t a rider bond.”

She paused at the crest of the trail. “I’ll be waiting for your titling announcement. I do love a good Serpent Press scandal.” Nevia lunged forward at her signal, the scorpion vanishing into the dusk.

Archer once told me there were three types of bonds. I only understood one, rider bonds. And even that, I barely knew how they worked. So what bond was she talking about?

I considered running, but one look at the near-barren wasteland told me I wouldn’t survive a single night without weapons. So I approached the estate, lifted my fist to knock, but the iron door groaned open before I had even touched it.

Shit. I suppose I should’ve addedslightly hauntedto the list of reasons to fear Malvoria.

I stepped inside and was swallowed by a vast, echoing chamber. The ceiling arched high above, vaults of black stone threaded with iron beams that belonged in a fortress, not an institute for guards. Sparse torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows across the cracked slate floor.

Training weapons lined the walls, shields, swords, staffs—each mounted with cold precision. A central arena sunk into the middle of the room like a pit for beasts. The scent of blood andsweat clung to the air. Every inch of this place screamed discipline.

“Hello?” My voice echoed. “Is anyone there?”

Another door groaned open, and a tall, gray-haired man stepped into view. He was broad-shouldered and rugged, with a silver scar running down the left side of his face. He gave me a tight nod before asking, “Name and reason?”

There was something familiar about him. Something that made my skin crawl. “My name is Severyn Blanche,” I said cautiously. “What do you mean by reason?”

He didn’t blink. Just studied me like he already knew how much of me would have to break to survive this place.

“Reason for being here,” he said. “No one ends up in Malvoria by accident.”

I swallowed hard. “I was expelled.”

He grunted. “We all have our reasons for coming to Malvoria.” Then he stepped aside and motioned me forward.

I hesitated. “I don’t know why I’m here,” I whispered. “Because I am a—”

And then Archer slammed into the bond.“Don’t tell him you won Serpent,”his voice cut in, sharp and urgent.“Keep it hidden. For now.

The guard’s gaze never wavered. “What school were you at before? Valscribe? Serpent? Nordiamsire for trades? Horticulture of Planters?” He pulled a quill and slip of parchment from his coat, scribbling my name down with practiced ease before glancing up. “Blanche? Are you related to Charles Blanche?”

“I was at the Serpent Academy,” I said carefully. “And yes. Charles is my eldest brother.”

His jaw tensed, and the quill bent slightly beneath his grip. “My daughter’s leading the charge for the Night title. Her name is Delair. Perhaps you’ve met her.”

Delair.

A breath hitched in my throat, lungs locking tight. He didn’t know. Gods—he had no idea that she was dead. That I had killed her during the Skyfall race.

“I don’t think I ever met her,” I lied, forcing the words out steady as I avoided the silver scar slashing down his cheek. “I was a Summer student. Saani expelled me. Said I wasn’t performing well.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I haven’t heard from Delair in months. We hardly get missions from the academy anymore.”

My stomach twisted. I thought I might throw up, right there on the cold stone floor.

He waved a hand. “Nonetheless, Malvoria welcomes you. It can be overwhelming, I know, but we’re a family here. Brothers. Sisters.”

---