Page 30 of Severed Heir

“Death dwellers’ weak points are the spine,” she said flatly. “Hit there, and you spare yourself the nightmare.”

Rok nodded. “And rippers?”

“They need hosts,” she replied. “You mimic their death to free the soul.”

The mention of a ripper beast made my skin crawl. I edged closer. “Are they the worst things out there?”

Rok let out a short laugh. “Worst death, yeah. They burrow under your skin. Wear the host like a cloak.”

I didn’t dare mention I’d seen Klaus at the academy, worn by one. I’d done everything I could to forget that moment.

Then Rok split us into three groups: Serpent failures, Valscribe outcasts, and leaders. Myla stood with the last. Ellison drifted back to my side. I remembered him once saying he’d nearly made it into Serpent.

Then Antonia stepped toward me. “I won’t be dragged down,” she said. “Rok wants us to build a shelter.”

I ignored her as Ellison crouched beside me, stacking sticks to build a fire. “Hope I get marked a leader,” he muttered. “My father was a guard before he died.”

I asked, “Didhe die at Malvoria?”

He shrugged. “It’s complicated.” Then, with a crooked smile, he added, “As long as I’m not back in the cellars, I’d rather not disappoint him.”

I huffed a dry laugh. “We’d probably all be better off if we stopped trying to earn our parents’ approval.”

Ellison tilted his head, eyes catching in the firelight. “I see why you failed Serpent.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your attitude,” he said plainly. “Was it Saani who kicked you out?”

I scoffed. “No. I was expelled for leaving campus.”

Ellison leaned closer. “And what was worth expulsion? You only get, what—eight days off a year?”

My spine stiffened. “Why do you care so much about my life?”

“I thought maybe we could be friends.” He crossed his arms. “Nothing like a little trauma to bring people together, right?”

“Hey, Sevy, I could use a hand with the camp," said a familiar voice. I turned quickly to see Kian wrestling with a torn tarp, trying to knot it to a splintered post.

I walked over to Kian, voice low. “How are you?”

He didn’t look up. “I didn’t choose this,” he muttered. “Serpent was always the plan.”

Guilt twisted in my chest. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” he said. “But something’s off. Archer sending all the Night students here? He doesn’t have the authority. Not officially.”

I hesitated. “Damien’s death… it hurt us all.”

His head jerked up. “What?”

“Damien,” I said gently. “He died, Kian.”

He blinked. “How did I not know? When?”

“I—” I reached for his shoulder. “Kian—”

“My brother dies, and no one tells me?”

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