n the hearth, but the air

ut a small crystal vial. Inside, a silver liquid

expensive healing draught in the academy,

ooden nightstand and pushed

ept his voice hard, refusing

He didn't move a muscle. He pressed h

e was a low, dangerous whisper. "Truth serum? Or

a man trying to feed a feral, starving w

nswer, the heavy suit

ht hand was wrapped in thick white b

up a stack of parchment. "The Board need

tting on the Headmaster's silk sheets, a flash of ugly,

An idea sparked in his

stood up, walked to the nightstan

ped th

n tipped his head back and downed more

tely black for a terrifying second. He swayed on his feet, his knees buckling slightly as a wave of intense vertigo hit him. A drop of silver escaped his lips and ran down his chin, staining the collar of his violet robe. Julian forced himself to breath

lack Mamba venom in it?" Juli

de with absolute horror. The Headmaster had just consumed a fo

s chest heaved. His brain w

was the first time he sounded genuinely unnerved. He

panic. "I want you alive. A dead

d toward Gideon. He snatched the pap

nough?" Julian h

ver his own feet as he scram

tood with his back to the room, sta

nutes, there was only

rape of glass against wood

eyes and let out