It was midnight at the Prime Zone estate.
Maeve sat at the kitchen table with her Ashen Bestiary open in front of her, but she wasn't reading. She was watching Holden pull on a plain black shirt and dark cargo pants. There were no academy symbols on anything he wore.
He strapped a simple belt around his waist. No visible weapons.
"You're really doing this," Maeve said.
"I really am."
She pushed her glasses up. "The criminal districts at night. That's where the underground fighting rings operate. I've read about them. They're dangerous, unregulated, and illegal. The academy could expel you if they found out."
"The academy won't find out."
"And if you get hurt?"
"I won't."
Maeve closed her book. She looked at him with that sharp, knowing expression she'd mastered over thirteen years of being his sister.
"You're going because of what Vespera said. About the Valcrest family sending professionals."
"Partly."
"And the other part?"
