Chapter 23

ALEXANDROS N icholas Ashe was once a formidable man and a prominent member of House Chó̱ma until he betrayed his roots and his family’s honor to further his own ends. He remains alive only because he was calculated enough to not technically break any oaths made to his father. Now he is the faculty head of Onyx and the sire of many of their vampire pledges. He is disliked by our counterparts at Lapis and Opal as fervently as he is by me. A fact of which he is well aware. He sits behind the black mahogany desk in his office in the west wing of Zeus Hall, as far away from my own office as possible. “Alexandros, to what do I owe the honor of a visit from such an esteemed colleague as yourself? Surely you are not taking an interest in the Trials this year.” His attempt at sarcasm has no effect on me. I take a seat without it being offered and glare at him. “I am simply here to deliver a warning, Nicholas.” He puffs out his chest, making a show of bravado, but anxiety rolls from him like the