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Rowan looks up and seems to read my mind. “I would never. Never do that.” His eyes slowly start to glow. “And if you tell me who did it, I’ll kill them myself.” There’s so much conviction in his voice, it takes me a moment to figure out how to respond.

“I’m not your sister,” I finally rasp.

He laughs, but the sound is empty. “Oh, trust me, I know.”

What’s that supposed to mean? I frown. “You don’t even know me.”

“No,” he replies with a shrug. “But I know him.” He doesn’t have to specify for me to know he’s referring to my assailant. “And he’ll do it again, and again, and again if he can get away with it.”

And he wants to prevent what happened with his sister from happening to someone else. It’s noble, but I needed a white knight when it happened and one never came. It’s a little too late for Vaeloria to send me one now.

“So,” Rowan continues, “tell me who it was.”

“I already handled it.”

Rowan’s head tilts, questions flitting across his face.

I shouldn’t tell him anything. There’s no reason for me to share, but he told me about his sister. I can’t help feeling like I owe him a truth for a truth. I’ve kept this secret for so long, part of me is relieved to share it. My voice is barely a whisper as I explain. “I snuck into his house one night.” I lick my lips, recalling the rough frame of the window as I slipped inside. “He had taken some mage drugs and passed out.”

That’s probably the only reason I caught him by surprise. Flicking some water, I try to ground myself in the present, but the past threatens to drag me under. “I cut his dick off with a dagger first to wake him up,” I tell Rowan, holding his gaze. “And then I cut off each finger that held me in place.”

I swear Rowan doesn’t breathe.

“I forced him to swallow each one,” I confess. My focus drifts, succumbing to the siren call of the past. My vision goes fuzzy.

“And then?” Rowan asks, pulling me back.

Sucking in a breath, I dig my nails into my palms. My eyesight refocuses and I finish the story. “Then I carved out each eye before lighting him on fire.” I wait for horror. Judgment. A reprimand for taking things too far.

But all Rowan says is, “Good.”

For a moment, we’re suspended in mutual understanding, and I can’t help mourning his sister, even though I didn’t know her personally. But her story? That pain after that violation? I know it all too well. The person who attacked her didn’t just rape her; he destroyed her sense of worth. Stole comfort in her own body. Stole her joy and even her will to live.

My eyes burn with moisture. “Did you kill him?”

Rowan nods, waiting for my judgment.

But all I say is, “Good.”

And together, in the dead of the night in the Vanguard spire, a Foundation and a Feral find common ground.

The mountains are particularly beautiful covered in the warm shades of red, yellow and orange. The leaves around campus have also changed color and started to flutter to the ground. They crunch underfoot and swirl around as a cool wind stirs them. I watch a few float on the breeze, I’m almost as light as them after my midnight confessional. I kept the secret of what I did to Rodderick so close. It was liberating to admit my vengeance out loud, and Rowan’s understanding was validating. I still don’t like the other members of his vinculum, but him? He’s not so bad.

“Earth to Raina,” Ever says, nudging me.

Students are rushing all around us as we head to history. We’re almost to the building with a stunning brick facade and grand steps that lead to the entrance. I blink. I don’t remember how we got this far; I was too stuck in my head.

“Sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked if you’re okay. You’re quieter than normal,” she says as we head up the stairs.

We scoot to one side as we move through the threshold to avoid crashing into the second years streaming out of the building. Melody and her group of friends are in the crowd, and as soon as she spots me, she sneers.

“I have no idea how you’re still alive, Feral scum,” she says loudly. Thunder rumbles in the distance. A not-so-subtle threat.

“Does your daddy love you yet?” It’s a wild stab at whatever her damage is.

Her features twist, eyes narrowing. The wind kicks up, drawing angry clouds and rain, and as lightning flashes all around us, the students surrounding us dive out of the way. I lock my muscles to stay in place. Getting hit by her stormcraft hurts like a bitch, but if I run scared, it’ll give her too much satisfaction.