Meredith knows me and sees the best in me. The realization is bright and shiny.

    My gaze finds hers. Thank you, I mouth.

    She blows me a kiss.

    “You are a Conduit,” Levi says, taking the reins of control.

    “Am I?” I ask softly. “I’ve shown no signs of extraordinary power.”

    “A few setbacks, and you doubt my word and your own abilities. Perhaps you are ordinary.”

    I scowl at him. “A few setbacks?”

    “Anyone can start a marathon. Only the strongest will finish it, even after they fall.”

    Ann-nn-nnd he’s right again. Zero! “Please stop doing your impersonation of a motivational poster.”

    “Very well. We’ll get down to business.” He wipes an invisible piece of lint from his shoulder. “Normally we wouldn’t send a trainee into the field, but a unique case has come to our attention, and you, Tenley Lockwood, are the only one who can do the job.”

    “Also, we would never send a Conduit into the field when our only other Conduit is MIA,” Meredith adds, her voice now brittle with tension.

    Trepidation flash-freezes my Lifeblood. I can guess where this is headed. The girl Meredith mentioned before the welcome party. The one infected with Penumbra.

    “The princess isn’t missing,” Levi informs us. “The Secondking spoke with his Generals this morning. Myriad has placed a large bounty on the princess’s head. Unwilling to risk one of our own people turning against her for personal gain, the Secondking has hidden her, as we suspected.”

    I’m disgusted by Myriad’s daring, but relieved the princess is safe.

    Levi pins me in place with a hard stare. “As for the case. The worst has happened. A day so many feared. Myriad has successfully infected a human with a disease known as Penumbra.”

    Knew it!

    Gasps of horror rise from the others.

    “It’s real?” Reed asks.

    “This isn’t a drill?” Kayla seems to crumble into herself and shrink.

    Levi nods and continues. “This information goes no further than our circle. Understand?” After everyone verbally agrees, he adds, “You’re the only one who can stop an outbreak, Miss Lockwood, which means I have to give you a crash course in the field of...everything. We’ll also work on your quirks and help you grow through every problem you encounter.”

    Grow through, he said. Not just go through. I like it. “But I’m just a girl. One girl, newly dead. How can I—”

    “All you lack is the proper motivation.” A shrewd gleam enters his eyes. “Perhaps this will help. Killian Flynn has been placed in charge of the infected girl’s care.”

    I jump as if I’ve been hit by a freak bolt of lightning. Catching my breath is suddenly impossible. My blood heats. I’ll get to see Killian, speak with him...fight with him?

    Wah, wah, wah. Way to ruin a mood. We’ll be on opposite sides of the war, with far different goals.

    “Why would you pair me against him?” I ask.

    Expression grave, Levi says, “The importance of this mission...the consequences if you fail... I will do anything to ensure you do everything you can to save us. If you can convince Mr. Flynn to help us, even better.”

    My stomach twists. But no pressure, right?

    “Train me,” I tell him. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

    A glint of approval. “Meet your teammates. The ones you’ll be working with directly. Everyone has a different specialty, and I believe you’ll complement each other well, despite the lack of experience. Like Archer, Victor spent time with Killian before he defected. And considering Killian helped you rescue Kayla and Reed from Many Ends, they’re the least likely to attack him and the most likely to aid you. Clay and Meredith love you and will guard you with their lives.”

    No one will be giving up their life for me ever again!

    “Why don’t you go ahead and say goodbye to your teammates, too. Killian will murder us all—with your help, I’m sure.” Elizabeth enters the coliseum and approaches the circle. “Whether you’re witting or unwitting.”

    I glare at Levi. “What’s she doing here?”

    “Hey! Numbers!” she snaps. “You don’t talk to a General that way. Even children know—”

    He glares, and she goes quiet. “Elizabeth is a member of your team, Miss Lockwood. Grace period or not, antipathy, rancor and malice always come with a price.” He doesn’t raise his voice, but his irritation is clear. “The two of you will learn to work together, to trust each other, or you’ll fail your charges when you’re in the field.”

    I toss my hands up. “So why even risk it?”

    “If you can’t overlook your emotions with each other, how will you overlook your emotions when something else goes wrong? And something will go wrong. We risk you by not teaching you to transcend what you feel.”

    “I will never trust you,” Elizabeth spits at me. “I’d rather spend eternity in Myriad’s Kennels than work with—”

    “Enough, Miss Winchester,” Levi snaps. “You’ve already been warned. As a graduate, you are an example to trainees. Be a good one.”

    In a surprising display of respect, she lowers her head.

    I’m in no position to gloat over her chastisement. I’m already struggling with the reality of what I’m supposed to do, what I need to do. Now I have to deal with Elizabeth, too? Wonderful.

    The past can’t be changed, and her opinion does not—will not—define my reality. A judgment rendered is an affirmation of the judger’s character, not mine. But I need this girl to work with me, not against me.