Griffon grabs my arm and pulls me back toward the open door. For an instant I get a sense that he wants to protect me. It makes me both irritated and grateful. “This wasn’t the Sekhem,” he says, his voice rising with alarm. “I’m the first one here—everyone else is coming up behind me.”

I feel a shiver run down my back. “You mean this was someone else? Who? Nobody else knows.”

He takes in the room at a glance. “We don’t know who else Veronique told. She’s insane—she might have talked about this to almost anyone.” Griffon runs his hand over his newly short hair with a pained expression on his face.

I can sense his anxiety. “What do you mean?”

“If you’re right, and Rayne transitioned—”

“I am right,” I insist.

Griffon ignores my interruption. “Then this might be a very big deal.” He looks down at my hands. “Did you touch anything?”

I shake my head. “Just the door. I got here just a few seconds before you did.”

That seems to calm him some. “Good. That’s good.”

“Shouldn’t we call 911 or something?”

“No.” Griffon looks at me like I’m stupid. “We’ll handle this ourselves. The university won’t even know that anything was wrong by the time we leave tonight.” He looks back down the empty hallway. “You should go before everyone gets here.”

“I don’t want to go. This is as much about me as it is about you.”

Griffon looks surprised. “It’s just easier if you stay out of this.”

“But what about Veronique? What if they found what they were looking for?”

“We have people all over—we’ll be able to figure out who did this. And to stop what she’s created from getting into the wrong hands.” He hesitates. “Look, Cole, it’s just better for everyone if you stay invisible for now. Once you’re in the Sehkem, there’s no turning back. You need this time to transition and develop your skills. That’s what I’m trying to give you—more time. Now quit being so stubborn and take it.”

I’m about to protest when I stop. I can see the truth behind his words and how intensely he believes in them. He’s trying to do this for me. “Okay. For now. But . . .” I’m about to ask him to call me when I remember where we are, who we are to each other now. “Make sure Janine calls me.”

“I will.” He looks relieved. “Now go.”

I run back down the hall and push the elevator button. The one on the left opens almost immediately and I get in, pushing the button for the ground floor. Before the doors can close, I hear the other elevator ding and a rush of footsteps as people get off. I push myself into the corner as I see the backs of several men rush down the hall. Just before the sliding doors meet, Giselle stops in midstride as if I’d shouted at her and turns to look directly at me. I catch my breath as the elevator jerks and starts down, my reflection barely recognizable in the metal doors.

“Staying in tonight?” Mom asks as she passes my doorway.