The black badge sat on the kitchen table between two plates of toast.
Maeve stared at it like it might bite her. The badge was small and made of polished obsidian with a silver crest carved into the surface.
"What is this?" she asked.
"VIP Family Pass," Holden said. "Vespera gave it to me. It gets one person into the elite sections of any academy event. Front row. Best view in the house."
Maeve picked it up carefully, turning it over in her fingers.
"Holden, this is the kind of pass that noble families bid thousands of credits for at auction."
"Yeah. Which is why you're not staying locked inside today."
She looked up at him.
"You want me at the tournament?"
"I need you at the tournament. You know more about beast anatomy and energy flow patterns than half the instructors. If something weird happens in my matches, I want you watching and taking notes. You're my tactical advisor now."
