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"No." He glances sideways at me. "He's exactly what I expected."

"I don't understand how you're friends."

"We ask ourselves that sometimes."

"You do?"

"No." His mouth twitches. "But it annoys him when I say it."

"I think he hates me." The words leave my mouth before I have time to reconsider them.

Caelen actually stops walking. Then— He laughs. Not politely. Not quietly. Actually laughs.

I stare at him. "Oh, that's nice."

"I'm sorry." He isn't sorry. "I really am."

"No, you're not."

"No." He wipes a hand across his face, still smiling. "I'm not."

I arch an eyebrow. "I don't see what's funny."

He looks at me. "Eirea..." He shakes his head. "Rhyven doesn't hate you."

I frown. "How do you know?" I ask.

"Because I know Rhyven."

"I've noticed."

"If Rhyven hates someone..." His expression settles into something more serious. "He doesn't waste his time." A pause. "He ignores them."

I blink. "He what?"

"He ignores them."

"He keeps correcting me."

"I know."

"He makes me repeat everything. He barely says two words to me."

"I know."

"He never tells me I did anything right."

Caelen raises an eyebrow. "Didn't he today?"

I hesitate. "He said..." I almost don't repeat it. "Better."

Caelen smiles. "There you go."

I frown. "That's it?"

"Eirea..." He laughs softly. "I've known that idiot for years. If he tells you 'better'...he means it."

Somehow that makes me even more confused.