Page 233 of The Academy of Blood & Shadow

"You had four drinks." I add.

"Five."

I look at him. "That isn't helping your argument."

His voice comes muffled against the table. "One was medicinal."

"For what?"

"Social exhaustion."

Caelen drops into the chair beside him. He's joined us almost every morning since we told him about the investigation. Cassian lifts his head approximately two inches. "Morning."

Caelen looks disgustingly awake. "Pathetic."

"I loved you last night."

"You love everyone when you're drunk."

Cassian looks at him. "I said you were beautiful."

"You did." Caelen nods.

"Did you say it back?" Cassian's eyes narrows.

"No."

Cassian lowers his head again. "Cruel."

I bite into my toast. Saturday. No morning classes. No Council inspection until afternoon. No combat training until eleven. For the first time in what feels like weeks, breakfast isn't rushed. Students linger over coffee. People are laughing about last night. Someone at the next table is loudly denying having danced on the bar. Three witnesses disagree. The dining hall feels almost exactly like it did before the Council arrived. Nyra is reading. I lean across the table. "If that is about 413, I'm taking it."

She closes the book. "It's not."

"What is it?"

"Dragon communication."

I stare at her. "That's worse."