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"Before the signal."
"I knew what signal you were giving."
"That's not the exercise."
I stare. He stares back. The annoying part? He's right. The worse part? I knew his signal before he gave it. Not guessed. Knew. I glance away. "Again." He says.
I reset. This time I force myself to wait. His hand moves. I follow. Normal. Better. Necessary.
At the end of training, Rhyven catches my arm lightly as I pass. Not enough to stop me physically. Enough that I stop anyway. "That happen often?" I know exactly what he means.
"No." Liar. His eyes say it. "Twice."
"Today?"
"Yes."
His jaw tightens. "Emotion?"
"No."
"Thought?"
"No."
"Intention?"
"Maybe."
He releases my arm. "Tell Vayne."
"I will."
"Today."
"Yes, Chief." His eyes narrow. I smile sweetly. "Anything else?"
"Eat lunch."
My smile disappears. "You're obsessed with feeding me."
"I've seen you forget."
"Once."
"Three times."
I blink. "Why do you know that?" He turns away. "Rhyven." Nothing. "Rhyven!" He keeps walking. Asshole.
Lunch is where Jonas becomes strange. Not frightening. Not yet. Strange. The same third-year from breakfast approaches Caelen's table two tables away from ours. "Have you seen Vale?"
Caelen looks up. "Jonas?"
"Yeah."
"No."
"He wasn't at training."