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Caelen's face hardens. "I don't particularly care about proving a theory with my sister."

Rhyven's answer comes instantly. "Neither do I."

Silence. Oh. Caelen notices. I notice. Rhyven seems to realize how quickly he answered. Too late. Caelen studies him for a long moment. "Good." No teasing. No argument. Just...Good. Because beneath all their differences, they agree on the only thing that matters.

Neither wants me becoming evidence.

"I am still going to my evaluation." I say.

"Obviously." Caelen answers.

"And class."

"Yes."

"And lunch."

"Yes."

"And patrol."

"No."

"Caelen."

"No."

Rhyven looks at the schedule board. "Who's her patrol partner?"

"Second-year Stone Wing."

"Change it."

I spin toward him. "Excuse me?"

He continues. "Not cancel."

Caelen understands immediately. "Senior partner."

"Exactly."

I stare at both of them. "You're negotiating my life while I'm standing here."

Caelen points toward Rhyven. "His idea is better."

"Thank you."

"Don't sound pleased."

"I'm not."

I close my eyes. Gods. Eventually, compromise wins.

I keep patrol. I get a third-year partner. I do not walk anywhere alone after dusk. Which, technically, is already Academy recommendation. Caelen behaves as though he invented it. Rhyven says nothing but when training resumes he stops checking my pupils every thirty seconds. Mostly.

By evening, Nyra has new evidence. Not another disappearance. Something else. We sit in her room again. Cassian occupies the desk chair backward. Caelen and Rhyven aren't here. Chief meeting.

Nyra places three sheets on the floor. "Jonas. Elara. Lysa." She writes beneath each name. LAST CONFIRMED MOMENT. Jonas. The Place. Crowded. Then unknown. Elara. Closing her shop. Alone. Lysa.