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Question one is easy. Tail position. Question two...

Fine. Question three...Annoying. Question seven makes me question whether I have ever seen a dragon in my life. By question twelve, Nyra is already halfway through the exam. Of course. Cassian is staring at the ceiling. Possibly praying. Then I reach question seventeen. A detailed diagram shows an ancient dragon at rest. Head low. Tail still. One wing slightly separated from the body. Eyes fixed beyond the observer. Identify the primary behavioral state and explain why immediate retreat may increase risk. I stare. No. That's deliberately cruel. I look at the shoulders. Loose. Jaw relaxed. Breathing even. The separated wing isn't tension. Space management. The eye isn't tracking the person. It's tracking something beyond them. Oh. Vyrael. I've seen this. Not aggression. Awareness. If someone retreats suddenly, movement might pull the dragon's attention toward them and create unnecessary uncertainty.I write.

Then underline my answer. If this is wrong, I blame Rhyven. Somehow.

The exam lasts ninety minutes. Nyra finishes with eleven remaining. Cassian uses every second.

I finish with three. Professor Kaelis collects the papers. No expression. Nothing. Cruel man.

Outside, Cassian exhales like he's survived battle.

"I saw my ancestors."

Nyra looks at him. "During question eight?"

"Question eight killed me."

"Question eight was basic."

"Don't."

I close my eyes. "Question seventeen."

Cassian points. "YES."

Nyra frowns. "The ancient dragon?"

"It was designed by someone who hates happiness."

A voice behind me says "Incorrect."

I stop. Rhyven. Of course. He walks past carrying a stack of patrol schedules. I turn.

"How bad?" He asks.

"Excuse me?"

"The exam."

"Why are you assuming it was bad?"

His gaze moves over my face. "Your expression."

"My expression is fine."

"Your expression is threatening Kaelis."

"Question seventeen was intentionally misleading."

"It wasn't."

I stare. "You wrote it."

A pause. "Part of it."

Cassian makes a sound of betrayal.

I point at Rhyven. "I hate you."