Page 314

"Nothing."

His eyes narrow.

I smile sweetly. "Continue, Chief." He watches me for half a second longer than necessary. Then— "Again."

Coward. No. Not coward. He already addressed that. I hate remembering that sentence.

By the seventh round everyone is exhausted. Rhyven finally dismisses us. I bend to collect my gear. "Vaelith." I turn. Something flies toward me. I catch

it. Wrapped bread. Cheese. Dried fruit. Food. Of course. I stare at it. Then at him. Nyra's voice from last night: He softens around you. No. Absolutely not. I look around. At least eight students nearby look equally exhausted. Two are sitting on the ground. One is staring into the middle distance like he's reconsidering every decision he's ever made. I look back at Rhyven. He is already checking the next schedule. "Do you do this for everyone?" Silence.

Rhyven slowly looks up. "What."

I hold up the food. "This."

"Food?"

"Yes."

"People generally eat it."

"Don't." His mouth twitches. I hate that I notice. "Do you feed everyone?"

"Sometimes."

"When necessary?"

"Yes."

I look around deliberately. Then back at him. "They're necessary." His eyes follow mine. Exhausted students everywhere. Then return to me.

"They have functioning survival instincts."

My mouth drops open. "And I don't?"

"Evidence suggests otherwise." He goes back to the schedule. Conversation apparently over.

I stare at him. "That's insulting."

"Eat." There it is. Again.

I unwrap the bread. Mostly because I'm hungry. Not because he told me to. Definitely. Nyra passes behind me. Doesn't say a word. Her smile is unbearable.

The evening specialization block begins at seventeen hundred. My assignment: Rapid Response — Magical Evidence Support.

The team includes Professor Vayne, two wardkeepers, one siren specialist, three third-years, and me.

Caelen hates it. I know because I hear him from halfway across the command room. "No."

Rhyven's answer follows. "She's the best person for it." I stop outside the doorway. Oh.

"She's first-year." Caelen says.

"With the only manifestation capable of reading blood memory."

"Exactly why she shouldn't be first response."

"Exactly why she should." Silence. I shouldn't listen. I do.