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"Three-Zero-Four." Professor Neris continues. "Eirea and Nyra."

Nyra turns toward me. "Good."

"Agreed." At least one mercy.

"Three-Zero-Five." A pause. "Caelen and Rhyven."

Silence. Not institutional silence. Personal silence. Very specific. I slowly look toward Caelen. Caelen slowly looks toward Rhyven. Rhyven is reading a deployment map. Or pretending to.

"No." Caelen says.

Professor Neris looks up. "Excuse me?"

"Different room."

Rhyven finally lifts his eyes. "What."

Caelen looks at him. "You heard me."

"I did."

"Then move."

"Why." Oh, no. Nyra's shoulders begin shaking beside me. I elbow her. Hard.

Caelen glances toward me. Then Rhyven. Then me again. "You know why."

Rhyven's expression is perfectly blank. "I genuinely don't." Liar. Absolute liar.

I fold my arms. "I would also like to know why."

Caelen turns toward me. "No, you wouldn't."

My eyebrows rise. "Now I definitely do."

"Eirea."

"Caelen."

Professor Neris looks between us with growing irritation. "Is there an operational reason for reassignment?" Caelen opens his mouth. Nothing.

Because no, he cannot tell the Council: Chief Corvell nearly kissed my sister against a training wall and now I have been assigned to sleep directly across the corridor from her with him. Tragic. Dax is openly smiling now. Maelis isn't even hiding it. Soren looks like he's trying very hard to remain dignified.

Rhyven stares at Caelen. "Well?"

Caelen's jaw flexes. "...No."

Professor Neris folds the list. "Then the assignment stands." Nyra makes a tiny choking sound. I step on her foot. She glares. Worth it.

Rhyven returns to the map. "Fine." Caelen looks offended by how fine he sounds. I understand. It's irritating.

The meeting continues. But something has shifted. Not the investigation. Not the threat. Something significantly more embarrassing. Response quarters.

Nyra and me. Rhyven and Caelen. Across the hall. For however long this lasts. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

By three in the morning, the Council finally dismisses us. Caelen immediately disappears with two wardkeepers. Cassian is escorted to siren housing to gather equipment. Nyra stays behind to finish copying reports. Which leaves...Of course. Me. Rhyven. Again. The gods are lazy writers.

We walk toward the residence corridor. Not because we're going there tonight. Move-in begins tomorrow. We simply happen to be heading in the same direction. Naturally. For thirty seconds neither speaks. Then— "Room Three-Zero-Five." I say.