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"South interior."

"I know."

"Stay there."

I sigh. "That sounded dangerously like an order."

"It was."

"I know how patrol assignments work."

"I know."

"Then what's the problem?" His eyes hold mine. Elarion. The support deployment. The possibility that everything is bait. Theryn disappearing beside Eddy.

Five people gone. I understand before he says anything.

"No problem." He lowers his eyes to the saddle. Liar. I let him have it.

"Fine."

South interior patrol is uneventful. Of course. The entire kingdom seems determined to make us feel foolish for staying prepared. I walk with a second-year Rider named Tess. We check ward stones. Windows. Inner gates. Nothing.

At twenty-two twelve, a relay dragon returns from Elarion. We see it land from the southern wall. Everyone watches. No alarm. Just information.

By twenty-three hundred, word reaches Response Quarters. Phase One arrived safely. Elarion has implemented most Varethian protocols. No new disappearances since morning. Good. Actually good.

Cassian announces: "We fixed it."

Nyra looks at him. "We absolutely did not."

"We sent instructions."

"Yes."

"They followed them."

"Yes."

"No one disappeared."

"For several hours."

Cassian spreads his arms. "Heroism." Nyra throws a cushion. He catches it.

Caelen sits at the table with a report. Rhyven beside him. Both reading. No commentary. No reaction. Just Chiefs. Waiting. I sit across from them. "Anything?"

Caelen shakes his head. "Quiet." That word again. Rhyven looks toward the clock. Then the report.

"Good." I watch him. He means it. Even though we all know better than to trust quiet now. That's the terrible part. You can distrust silence and still pray for more of it.

Before bed, another notice appears. VARETHIAN DEFENSE POSTURE REMAINS UNCHANGED. No reduction. No reassignment. No student deployment. For now. I stand in the corridor reading those last two words. For now. Room 305 opens behind me. Rhyven steps out. He follows my gaze. Doesn't say anything. Neither do I. Somewhere four hours away, Elarion is learning how to survive the thing Varethia learned first. Here, we wait. Strongest defenders intact. Chiefs in their rooms. Dragons inside our skies. Students training tomorrow morning. No one sent away. Not yet. The Council calls that caution.

Rhyven calls it strategy. I call it something I don't want to examine too closely. Relief. Because tonight, at least, he's still here.

Chapter Fifty-two

The samples arrive before sunrise. Not by messenger. By dragon. I wake to wings. Heavy. Fast. Too close to the residence windows. For one second, my body reacts before my mind does. Theryn. Alarm. Run. Then the sound changes. Landing. Controlled. No roar. No bells. I sit up. Nyra is already awake.