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"Why."

"You learn more."

Annoying. Probably true. I sit at the other end of the bench. Not close. Not far. For several minutes, he eats. I steal my book back when he puts it down. He steals it back. I allow it. We don't talk about Elarion.

Or Tiravell. Or the Council.

That evening, someone starts a card game outside North Residence. I don't know who. Probably Cassian. Definitely Cassian. Within twenty minutes, half our little group is there. Nyra. Cassian. Caelen.

Dax. Soren. Maelis. Rhyven eventually. Me. A few others drift in and out. No professors. No reports. No maps. Just cards.

Cassian cheats. Obviously. I know because he has six cards in a game where everyone should have five.

I stare. He notices. Slowly pushes one beneath his thigh. I stare harder. He smiles. "Problem?"

"No."

"He's cheating." Nyra says.

Cassian looks offended. "Betrayal."

"I can count."

"Tragic."

Caelen wins the first round. Dax accuses him of cheating. "You lost." Caelen says.

"Same thing." Dax answers.

Soren actually smiles. Rare.

Rhyven sits beside Dax. Quiet. Watching more than playing. Of course. Eventually Cassian forces cards into his hands. "You have to participate."

"No."

"You are participating."

"I can leave."

"No."

"Watch me." Rhyven stays. Obviously.

He is terrible at cards. This is the best discovery of my life. Not because he doesn't understand. Because he overthinks. He studies everyone. Tracks everything. Then assumes Cassian is playing strategically. Mistake. Cassian is playing like a lunatic.

Rhyven loses. Twice.

I stare. "This is beautiful."

He looks toward me. "Careful." That fucking word again.

"What."

"I know where you sleep."

I smile. "Across the hall."

"Exactly."