Page 70

He smiles. Charm drifts from him as naturally as breath. Not magic. Cassian has never needed magic to make people want to forgive him.

"Where does it lead?" Nyra asks.

Cassian's gaze moves toward me briefly. Then back to her. "I was told not to spoil it."

Nyra raise an eyebrow. "By whom?"

"A woman capable of making me regret disobedience."

Rowan sits forward. "Romantically?"

He looks at her. "No."

Aricia nods. "Sensible."

I tear a piece from my bread. "Then we wait."

Rowan turns toward me. "That is your plan?"

"It has been three hours." I answer.

"Exactly. We're losing time."

"To do what?" I ask.

"Investigate."

Selena finally looks up. "You were told repeatedly that impatience impairs judgment."

Rowan opens her mouth. Then closes it. Then— "I was also told to identify my instincts." She finally says.

Nyra shakes her head. "And yours is apparently trespassing."

Rowan smiles. "Self-awareness."

The answer finds us after the final bell. Dax intercepts me outside the Hall of Lineage. He appears from behind a pillar, tosses something toward my head and keeps walking. I catch it before it strikes my face. Brass. Heavy. Warm from his hand. One side bears the Academy crest. The other shows a single dragon wing split by a thin line through its center.

"Dax."

He does not stop. "What?"

"What is this?" I ask.

"You'll need it." I can hear the amusement in his voice.

"For what?"

He finally looks back while walking. "You ask too many questions." He grins.

"You answer too few." I cross my arms.

"That's why we balance each other."

I roll my eyes. "Where am I supposed to go?"

His grin intensifies. "Village. Ninth bell."

Oh. "And then?" I ask.