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Nyra collects her books. "Maybe he'll go easy on you." Cassian and I both stare at her. She pauses. "...No."

I nod. "Thank you."

Dominion has changed too. Of course it has. When I reach the training hall, the usual individual stations are gone. So are the dividing barriers. Instead, six enormous circles have been carved into the floor. Each overlaps another. I stop in the doorway. Students gather behind me. Someone mutters, "What the hell is that?" Excellent question. Professor Vayne stands at the center of the room. Rhyven is beside him. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Rhyven's arms are crossed. His expression gives away nothing. Which means he knows exactly what we're doing and has decided to enjoy our collective confusion in silence. Professor Vayne waits until everyone enters. The doors close. "Pair up." Instant movement. Students immediately turn toward familiar partners. Professor Vayne watches. Then— "No." Everyone stops. "You don't choose." Groans. He ignores them. "You've spent the first months of Dominion learning control over your own manifestation." He walks toward one of the overlapping circles. "Then you learned control against another." His boot crosses the line where two circles meet. "Now..." He looks around. "You learn control with one." Interesting. Professor Vayne begins calling names. A vampire with a fae. A wolf with a siren. Human with medusa. Different manifestations. Different strengths. Different weaknesses. Exactly like yesterday's battlefield formations. I should've expected it. "Vaelith." I straighten. "Corvell." Silence. I look toward Rhyven. He looks toward Professor Vayne. Neither reacts. I do. "He's teaching."

"Not anymore." Professor Vayne answers. Rhyven's eyebrow rises. Apparently this is news to him too. That improves my mood considerably.

"Professor." Rhyven's voice is flat.

"No." A few students laugh. Professor Vayne almost smiles. "You've spent weeks telling me our students need to adapt to unfamiliar manifestations." He starts.

"I did."

"Adapt."

Cassian would love this. Rhyven uncrosses his arms. Walks toward me. Stops inside the opposite circle. I smile sweetly. "Looks like you're a student again."

His face doesn't move. "No."

I tilt my head. "You're standing in the student circle."

He looks down briefly. "I'm supervising."

I snort. "From the student circle."

His eyes narrow slightly. "Enjoy this while it lasts."

I nod. "I intend to."

Professor Vayne clears his throat. "Are you finished?" "No." Rhyven and I answer simultaneously.

A few more students laugh. Professor Vayne looks toward the ceiling as though requesting patience from whatever gods remain willing to provide it.

The exercise sounds simple. It isn't. One partner manifests. The other does not resist. Instead, they adapt. Match pressure. Redirect energy. Create balance. Not domination. Not submission. Cooperation. Which is apparently much harder.

The first pair lasts eleven seconds. A siren manifestation collides with fae magic. Both students go flying backward. Professor Vayne sighs. "Again." The second attempt lasts eighteen. Progress.

When our turn comes Rhyven steps into position. I draw one dagger. Professor Vayne looks at it. "Why?"

"It helps."

"Put it away."

I sigh. Slide it back against my thigh. Rhyven's mouth twitches. "Something funny?"

"No."

"Liar."

"Focus." He orders.

"You're not my Chief right now."

His golden eyes meet mine. "Want to test that?" Unfortunately...Yes. Professor Vayne positions himself outside our circles. "Vaelith manifests first." Of course. "Corvell, you match." Rhyven nods. "Do not overpower her." Professor Vayne warns.

"I know." Rhyven answers.

"Last month suggests otherwise."