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Rhyven stops. "Who."

I give him a look. "The enormous dragon whose heartbeat was apparently inside my skull."

"Yes."

I stare. "You told him?"

"No."

"Then how—" Rhyven looks at me. I close my mouth. Right. Bond. "What did he..." I correct myself. "What did you feel from him?"

Rhyven's gaze shifts toward the western cliffs. For several seconds he says nothing. Then—"Interest."

I blink. "That's it?"

"Yes."

"Your dragon just discovered someone accidentally accessed your bond and he's interested?" Repeating it sounds ridiculous.

"Vyrael has an unusual definition of concern."

"Apparently." A pause. "Is he angry?"

"No."

"Confused?"

Rhyven looks back at me. "Maybe."

That makes me feel considerably worse. If something can confuse a dragon as ancient as Vyrael...Excellent.

I start walking again. Rhyven follows. "What do we do?" I ask.

"Nothing."

"So we're supposed to pretend that didn't happen." "No."

"What, then?"

His gaze settles on me. "We pay attention."

"To what?"

"Everything." A beat. "If you feel anything unusual..."

"You'll be the first to know."

"Good." Then– "Don't test it alone."

I stare at him. "How exactly would I test a magical interaction requiring your manifestation alone?"

"You'd find a way." ...Fair.

We separate near the main staircase. Rhyven heads toward the command rooms. I start toward Magical History. Then— "Eirea." I turn. He's still standing where I left him. For a moment he looks like he might say something important. Instead— "Eat."

I stare at him. My father. Monday. You look tired. Eat. A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Rhyven frowns. "What." He says.

"Nothing."