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I lean forward. "He's definitely scared."

Golden eyes shift toward me. There it is. That familiar look. The one that makes me want to provoke him purely to see what happens. "Of you?"

"No." I answer.

"Good."

"Of losing."

"Also no."

"Then play."

Silence. Caelen looks between us. Dax slowly smiles. Maelis looks delighted. Rhyven reaches for the pieces.

"One game." I grin. Oh. This is going to be fun.

It takes twenty minutes. Twenty glorious minutes. Dax is eliminated first. Loudly. He claims sabotage. No one cares. Maelis goes next because she gets distracted arguing with Soren. Caelen lasts longer. Nyra somehow nearly wins despite claiming she's never played. Cassian reappears halfway through and provides commentary nobody requested. Eventually...Only Rhyven and I remain. The entire table has become invested. I don't know when that happened. Rhyven moves one piece. I stare at the board. Then at him. Then back at the board. He has made a mistake. A tiny one. But definitely a mistake. I hide my smile. Move. His eyes narrow. Too late. Two turns later...I place my final piece. Silence. Dax looks at the board. Then Rhyven. Then me. "No."

I lean back. "Oh, yes."

Caelen laughs. Maelis actually claps.

Cassian points at Rhyven. "Chief Wings Officer." Rhyven says nothing. "Defeated." Nothing. "By a first-year." Rhyven looks at him. Cassian lowers his hand. "But with dignity."

I am unbearably pleased with myself. I don't even attempt to hide it. Rhyven leans back in his chair. Studies me. "You look pleased with yourself."

"I am."

His gaze stays on mine. "Dangerous."

I smile. "Scared, Corvell?"

His eyes move over me. Only for half a second. Face. Dress. Back to my eyes. Something warm shifts low in my stomach. His expression doesn't change. "Constantly." Then he lifts his glass and drinks.

I stare at him. Dax chokes. Actually chokes. Maelis turns her face away. Caelen looks between us. Nyra becomes extremely interested in her drink. What? I narrow my eyes at Rhyven. "Was that sarcasm?"

He takes another sip. "Obviously."

Asshole. I kick him beneath the table. His mouth twitches.

An hour disappears. Maybe two. I stop checking. I dance with Nyra. Badly. Cassian dances with everyone. Caelen refuses until Maelis physically drags him away from the table. Dax attempts to sing. This turns out to be a mistake for everyone involved. Even Rhyven laughs at him. Not really laughs. A quiet exhale. A shake of his head. But...Still. Progress.

At some point a plate appears beside me. Bread. Cheese. Roasted vegetables. I don't question it. I'm hungry. I eat while Nyra explains why Cassian is absolutely going to regret whatever he's currently drinking. Later Caelen returns. I lean toward him. "Thanks."

He looks confused. "For what?"

"The food." I answer.

"What food?" I point toward the mostly empty plate.

Caelen looks at it. "I didn't bring you that."

Eventually, the heat becomes too much. Not emotional. Literal. The Place is packed. I slip outside without telling anyone. Cold air hits my skin. Gods. Better. I breathe deeply. The music becomes muffled behind the closed door. Varethia stretches below. Lights in windows. Lanterns along stone paths. The faint silver shimmer of the wards far beyond the village. A dragon crosses the moon. For once I don't analyze it. Don't identify wing position. Don't wonder what its tail means. I simply watch. The door opens behind me. "Found you." Nyra.

"Was I missing?" I laugh.

"No." She joins me against the railing. For several moments neither of us speaks. Inside, someone cheers. Probably Cassian. "You're happy." Nyra says.