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Blake snapped his fingers. “Hey! Kazmyn, eyes over here. On me, not her. You don’t look at her and think tantalizing, got it? Not ever.”

Kazmyn grinned. “Yes, O Highblood Master.” He looked down at Visha. “You see? I live to serve.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Blake looked disgusted. “I see what you mean now, Vish. He’s quite a prick.”

Visha groaned. “I swear to you, I will bite anyone else, Kazmyn.” She looked around the camp with an agonized expression, as Blake broke into cackles of laughter again. I bit my lip, following her gaze.

“Do not even think about it,” Zaira said imperiously, from where she stood, leafing through a book on the other side of the camp. “You may feed from one of the attendants this evening. They know your predilections, and I warned them this might come up.”

“Fucking Bloodmaiden,” Visha muttered. “This is humiliating.” There was still an underlying flush to her golden-brown face. She stood up and walked over to Blake, then punched him in the arm, hard.

“Ouch. What the fuck was that for?” he complained.

“For laughing,” she declared.

I smothered a laugh of my own.

“However, the attendants will be returning to Thrazdummar when we reach the entrance to the vault,” Zaira continued. “And then you will need to use Kazmyn.”

Visha sputtered. “Absolutely not.”

“Then, you will starve.” Zaira eyed her coldly. “Are you saying my brother’s blood is not good enough for you?”

“Probably because I’m half-dwarven.” Kazmyn gave a dramatic sigh.

Visha’s eyes widened. “What the fuck? Of course not, I don’t give a shit about that.”

“Well I don’t see any other volunteers,” Zaira said, waving a hand. “You’re making quite a fuss when Kazmyn is willing.” She eyed her brother with distaste. “Very undwarf-like.”

“How is it undwarf-like?” Blake asked curiously.

“Below the surface, dwarves do not worship highbloods as you are used to above,” Zaira said coldly. “Your disgusting displays of thrallweave do not move us to simply offer up our necks, as you may recall.”

“I offer mine willingly,” Kazmyn piped up cheerfully. “Can’t wait. Honestly.” He flashed a grin at Visha. “But let’s discuss feeding schedules later. In our tent.”

Visha put her head in her hands and moaned.

“In the meantime,” Kazmyn went on, “I think we have something more important to do.”

“Yes, like discuss where exactly we’re going,” Blake said with evident relief.

Kazmyn waved a hand dismissively. “Not that. Squad names. I vote for Squad Bloodshield.” He smiled endearingly at his sister. “Or maybe Stone Keeper Squad?”

“Absolutely not,” Blake and Zaira both snapped at the same time. Then glared at one another.

“Obviously we’re Squad Drakharrow,” Blake declared.

I raised a brow. “Oh, it’s obvious, is it?”

He frowned. “Of course. You’re from Drakharrow. I’m from Drakharrow Visha’s from Drakharrow. We have a majority. Majority wins.”

“Medra is actually in House Avari,” Visha pointed out, looking thrilled to one-up Blake. “And Sankara is in Orphos.”

“And what about Rodriguez?” I asked. “He’s kind of random.”

“He’s blightborn. He doesn’t count.” Blake flushed. “Oh, shit. I didn’t mean that. I just meant he doesn’t have a house.”

“Oh, good one, Drakharrow,” Visha laughed. “You’re going to pay for that one later. Isn’t he, Medra?”