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I winked at her.

“The little pup and I are unaffiliated,” Hawl rumbled, reminding us they were there. They were whittling something again. It looked like another ball.

“Did you hear that, highblood? The giant warrior bear and the fluffin are not affiliated with your stupid attempts to colonize us all under your banner,” Zaira said icily. “Nor are Kazmyn and I. Despite his disgusting interest in your fangs.”

“I’m interested. I’m very interested, Zaira. I think we need this. For morale.” He flashed an obsequious grin at her.

She eyed him coldly. “You know that doesn’t work on me. I don’t find you charming.”

“Neither do I,” Visha announced. “I’d just like to make that clear. Even if I do have to bite him. There will be nothing tantalizing about it.”

“Oh, so you’re going to make it hurt, then?” If anything, Kazmyn looked even more interested.

I choked.

“Now, look,” he went on. “We’re a squad. We have a goal. We need a name.”

“We have a name,” Zaira said arrogantly. “We are the Ember-watch.”

“Two of you are Emberwatch, and one of you is with the enemy now,” Kazmyn pointed out. “So I’m not sure that’s a good one.”

“Let me guess, young one. Something intimidating? Something that will strike terror into the hearts of your enemies?” said Magda.

Professor Stonefist had been sitting silently against a boulder, her eyes half-closed, looking unbothered by the lively discussion taking place around her. Now her eyes were open. Her beard had little flecks of luminous dust caught in it.

Kazmyn tilted his head. “Not necessarily.”

I snapped my fingers. “Oh my god. Theo. That’s who he reminds me of.”

Visha glared at me. “A knockoff version, perhaps.”

Blake was laughing again.

Kazmyn looked between the three of us. “Theo?”

“My cousin,” Blake managed to say.

“Theo is a million times better than him,” Visha muttered.

“I’m honored.” Kazmyn gave a faux bow, and I snorted. “Now, back to the name.”

“The squad does not require a name,” Zaira said sharply. “It requires discipline. This is disrespectful. We are not on a tavern crawl.”

“If only,” Visha and Kazmyn both said at the same time.

Blake and I looked at one another. “Perfect match,” he mouthed to me.

I stood up and moved to sit next to him. “She’ll have killed him by the morrow,” I whispered in his ear.

Zaira scowled. “What are you two whispering about?”

“Nothing,” we both said in unison.

“Squad names,” I added hastily.

“Well, do share with the class,” Visha said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“What about Fang Fam?” Kazmyn said innocently.