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The blond man was gone.

Did they dress you up for me?

This had to be some kind of mistake, but somehow it didn’t feel like it.

Daven leaned closer, voice low with satisfaction. “See? Told you. First day and you already look like you belong here.”

“Yeah,” Ryneth muttered.

But for the rest of the lecture, he just sat there, looking but not seeing. His mind was back in the shuttle. Back in the cage.

He kept replaying it in his head, over and over, like he might still find the moment everything had gone wrong.

How he would love to be back in Mara’s kitchen. Just once. To hear her tell him everything was going to be all right.

That he was all right.

And sweet little Tavi with his coughing attacks. Who was taking care of them now?

He glanced at the screen, but the message was still there.

That night, when they’d tormented him inside his cell, the threat hadn’t been theatre after all. Someone out there really meant to claim him.

“Ryneth.”

Ryneth looked up. “Yeah?”

Daven gave him a strange look. “Nothing. Just that class finished ten minutes ago and you haven’t moved since.” He lifted his hand, and Ryneth jerked when he realized he’d been gripping the prince’s fingers tight. “You’ve been squeezing me to death. Are you all right?”

Ryneth forced a smile. “Oh, no. I—I was sleepy.”

“Sleepy, huh? Then let me take you back to bed. Keep you warm and sated.”

Ryneth’s entire body flushed at the thought, but he managed to mutter, “Fuck off.”

Daven laughed at that. “Then stop attacking me with your static or I will have to punish you.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just…” He let go of Daven’s hand and squeezed his own palms together. They were sweaty. “Difficult study material.” Ryneth looked away, falling apart on the inside as he followed Daven toward the exit.

I’ll come when it’s time.

The words were a death sentence scrolling behind his eyelids.

Instead of going through the door, Daven pushed him against the wall, trapping him with his thick thighs. Tipping up Ryneth’s chin, he forced their eyes to meet. “Don’t bullshit me. What the fuck just happened?”

Daven’s hand twitched toward the slate like he meant to rip it off Ryneth’s wrist and read it himself. He stopped at the last second, jaw tight, as if forcing himself not to. If Daven saw that message, he’d either kill someone or lock Ryneth in the penthouse and call it protection. Ryneth didn’t know which was worse.

“Nothing,” Ryneth said.

“Don’t. I saw your face. I saw you looking at that thing. Have you been making friends on it while I looked away?”

Ryneth’s jaw tightened. His pulse was hammering so hard he was sure Daven could feel it through the wall. “I said it’s nothing.”

Daven leaned closer. Their noses almost brushed. “You went pale. Your hand was shaking.”

“So?” Ryneth snapped. “Maybe I’m allowed to have a reaction.”

“To what?”