“Hmm.” Rylan glanced at the man lying on the ground. “Not sure I’m a fan of the mustache.”

“Yeah, well, you’re going to get it,” I snapped. “So just cooperate.”

Rylan frowned. “I am cooperating. Stop acting like such a bitch, Sunaya.”

I bared my teeth, but before I could say anything, Iannis grabbed Rylan by the shoulders and hauled him around.

“I have no intention of meddling in your relationship with Sunaya,” Iannis growled, sticking his face into Rylan’s, “But she is my fiancée, and I will not tolerate insults to her. Is that understood?”

Rylan stared at Iannis for a long moment, back stiff. Surprisingly, I scented no fear off him, or anger either. Then he nodded slowly.

“Of course. I spoke out of turn.” An easy smile curved his lips. “I’m glad my cousin has chosen a man who is willing to defend her honor.”

“I don’t need your compliments,” Iannis said mildly, releasing Rylan. “But I do expect you to apologize.”

“No,” I said, flustered as Rylan turned back to me. I loved Iannis for sticking up for me, but all this attention was throwing me off. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re right, I am being a bitch, and now I’m holding up this entire operation. Let’s just get on with it.”

“That would be good,” Fenris said, glancing at the rapidly setting sun. “We don’t have much time before Rylan needs to report for his watch.”

Iannis went to work on transforming Rylan into the night guard captain, while Fenris and I secured the actual captain in the tent, binding his hands and feet and gagging him so he would not be able to move when he awoke. In the privacy of the tent, Fenris also strengthened the sleep spell.

“Does Rylan know that you’re not a normal shifter?” I asked, using mindspeak so Rylan wouldn’t be able to overhear.

Fenris placed a hand over the man’s forehead, checking for who knew what, then flicked his fingers and muttered a Word. A privacy bubble enveloped us, like the one Iannis had used in the inn’s common room. “I believe he is curious about my origins, as he gave me quite a few speculative looks on the airship ride here,” he said. “But I have given him no reason to suspect that I use magic.”

“Good,” I said emphatically. “I would hate for him to use that against you if he ever decided to defect back to the Resistance.”

“Sunaya.” Fenris grabbed my arm as I turned to leave the tent, and I looked back at him. His face was expressionless, but there was a pained look in his dark brown eyes. “I don’t presume to know your cousin well, but I believe he regrets hurting you, and is trying to atone for his actions.”