Laasya turns around again. She must notice me rubbing the back of my neck. “Don’t worry. The commander will Ground you later. Take any discomfort away.”

I give her the barest twitch of a smile. I know she means well, but, yeah, Flanagan touching me again, not a comforting thought. I’d rather endure pain.

After opening the bottle of water, I give my fingers a quick rinse before chugging the rest down in a matter of seconds. It’s fridge-cold and delicious and soothes my sore throat. In the paper bag, I find a chunky beef sandwich. Onion and some kind of jerk sauce hit my taste buds like a sweet fire. My supercharged sense of smell isn’t the only change. Is this another side effect of Alexei’s blood?

“Thanks for the grub,” I say to Laasya around a mouthful.

She’s standing on the other side of the cage door watching me eat, hands shoved into the pockets of her cardigan. “My pleasure. I prepared the beef myself.”

“Yeah? So you’re a cook as well as a witch.”

She gives a self-conscious shrug. “I like cooking, but I don’t really get a lot of time for it these days.”

“Because you’re Flanagan’s witch?”

She nods. “It’s an all-consuming role. The commander doesn’t often go out with us on collections, though. Most of the time Captain Seonu is in charge.”

I grimace. I can’t imagine working every day with Miss Sour Puss or Mr. Happy. “Yeah? And does she ever smile?”

Laasya huffs a laugh. “I know Captain Seonu is pretty severe, but she’s a dedicated soldier. She just doesn’t trust you.”

“Oh, ya think?”

“Last year we collected a Channeler from Lancaster—older, like you—and he seemed genuine. His memory was tested and appeared untouched. But he turned out to be a plant, prepared by the prince as an assassin. He didn’t know that’s what he was. They’re like time bombs. After only a few weeks, his buried instructions were tripped, and he killed five soldiers before we could stop him. One of them was Captain Seonu’s Compatible. He was also Mason’s best friend.”

The chunk of sandwich I’m chewing dries in my mouth. No wonder they don’t trust me.

“Shit. That’s really heavy. I’m sorry.” That prince must be a sly nemesis. Not surprising those two are edgy.

Laasya sighs. “I don’t think Seonu has smiled since. And Mason does whatever Seonu does.”

“What’s a Compatible,” I ask, taking a fresh bite.