He stands with his back straight, gesturing with controlled precision while Serena leans in, arms crossed but attentive. There's no friendly camaraderie between them—this is clearly transactional. One of Malakai's water allies keeps glancing nervously around the courtyard, as if worried they’ll be seen.

"Why would waters care about teaming up with fires?" I ask. "It's not going to help Serena if there are more water elementals to go around on Confluence Day, right? It's fucked up, but I at least understand why Malakai wants to..."

"Brutally murder fellow water offerings?" Ambrose offers. "Yes. It's totally understandable. As long as you're a heartless psychopath, of course."

"She's right," Mireen says. "Helping Malakai kill us shouldn't benefit her at all. It's suspicious as hell."

"What is?" A deep voice asks from behind, making all three of us jump.

I'm surprised to see Raith, of all people, standing behind us. He somehow looks bigger every time I see him. I'm reminded once again how unfairly attractive he is despite the burn scars on the left side of his face and body. Being this close to him… it makes my lungs feel tighter, like I have to work for every breath. I do my best not to let it show, but I’m pretty sure I’m failing miserably.

"Nothing," I say, acutely aware of the way my pulse has quickened.

"Right." Raith's big hands are in his pockets, but the orange glow of his affinity mark is visible through the thin fabric. "Nothing. That does sound very suspicious."

Instead of walking around us, he walks right through our group, bumping me with his big, stupid shoulder. I stumble back, and my fingers instinctively grasp his forearm to steady myself.

The connection is immediate and terrifying. Power surges from him into me, hot and visceral, like liquid fire flowing up my arm. I snatch my hand back, but not before I see his eyes narrow in… is that suspicion, like he's confirming something?

He takes a step back, eyes darting to my left hand where my disguised water mark shifts and twists, faint threads of silver hidden within the blue.

I quickly tuck my hands behind my back, swallowing hard.

Mireen and Ambrose are looking at us both like we're crazy.

I brace for him to ask questions I don't want to answer, especially in front of Mireen and Ambrose. Instead, his expression settles back to a controlled neutral. He obviously felt what happened, and between me channeling fire during our sparring match two weeks ago, he has to suspect… something. But what?

I decide to change the subject. “We were wondering what Serena’s doing talking to Malakai.”

His attention thankfully shifts to where she’s talking with him and his water affinities. “That’s a good fucking question.” His features harden and his fists clench before he turns from us, stalking toward the group.