Raith’s blank expression says it all. Of course he is. Ambitious older students can probably tell he’s destined for great things. They want to become friends now and garner favor to benefit themselves when we’re all part of Empire’s army. Those of us who survive, anyway.

"Tell me what happened in the lake, Nessa."

I glare at him. "No."

His lips twitch, giving the faintest hint of amusement. And gods, it almost hurts to look at the damn man because he's so gorgeous. Even with the scars, or maybe because of them, his face draws my eyes like a work of art I can't stop studying. "I heard Malakai and three of his people went after you. I heard only Malakai survived. And I heard you two were seen floating together on some kind of water magic atop the lake."

"Okay."

"Tell me you're not working with Malakai."

I scowl, leaning forward in disbelief. "Wait, really? That's what you're worried about? For a minute, I thought you were actually concerned about my safety, but I see how this works, now. Serena and Malakai are plotting something and cutting you out of the equation. Now you hear some rumor that I was seen with Malakai and you're ready to assume the worst? Well, fuck you. That's my answer. Fuck. You." My hands curl into fists at my sides, and I can feel Raith's borrowed heat boiling under my skin.

Raith's silence is somehow louder than words, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that charges the air between us. I sense danger there. What would he do if I had told him I was working with Malakai? Kill me right here? Torture me for information?

I push off the wall, feeling my temper flaring as the fire I borrowed from him swirls inside my body. "Sweet dreams, Raith."

* * *

"That's… actually not bad, Nessa," Primal Sestra notes before gliding away from where I'm sitting in channeling class. With a smirk, I release the sphere of water I've been holding over my palm. The droplets scatter with a satisfying splash.

One benefit of the terrible nightmares is I don't spend much time sleeping. That means I have more time to read through the unbound book, and I'm also getting faster at working through the code. I've even memorized a few specific sound patterns, which lets me read the occasional word without referencing Bastian's key.

Mireen looks over at me and wiggles her eyebrows after Sestra walks away. "Look at you. Passing the water trial and now you're earning praise from Sestra?"

I bite back a smile. "She's only impressed because I was so terrible to start."

Beck leans in from my other side. "You really were. After our first few days, I thought Sestra was going to kill you herself."