“It was a trap,” he blurted, hands flapping like the desperate struggle of a plummeting chicken dropped from a height of several feet. “Please don’t run, Scratch. I know you’re probably angry. But you have to listen. The things we did in Kyria and the Western Wilds . . . they weren’t so great. I mean, what you did was great. It was amazing. The octagon? My gods, what a mind you have. But us annexing those places? Not the wisest maneuver, I’m afraid. Did you know, darling, that Kyrians can’t join guilds? And that if a mother is Kyrian and a father is Ivinscontian, the child will be considered Kyrian and still not be able to join guilds? Or work in the palace, unless they’re in the Guard? Or work for any titled noble outside of a guarding capacity? And, oh gosh, forget about getting a title themselves. But, actually, speaking of titles.” He gulped, going red. “Scratch, you know how you and I both thought you would become a Lady Commander? Well, it turns out that you were closer than either of us thought. It would have happened, if not for—”

“James.”

“Let me get this out, Scratch.” He drew in a bracing breath. “The Shaes are not who you think they are.”

“James, I know.”

He blinked. “You know?”

She nodded, her lips quirking up of their own volition. “I know, James. I know—well, maybe not as many details as you do, but I know. I know about Maisie and Frances, and about the Shaes and their family of rebels, and that I could have gotten a command if not for them.”

“And you’re not upset?” he asked, boggled.

“Oh, I am.” The feeling hadn’t gone entirely. But there were other feelings, bigger feelings, inching that sting out of the sunshine. “But, I’m—I’m other things, too.”

“Oh, Scratch.” He fell onto her, knocking them both to the ground. “This is so different.”

“Is it?” She smoothed his unruly hair from his face. He was rather sunburnt, and his skin was beginning to peel. “It was always you and I figuring out how to make our lives better. It feels rather the same to me.”

“I suppose.” He looked up, over her head. “Though now you aren’t the only one looking after me.”

She swiveled around to find the Shaes murmuring together, politely giving the two reunited guards a bit of privacy. They were laughing, their mirrored mouths stretched to reveal equally white teeth, their constellations of freckles like two gods in the night sky.

“No.” She swallowed. “Nor you after me.”

“Do you mean . . .” He whacked her shoulder. “Really?”

She nodded, feeling her cheeks heat. “It’s new.”

“Everything is new, you dolt. We haven’t been out here a week. Oh, Scratch, I’m so proud of you!”