Jacobi turns to me, and though he’s smiling, I still see the defeat in his lackluster eyes and drooping shoulders. Part of me wants to apologize even though I don’t know what I’m apologizing for. It’s just a darkness has been crowding my thoughts for some time now, a sense that every time Jacobi and I face off, it might be his last.

Which is stupid.

The only reason I’ve started to think this way is because I’ve recently learned the current head of the Order, Luminary Maximus DuPont, is dying and that his son, Roth, will ascend to his place. That means change, and change under Roth isn’t something I’m looking forward to. Not to mention it’s coming at a time when the world seems to be drowning under Influence, and I don’t think Roth’s the one who’ll bring us out of it. I think he’ll push us further from the surface.

“See you tomorrow,” Jacobi says.

He places his fist to his shoulder and bows his head. I do the same—a sign of respect among the Valryn. I watch Jacobi leave before I move toward the door but find my exit is blocked by a tall Valryn with square shoulders and dark, buzzed hair. He’s dressed like me, only far more decorated—not with medals like humans but with thread. Gold entwines his waist, crawls up his chest, and wraps around his shoulders and upper arms. They’re the markings I want one day.

As he moves into the training room, he claps. The tips of his wings drag the floor.

“Elite Cain,” I salute him.

Cain is the head of our branch of the Order. He oversees the commanders. Consequently, I don’t see much of him as a knight-in-training, so the fact that he’s crashing my training session makes me nervous.

“Bravo,” he says, surveying me from head to toe. “Your father must be very proud.”

It’s hard not to roll my eyes. I look over Cain’s shoulder to where my father always stands—in the shadow of his elite. He’s hard to miss. I look just like him. People like to tell me that, like they think I’ll forget I’m related to him. Like those eyes—the color of deep water and just as cold—would be narrowed in disappointment at anyone other than his son.

“I hoped I might have a word with you.” Elite Cain pauses, watching me with unmoving eyes, and I work to hide my surprise.

“How can I be of service?”