Page 131 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

I blinked. “Favor? As in...?”

Zander’s face twisted with something between disbelief and discomfort. “I can’t be sure. No one’s actually seen how dragons... you know... mate.”

I snorted. “Well, tell Hein good luck. Kaelith said she doesn’t trust males.”

Zander’s gaze snapped to mine. “Kaelith said that?” His voice was sharp with surprise.

“Yeah,” I nodded.

His focus returned to the beach, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile. “Hein’s stubborn. He’ll try.”

“Yeah, well, Kaelith’s... Kaelith,” I muttered.

“Maybe theyarelooking for something?” Zander murmured, more to himself than me. His gaze sharpened as Hein shifted again, still shadowing Kaelith’s every movement.

A sudden shout broke through my thoughts. I glanced down and heard Jax yelling something at Naia inside our barracks, his words lost beneath the crash of the waves.

“Let’s head down,” Zander said grimly.

We climbed down from the battlements and walked to my room. When I stepped inside, the squad was gathered, their expressions tight. Cordelle sat on his bed with his journal unopened in his lap. Riven and Naia stood near the wall, their arms crossed. Jax was pacing, clearly agitated. Eilvin looked like he hadn’t spoken in hours, and Tae looked downright mad.

The room went silent when I entered.

“What’s wrong?” I asked carefully.

Naia shifted, eyes flicking toward Tae. “Tell her,” she said.

Tae glanced at Zander again. “Are you sure you want me to say this in front of him?”

I nodded, ignoring Zander’s presence at my side. “He may be a jerk, but he doesn’t want me dead.”

Zander grunted but said nothing.

Tae sighed, clearly uncomfortable. “As you know, I have a few... friends in the noble houses.”

Zander’s eyebrow arched. “Tae, you’ve slept with half the female riders.”

“Jealous much?” Tae shot back.

“Hardly.” Zander’s tone was dry. “You’re just running out of bedmates.”

“Not at all.” Tae’s grin was sharp. “I’m honest that it’s a temporary thing. Riders are under the same constraints you and I are. We all want to have a little fun before we’re?—”

“Get to the point, Cadet Rockel,” Zander interrupted, voice tight.

Tae pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now that Remand’s back, there are rumors floating around about Lieutenant Saulter.”

I stiffened, my breath catching. “What rumors?” I asked too quickly.

Tae’s expression darkened. “Some nobles claim he wasn’t just infiltrating the Order... that he crossed a line—took a contract on someone close to the crown.” His gaze flicked briefly to Zander. “Someone important.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “No. That’s impossible.”

“It’s just a rumor,” Tae added quickly. “But with a rider like Saulter, rumors stick. Especially when he’s spent three years earning a reputation as an assassin.”

Zander’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly is this rumor suggesting?”

Tae shifted uncomfortably. “That his mission didn’t just involve gathering intel... that he may have been working both sides. Feeding information to the Order—or worse—to the Blood Fae.”