“Can I help you with something?" he asks. His lips twitch, fighting a losing battle against a wretched, playful grin.

I try to look cross with him, if only to keep up appearances. "You're supposed to be training."

"Worried I'm not getting enough exercise? I assure you, Mare," he says, winking, "we are."

It makes sense. Farley and Shade have been inseparable for a long while. Still, I gasp aloud, and swat his arm. "Shade Barrow!"

"Oh, come on, everyone knows. Not my fault you didn't figure it out.”