He almost said I did not ask to be here This is not my world Send me back now He almost said it His mouth even opened to say it Then he heard Lira in his head She will never open the gate if she thinks you are easy to own He heard Mara in his head You must be a flood not a cup He heard Corren in his head I will end you myself if you are dangerous to my people

So he answered with the only truth that fit all those things He said I am here because there was fire and someone needed help and I jumped That is how it started Everything after that is your world not mine

The ring was silent Enough that he heard one of the trainees across the way let out a breath through their nose Nerissa watched him slow Then she said And now Why are you still here Brooks Why have you not begged me to open the gate and throw you back to whatever smoke filled place spit you out

He did not look away He said slow careful honest Because I do not walk away from people who trust me to stand with them And right now your people are looking at me like I am supposed to stand

The water around his boots tightened again He felt it ripple out into the ring He felt it answer him like a yes He did not do that on purpose The water did it

Nerissa saw it Her eyes flashed with interest and something almost like satisfaction She smiled Not wide Not bright Sharp Good She said

Then she turned her head just enough that Mara and Corren could hear Send word to the council She said Let them know I have spoken to the new mark and I have claimed first right of service

Evan felt cold spread in his stomach Claimed Not asked Not invited Claimed His jaw locked

Nerissa looked back at him and said You will dine with me at last light tonight Brooks We will speak without an audience and you will tell me what you want And I will tell you what I need And we will see if those things can live in the same tide

He nodded slow Yes Nerissa She gave a small approving sound Good You can be taught manners after all

She turned to go Then paused and looked back at him and her eyes softened just for a second There was something human there not only ruler not only strategist Something tired something honest She said very quietly only for him I know what it is to jump into fire for someone else I do not forget people who do that

Then the softness was gone She moved like tide again and left the ring with Corren at her side The air eased when she was gone Everyone else in the room finally breathed Mara stood shook out her arms and blew out a long slow breath like she had been holding it for an hour

She looked at him with wide eyes and a kind of wild grin and whispered You idiot You just got claimed by the queen in front of half the academy You know what that means

Evan wiped the copper taste from the corner of his mouth with his thumb What does it mean Mara It means she cannot disappear you quietly now Mara said still half shocked half proud It means if someone tries to drown you they answer to her first It means if someone tries to chain you they have to chain you in her name It means you just bought yourself time to breathe

Then her grin faded fast And it means if you mess up even once she will put a leash on you in public and call it honor So congratulations Brooks You are still alive and now the whole kingdom is going to be watching you

He let out a breath through his teeth Great he said I love being watched

Mara clapped his shoulder Maybe you should get used to it flood boy Training is over for now Go clean up Eat again You are going to need strength for dinner with Nerissa Because at that table every word is a weapon and every pause is a test

He nodded His body finally started to feel how tired it was The adrenaline dropped and he felt like stone You coming with me to dinner Mara laughed loud No You are on your own hero I am not dressed for fancy rooms She leaned in though and dropped her voice low But Brooks One more thing Say it now while you still can He looked at her Say what She said Your choice

He blinked My choice Mara nodded tight Your choice Say it to yourself and mean it Before they all start telling you who you belong to Say it now

He took a breath His heart felt heavy but steady He could still feel the hum of the water under his boots steady as a pulse He said quiet mostly to himself I belong to my crew I belong to the people I pull out I do not belong to any crown

Mara smiled Good Hold that She said Because after tonight everyone here is going to try to make you forget it