Ryker pointed. "The squirrel started it."
Soren glared. "You're both unbearable."
I ducked my head. Ryker caught it immediately.
"There," he said. "I'm funny."
"She's laughing at your stupidity," Soren said.
"It still counts."
We sat. The food was warm, and the conversation moved easily—stories from when they were younger, each of them remembering different versions of the same events. Ryker exaggerated everything. Soren corrected everything. Kael occasionally confirmed which version was closer to true.
Ryker had been stuck in a tree for two hours. Soren had accidentally set training equipment on fire. Kael had broken someone's nose at eleven for insulting his brothers.
Tala was entertained in a way she rarely let herself be.
Then the heat came back.
Stronger.
My grip tightened
