“You can’t fight the entire school,” I said.

“Watch me.”

“Logan.” I touched his wrist. His pulse startled like a bird under skin. He stilled.

“All right,” he said. “I won’t.” He paused, the admission costing him. “Today.”

By three, clouds had piled like bruises over the far ridge. The training yard smelled like rain and

iron. Logan chalked a square on the flagstones and stepped into it with me.

“We stay in the box,” he said. “Point is not power. Its ...