“Zeda,” Adrian called as she took her bag and started leaving.

Zeda turned around to look at him. He ran his hand through his hair and cleared his throat—a tell she had noticed whenever he was flustered or uncomfortable.

“Thank you for siding with me back there in the meeting, and for helping me against the wolf in the mission,” he said. He looked nervous and uncomfortable, like showing appreciation was something he rarely did.

Zeda noted he had used the word help him instead of ...