“I’m not better than you,” he says, just as soft. “I think you’re exactly the kind of warden Kikimora needs, which means you’re exactly the kind of warden someone will need after her, if you choose to stay that long. You keeping your promise about the file—I don’t think I would have ended up anywhere close to graduating if you hadn’t done that, even when I didn’t want you to.”

He draws in a slow, deep breath, then exhales hard. “Don’t go praising me yet when I haven’t even gotten an assignment.”