“It’s just so fancy,” I breathe, blinking. “I don’t know, I guess I just got…used to the barracks.”

“Well, dad and Uncle Roger like cadets to understand themselves as deserving of the best,” Rafe says with a shrug, and I tilt my head, considering that that’s not a terrible way to think of it.

“The Academy asks a lot of its cadets, as does the life after school,” Jesse says, smiling at me, clearly repeating words his dad said to him verbatim. “It likes to return the favor while it can.”

“Fine by me,” I say, reaching for a blueberry muffin – still warm, my god – while

Rafe fills my cup with hot brown liquid. I smile when he pushes the sugar and creamer my way – he and Jesse take theirs black, but he knows what I like.

“Morning!” Ben says, sitting down next to me and giving me a warm nudge with his shoulder. “Where’s Luca?” he asks, looking around.

“I’m right here,” Luca’s voice sounds, dry and exhausted, from right behind me.