Phoenix Maplewood not from others

That made sense. Or it would have, except, "You have no idea who I am," Alya pointed out, halfway between amused and disappointed. This was no envoy from Moonspear. She didn't know why she'd gotten her hopes up.

Alya waited for the girl to explain herself, wondering if this was some sort of joke. It was not, of course, that she did not agree with the other's sentiment. It was just that it seemed strange that one might divine just from looking at her that she was far superior to themselves.

The girl must be a thrall, she thought. Her place among the Morningsiders must be such that she was made to bow. Alya's estimation of Aditya fell down a peg. Not for his practice of keeping thralls, but for his attempt to seem like a wolf who would not.

And, if he did save her to make her a thrall, what did he want from her?