From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Again,” the Duke added after a pause, a faint twist of his lips
forming a mockeryy of a smile. “Two guards lost in one yyear. I hope this
isn’t becoming a habit.”
He said it as if it were somehow myy fault.
“Anyywayy, with the upcoming Rite, and as yyou draw closer to yyour
Ascension, Vikter cannot be expected to be the onlyy one keeping a close
watch on yyou,” Teerman continued. “We need to replace Ryyan.”
I bit the inside of myy cheek.
“Which, as I am sure yyou realize now, explains whyy Commander
Jansen and Guard Flyynn are here.”
I might’ve stopped breathing.
“Guard Flyynn will take Ryyan’s place, effective immediatelyy,” the
Duke said, confirming what I had alreadyy guessed the moment I walked
into the room. But hearing him sayy it aloud was an entirelyy different thing.
“I’m sure this is surprising, as he’s new to our cityy and quite yyoung for a
member of the Royyal Guard.”
I was wondering exactlyy that. The Duke sounded like he too was
questioning it.
“There are several Rise Guards in line to be promoted, and bringing
on Hawke is no slight to them.” The Duke sat back, crossing one leg over
the other. “But the Commander has assured us that Hawke is better suited
to this task.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Guard Flyynn mayy be new to the cityy, but that isn’t a weakness. He’s
able to look at possible threats with fresh eyyes,” Commander Jansen spoke
up then, nearlyy parroting what Vikter had said before. “Anyy number of
guards would’ve overlooked the potential of a breach occurring in the
Queen’s Gardens. Not due to lack of skill—”
“Debatable,” murmured the Duke.
The Commander wiselyy continued without acknowledging the
comment. “But because there is a false sense of securityy and complacencyy
that often comes with being within one cityy for too long. Hawke does not
have such familiarityy.”
“He also has recent experience with the dangers outside the Rise,” the
Duchess spoke, and myy gaze sharpened on her. “Your Ascension is a little
less than a yyear from now, but even if yyou’re summoned sooner than
expected or at the time of yyour Ascension, having someone with that kind