Page 39
The answer was there too, and that was the worst part. That same low hum under his skin. That same impossible pull whenever Daven came near.
Ryneth had never slept with a man his age. He’d always shared thin mattresses with his younger siblings, protecting them from nightmares and the real dangers of Düren. The Ward wasn’t enough.
His chest tightened at the thought.
Who was taking care of Tavi and the others now that he was gone? Mara, obviously. She always did when life got ugly. That had been the whole point of Helion. He’d come here desperate enough to believe he could find work fast, send credits home, and make the risk worth it.
One year, he had told himself.
Instead, he was here, locked in a prince’s penthouse while his family survived without the money he’d promised to find.
Ryneth pushed off the bed.
He needed to do something. Anything.
Soft music drifted from the direction of the kitchen. Looking around the spacious bedroom, he found a chair with the Academy uniform folded in an orderly pile. Resting on top was a new multi-slate.
When he snapped the device around his wrist, the screen ignited instantly with an amber glow and a message from Daven.
Shower. Get dressed. Then get your ass in the kitchen. I’m preparing coffee and I don’t like to wait, aethera.
Despite the tone, Ryneth felt a pull at the corner of his mouth. Then he caught his reflection in the terrace glass and froze.
He shouldn’t be smiling like this.
He looked toward the bedroom door. The penthouse was massive. If he could find the service lift, or maybe a back exit…
As the thought formed, the multi-slate buzzed against his skin. A new message scrolled across the glass.
Don’t even think about the door, sweetheart. The Luminary guards outside are bored and they’d love a reason to tackle you. Besides, you’d miss the coffee.
Ryneth let out a long, defeated breath, grabbed the pile of clothes and walked toward the heated stone of the bathroom. He would shower. He would put on the uniform. And he would think of a way to get back to Düren.
The shower was…nothing like he’d ever had before. The water was clean and hot, and Ryneth caught himself drinking it as he washed, just because he could. It was a luxury he’d never had.
He scrubbed the scent of opium from his skin, but the violet bite mark on his throat remained.
The fabric of the uniform hugged his shoulders, tapering at the waist in a way that made him look like he belonged in a Luminary’s inner circle rather than a refinery worker.
Daven was leaning against the kitchen island, a glass of dark liquid in one hand and a spatula in the other. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just a pair of loose silk trousers that sat dangerously low on his hips. When he looked up, his eyes devoured Ryneth until he squirmed.
“Fuck, look at you.” His gaze traveled from Ryneth’s boots up to the trim of his collar. “I knew you’d look good in my colors, but this is going to make me late. I’m supposed to be taking you to a lecture, not pinning you against the counter and reminding you why your legs are still shaking.”
Ryneth felt the heat rush to his face, his irritation clashing with the traitorous spark of pride in his chest. “I just want the coffee, Daven.”
“First thing you’ve said that I agree with. Here.” Daven reached for a ceramic mug and filled it. He didn't hand it over. Instead, he waited for Ryneth to close the distance, then hooked a finger into the silver loop of Ryneth’s Academy cuff, pulling him in until their chests collided.
Daven’s free hand cupped Ryneth’s jaw, his thumb dragging across the lower lip he’d bruised the night before. “You look like a prince, aethera. A prince who belongs to me.” He leaned in and took his mouth again, deeper this time, kissing him until Ryneth made a sound and grabbed at his wrist. He tasted like coffee.
When Daven finally pulled back, he was grinning, his amber eyes lit like a match. His thumb dragged once more over Ryneth’s wet lower lip. “Drink up. We’ve got an Academy to terrorize, and I want everyone to see the marks I left on your neck. So fucking pretty.”
The Helion Academy looked nothing like the training blocks and state classrooms on Düren.
This was a wall of white stone and glass, where Luminary guards stood like black and gold statues at the security gates. When they approached, they dipped their chins, their eyes tracking Ryneth with a curiosity that made his skin itch.
“Welcome to the Academy.” Daven pointed ahead with lazy confidence, like the entire place belonged to him. “Main hall’s there. Seminar buildings are on the east side. Sports complex is just past the inner court. We have two canteens, one better than the other, and Umbral Park is just beyond the art building. For if ever you want to do a picnic.”
“Of course.” Ryneth pressed his lips together. He could only stare. It didn’t look like a school. It looked like a private city built for people who had never once worried about whether they’d eat that night.
