CHAPTER 27

Reece

I felt like a little kid fighting over a new toy. Except I was an only child and Arty wasn’t a toy to be fought over. After learning about what had transpired between Arty and Bromm, I could understand from an objective viewpoint how the Griknot royal believed himself entitled to hoarding him for himself, but that wasn’t going to sit well with me.

I hadn’t been able to get Arty alone for days now. I had watched him slowly descend into a kind of misery I could never understand. We’d all heard his screams the day before, the way he sobbed and yelled and begged any deity that would listen to make it all stop.

What he needed to stop, however, was still a mystery, and I wanted nothing more than to stand in its way so it could never reach my friend again.

I never used the word ‘friend’ lightly. I’d had so few of them throughout the years – and even less were genuine – that I was meticulous about the people I chose to surround myself with.

Arty, though… he snuck up on me. When I’d first witnessed him laughing to himself in at the ship’s boarding gate I’d written him off as a weirdo that I wouldn’t want anything to do with. Who wants to be friends with the weird, quiet kid that laughs at nothing in the corner? Not me.

But then I got to know him a little better. Bit by bit he had begun to let me in, and I saw a man worth fighting for. Sure, he was quiet, but it was a contemplative silence. He wasn’t just sitting there blankly staring at a wall, he was taking in his surroundings, listening and processing. There was a hidden substance to him that was difficult to see at first, but once you got a glimpse it was undeniable and impossible not to notice .

That’s what drew me in initially. He seemed kind and polite, but it was vague and distant at the same time. He was holding himself apart from everyone else not because he believed himself more important or special like those I’d grown up around, but because he believed himself to be a danger to those around him.

The pieces hadn’t come together with long, vulnerable talks or any notable action. Instead, they slowly clicked into place by observing the way he behaved when he thought no one was watching. The way he reverted into his own mind and could stay there for hours on end. The way he was up before everyone, washed and ready to go so he could be present and available at all times. Even when his shadows got the best of him and he snapped, he was still conscious of those around him and his desire to keep us all safe from those demons overruled his need to let someone else help him vanquish them.

Brin was on the same page as me, and Bromm was very nearly there, though his understanding of Arty was still a little lacking. Regardless, he stepped up and wanted to be there for him as a friend, if not as a lover like he’d apparently previously intended.

That was still a shock. Arty’s preferences were one of the first personal things I had discovered about him. He was blatantly into men, and everyone knew it, but I hadn’t thought anyone within our team was genuinely attracted to him. He wasn’t a bad looking guy or anything, though he did look younger than most. His features were distinctly feminine. Delicate features, slim build, and those fuck-me eyes he had when he first woke up in the mornings that even had me questioning my sexuality every now and then… if Nova Academy didn’t exclusively accepted males I would have believed him to be a woman.

I didn’t want to look too closely into the emotions that arose when I thought about the two of them together. Arty and Bromm… it made sense and it didn’t. If I hadn’t seen Bromm’s concern over Arty’s wellbeing with my own two eyes I never would have believe he was serious. When Brin had cornered him and forced the truth from him, I hadn’t wanted to believe it. I hadn’t seen anything from the prince to prove he was anything but a typical Griknot: a player, there to get off and get you off, then gone the next day. Maybe that’s how it started, I didn’t know and I wasn’t there to comment, but it was clear now as he piled a plate a mile high for the other man that he wasn’t messing about.

There was some consolation in that. I wasn’t sure how, with the group’s dynamics still in its formative stages, it would affect us all if something more were to happen between the two regularly… or permanently. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Bromm and Foryk weren’t a couple, the platonic nature of their relationship made more evident by their notable lack of physical affection compared to the amount Bromm was showering over Arty.

It was sweet, but I still kept an eye on Arty’s expressions and body language. I didn’t want Bromm to accidentally set him off again by overwhelming him so soon when he was still so emotionally raw.

And that’s all it was. He bottled up his feelings, letting them build and build until there was no more room to contain them. And then he’d explode, everyone in the vicinity would get covered in his emotional gore, and then the process would start all over again. I was no psychologist, but it was clear to see he had a strong case of post-traumatic stress. I had seen it time and time again back home. The males of the community I’d been raised in were forced to internalise a toxic perspective on masculinity. Don’t show emotions, you’re better than the poor, weak women who looked up to us and relied upon us to take care of them. It was an archaic practice to teach the new generations, but it was happening all the same.

We wouldn’t find out any time soon what Arty’s specific triggers were, but I would make damn sure we were there to support him regardless. The last thing any of us wanted was for him to turn into another Tarren Christianson.

Blech. Tarren . I would never stop lamenting how I could never seem to be rid of the man.

Dorian clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. ‘All right, guys, it’s time to head down. Oh, and no more destruction of property, yeah?’ he joked, and it got so quiet you could’ve heard a fly fart. But then Arty scoffed with a little laugh and everyone joined in.

‘You’re just mad because you wouldn’t be able to knock it off its hook let alone pulverise it,’ Arty joked, and the entire room broke out into raucous laughter. He didn’t joke very often, so it took me aback alongside everyone else. But it also accomplished something else.

‘All right, Mercer. I see you. Challenge accepted,’ said Dorian, taking the ribbing from Cadmus and Henrik. The rest of us merely smirked at him, ready for his epic failure. The punching bag Arty broke must have been faulty because those ones were notoriously indestructible. I doubted any of the others were in the same condition, but I was looking forward to seeing Dorian try.

It was nice that we could make a joke of it and move on.

Just as we were about to leave, Brin called out to Arty. ‘Hey, do you have a minute before you go to class?’

Bromm and I looked to him with the same question in our eyes, and he gave us a shrug. ‘Sure,’ he told her before turning to us. ‘I’ll meet you down there.’

He was dismissing us, but something about the CWO’s suddenly squirrely manner made me hesitate. He trusted her, that much was obvious, but alarm bells were blaring in my mind. So, instead of leaving with the others, I stayed by the door just in case I was needed.

Bromm had the same idea, sticking by my side and leaning his ear against the door to try to listen in. Curiosity got the better of me and I followed suit, pressing my cheek against the cool metal to eavesdrop.

‘We didn’t get to finish our talk last night,’ came Brin’s distinct voice.

‘Pretty sure we did, Addy.’

‘I just meant you didn’t tell me what the plan is,’ Brin pushed.

‘Addy, you don’t get to know the plan. I thought we agreed you’d stay out of it.’

Bromm and I shared a look. Stay out of what? What plan?

‘No, we agreed that I would help you while you’re on this ship. You can’t do this alone. You need someone by your side, and don’t bother arguing because you know it’s true. Yesterday would never have happened if you weren’t doing all this alone.’

A pause.

‘And you know I’m not gonna forget it and pretend this isn’t happening. I’m not going anywhere and you can’t stop me so don’t even try. I’m helping, and that’s that.’

I didn’t think I’d ever heard Brin speak so sternly to anyone, even when she was interrogating me and Bromm. There was a steel in her tone that hadn’t been there before, and I considered that perhaps I had underestimated her. She was a CWO in the military, for star’s sake. She was no slouch, and her grit must have just been hidden a little too well behind her bubbly pink exterior.

A sigh that sounded like it originated from Arty travelled softly through the door. ‘There’s nothing you can do, Addy. Not really. I’ve gotten the attention of the recruiters and I need to hold that attention. If you get in the way they’ll notice you too and I can’t allow that.’

‘Tough shit, bitch. Tell me what you need me to do. Or tell me who’s recruiting and for what. Your choice.’

Another pause.

‘You’re really not gonna give up, are you?’

‘Nope. Never. You’re stuck with me. I keep telling you but it doesn’t seem to be sinking in.’

I grumbled my objections but they landed on deaf ears. ‘Fine. I’ll think about it, but for the time being I just need you to lay low and act like everything is normal.’

Brin scoffed. ‘ Normal . What’s normal about a secret and undoubtedly illegal recruitment team using a cadet academy as a hunting ground?’

‘What’s normal about a female pretending…’ Arty’s retort trailed off as his voice dipped lower, too low for us to pick up on it without being in the room.

‘We should get downstairs before they catch us,’ Bromm whispered to me.

I didn’t want to pull away, but I knew we had to. ‘Right.’

Neither one of us made a move to leave, nor did we speak.

‘Elevator?’ He knew I was asking for more than going down a few decks.

‘Elevator.’

We didn’t have much time once we entered, and there was always the possibility that someone else might try to hop on while we were going for privacy so we started speaking in hushed, hurried tones.

‘Whatever we just heard doesn’t change anything. Not for me,’ said Bromm, opening up the conversation.

‘Agreed.’

‘Arty isn’t just a cadet, is he?’ asked Bromm.

‘No. No, I don’t think so.’

‘So what is he doing here?’

The elevator stopped on deck twelve to allow someone else on board. We jumped apart as if we were doing something untoward, and the officer that joined us gave us a knowing look. It was awkward in the silence that ensued with the added implication that we’d been caught having an intimate moment together, even if that wasn’t the case. Luckily, they exited only two floor down .

‘Do you think he’s a spy?’ Bromm picked back up where we left off. However, there twinkle in his eyes that gave me far too much information I didn’t need about what the male was into.

‘I don’t know, but he’s not here just to learn. If he’s even here for that at all.’

‘Do you think the captain knows?’

I considered the question and recalled how the captain had left the two to speak alone with the rest of us. ‘No, I don’t think so. I think Brin’s the only person who knows, and she wasn’t supposed to find out.’

‘Find out what , though?’

I shook my head. ‘I know about as much as you do, Bromm.’

He pouted, but then his expression became contemplative. ‘Should we get involved? CWO Brin was concerned about him acting alone in whatever it is he’s here for. Do you think he needs our help?’

I inhaled slowly as I let the situation fully sink in, the consequences of inserting ourselves into the unknown equally a mystery. ‘I think we should stay out of it but keep a look out for any trouble.’

He nodded once affirmatively. ‘Got it. Good plan.’

The door opened on the training deck then, and we shut out mouths so fast the snap of our jaws echoed down the metallic corridor. And then promptly fell open again to the scene in front of us.

The whole gang was clustered together facing off against another group of cadets, and they were led by none other than the male I hated more than anyone in the entire Intergalactic Union. Tarren Christianson pointed right at me when he noticed our entrance, his deep voice that attracted all the females in our hometown and beyond distorted into a snarl.

‘You have some gall showing your face here, rapist ,’ he spat out, and Foryk moved to place himself in the middle to block them from coming any closer, but Henrik stopped him with a hand on his elbow.

‘I didn’t hurt her. Whoever did, it wasn’t me,’ I attempted to placate Tarren, but I knew from experience that he would refuse to listen once he’d made up his mind, regardless of the truth.

‘You hurt my sister. Don’t try to deny it. You’re nothing but a sick psycho and you deserve what’s coming to you.’ The threat in his voice was one I’d heard many times over the years as he berated house staff and service employees, but this time there was an emotional quality to it that gave it a dangerous edge that had been absent before. He truly meant it.

I was aware that his sister was the female that had been assaulted. The assault I had been framed for. I should have guessed. I’d taken it as a blessing that I hadn’t seen him around the ship much, glad to have a reprieve from his constant barbs and arrogant demands. It was the talk of the town when Katira Christianson left home to join the military, but I hadn’t realised she was stationed on this ship with this crew before I’d come on board.

My concern over my own safety skyrocketed. Tarren was a formidable foe, his wealth and his family’s political influence reached far and wide. There wasn’t much he couldn’t achieve with that sort of power backing him. This whole situation had just deteriorated in a blink, and I was glad we no longer bunked with the other cadets. Our time at Nova Academy was about to become fraught with danger with the Christiansons and their lackeys gunning for me. And the rest of my team for their association with me. If people actually started to believe the rumours we might end up run not only out of the academy and the military, but the Intergalactic Union itself.

Fuck.

Dorian stepped forward then, more than ready to square up against what he must have viewed as simple bullies following a man seeking justice. Little did he know …

‘Look, man. It wasn’t him. Ask the captain if you don’t believe us. He has evidence that proves it was someone else. Reece wasn’t even there,’ he attempted to reason. I knew even before he spoke that it wasn’t going to work. Tarren was as thick-skulled as they came, and since he had already decided I was to blame, probably because of our already established rivalry, this was the hill he intended to die on.

Arty showed up then, stepping forward to draw the attention to himself. ‘Go find someone else to harass, Christianson. Reece is innocent and there’s proof. You can’t hurt him without dragging yourself down with him,’ he warned. Turning things back onto Tarren was usually a sure-fire way to force him to back off, but this time was different. Tarren didn’t care about anyone but himself, but the one exception was his sister. Watching him now, it wasn’t difficult to surmise that he might even care for her more than himself.

That discovery made him an even greater threat, because no one went after what Tarren Christianson cared about and survived. And by the way he was glaring at me as if his gaze alone could smite me where I stood, I had a bad feeling that he may even attempt to make sure I wouldn’t survive at all.

Double fuck.

Bromm stayed close to me, silently backing me up with his presence. If anyone could combat the Christianson influence then it would be the Griknot Prince. Which gave me an idea…

Arty glanced back at Bromm and asked a question with nothing more than a raised eyebrow, but it was enough for him to get the gist. He paled slightly, but after his eyes darted to Arty it was clear what his decision was before he gave me permission with a jerky nod of his head.

‘Hey Tarren, have you met Prince Brommyt Min’Tuk?’ Arty asked, drawing the furious man’s attention successfully away from me .

‘I know what you’re doing, rapist sympathiser ,’ he punctuated the words by spitting a glob of saliva at his feet. I was used to that sort of behaviour from him, but the others weren’t. The way they suddenly tried to form a barrier between Tarren and Arty proved they didn’t know the extent of the threat he posed. From the entire community in our hometown, actually. Spit was the least of our concerns. ‘It’s not going to work. Nothing will stop me from making sure this worthless waste of space gets what he deserves.’

The instructors arrived then and the bullies dispersed, but not without some more choice words thrown our way. The term ‘mutt’ was spat towards me with a degree of vitriol only Tarren and his sheep could achieve.

Arty, at first glance, seemed completely unflappable, but I noticed the way his back was ramrod straight and his knuckles were white as he fisted his hands.

‘Are you okay?’ Urman asked as they surrounded him in a conscious attempt to shield us from further attacks.

‘Yeah. There’s video evidence of the guy who actually committed the crime, so there’s nothing he can really do,’ he said.

‘Actually…’ I began, not wanting to burst their bubble but they needed to understand the full scope of the newest threat. ‘Tarren is from an incredibly powerful family. His parents are part of the IU’s governing body, and they have a considerable influence.’

‘So because he’s decided he doesn’t like us, he could still cause some damage?’ asked Henrik, trepidation colouring his tone.

‘Pretty much,’ I confirmed.

I expected Arty to deflate at that information, but he seemed to grow taller instead. He had gumption, that was for sure. I didn’t understand why he was here or what his intent was, but I did know that I was on his side until I saw proof he was an enemy, but I didn’t believe that to be the case. He had my loyalty so far.

But even after his protective display, what I’d overheard earlier sat at the forefront of my mind. I just hoped my loyalty was well-placed and deserved.