How the hell had he known what Rin was thinking? He’d been certain to maintain his friendly expression and not let his spine stiffen even the slightest.
“How unexpected.” Lyra was watching their exchange. “I wasn’t aware you were capable of being supportive of someone else, little brother. I certainly never took you for the type to be tamed by your consort.”
“Am I?” Kel seemed pleased by that notion. “You’ll have to take responsibility for me now, Flower.”
“Nicknames, too?” She beamed. “I can’t wait to tell Tessa. She won’t believe me. When will you be bringing him by the hospital?”
“The what?” Rin held his smile, but he was positive Kelevra felt the way his heart skipped a beat from how closely pressed against him he still was.
“Are you afraid of doctors?” Kelevra asked curiously.
“Don’t worry,” Lyra waved at him. “It’s nothing serious. The Royal doctor will just run a few standard tests, that’s all. There aren’t any health requirements to marry into the family, it’s just precautionary to ensure there’s an updated medical file on hand in case there are any emergencies in the future.”
“Can’t you just ask for my file from the Academy?” Rin had undergone extensive testing when they’d been accepted. “I haven’t had any major medical complications in the past year and a half since I’ve been on planet.”
“We’d prefer our doctor to do it,” Lyra insisted. “He’ll be thorough, and he’s worked with the family since our parents were our age.” She stood up. “How about we go now? Get it over with? I can call him and ask him to prepare a room.”
He needed an excuse to say no, something legitimate. If he got caught refusing an Imperial—and the Heir Imperial no less—things could go from pleasant to really bad for him really fast. But this wasn’t something he’d considered, and with Kelevra still clinging to him, his damn scent invading Rin’s senses, it was proving difficult to think up anything.
Fuck.
“Maybe some other time.” That so wasn’t going to cut it. Rin could tell them he had classwork. Telling them he was busy would have been a lot more believable if he hadn’t spent practically half the day in bed though.
Plus, Kelevra would be able to tell he was lying.
Double fuck.
He just needed to stall. Stall for now and—His emblem-slate dinged and he checked it, almost heaving a sigh of relief when he saw it was from his Active.
“It’s the mock case,” he said, feigning apology. “There’s been a new mock murder. I have to check the scene for clues.” When he went to step away from Kel, there was a moment where the Imperial Prince resisted and held him back, but eventually, he released him and straightened.
“Rin takes the Academy very seriously,” Kelevra informed his sister. “He’s determined to solve this before any of his classmates.”
“That’s very dedicated.” Lyra smiled and nodded. “Of course, school should come first, and since the wedding is being put off now, there’s plenty of time to get you to the doctor’s beforehand.”
“We’ll schedule something,” Rin promised, walking by her toward the door. He was lying through his teeth, and it was somewhat cowardly, but he avoided looking Kel’s way as he did it.
“Are you leaving too?” she asked her brother.
“As his mentor, I should.” Kelevra kissed her cheek and then grabbed Rin’s hand, linking their fingers as he tugged him into the hall and out the side entrance. He didn’t speak again until they were both tucked into the elevator on their way down. “I was able to discover that this killer of yours knows each of the victims.”
Rin blinked at him.
“It’s looking like they met over the summer, just before the new semester started,” Kel added as they came to a stop. He walked them out, ignoring when Rin tried to remove his hand from his.
Somehow, even though he hadn’t called ahead, his cherry red hovercar was waiting for them out front.
Giving up, Rin allowed himself to be stuffed into the passenger seat, waiting until the Imperial Prince was inside and had started the vehicle before saying, “So a couple of months ago? How’d you figure?”
He cut him a smirk. “Research.”
“You?”
“It seemed like winning this thing was important, considering how much time you spent working it and ignoring me.”
“Don’t mope,” Rin chided, not liking the way something warm and sticky seemed to unfurl in his chest at the sight. “It’s unbecoming of a man of your stature.”
Kelevra laughed as he drove them toward the crime scene. “That’s got to be one of the funniest things you’ve said to me so far. Are you forgetting about how last night I trussed you up and made you cry? Decorum’s not really my thing.”
