Level-headed people were the best for those sorts of high-pressure jobs.
Their father expected them to return home and for one of them to take over his position on the council, mistakenly believing his sons were the same as the rest of their population in this sense.
Rin almost laughed.
His father was a blind idiot. If he’d had even a modicum of interest in his children, he would have gathered that a long time ago. But Crate Varun only cared about his career. Even his sons had been born out of necessity because he’d needed heirs to take over his responsibilities when he passed—which probably wouldn’t be for decades, the bastard.
He’d ruin their lives for something that wouldn’t even take place for another forty or fifty years.
A spark of anger slipped through the fear hounding him, but the panic was stronger, banking it back down so the pounding in Rin’s chest started making him uncomfortable. There was blood rushing to his ears as well, the instinctual need to flee gripping him, even as he ignored it and continued leading the Imperial Prince up a set of winding metal stairs to the top floor.
This section of the library held most of the older books, paper, and leather tomes that hadn’t been scanned into the computer system for how ancient and obsolete they were. It was a space very rarely visited by other students, and sure enough when they reached the landing and he caught sight of the wide open space, there wasn’t anyone else around.
The walls bore heavy, packed shelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, with wide windows set between every four. Three long wooden tables with warped places over their surfaces were set in rows in the center, slightly dusty.
Rin would prefer sticking close to the stairs, but if anyone noticed the Imperial had come up here, they’d draw unwanted attention and possible eavesdroppers. He ended up moving toward the nearest table, turning to perch on the edge, his arms crossed over his chest. The easy, enigmatic expression he was used to presenting—when he wasn’t in a situation where he needed to smile like some overly happy loon—was somewhat harder to conjure given his nerves, but he managed.
Negative emotions always tended to last longer for him, things like anger, fear, and anxiety able to get a chokehold on him and cling. Half the time, it felt like he was possessed, like some demon had wriggled its way into his bloodstream and infected him. He hated it, hated that instead of being able to give in, he was required to fight against it and keep it bottled inside where no one else could see.
His brother knew who he was.
That had always been enough.
Until recently.
Yes, this planet had been a mistake.
“Looking a little too lax in front of your commanding officer,” Kelevra spoke first, breaking the silence for the first time, as he did, he moved forward, dropping a hand on either side of Rin’s hips before he could even think to shove him away.
“Move,” he said, his voice coming out flat despite the way his heart leapt in his chest. Something felt wrong here, and while he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, he was certain it wasn’t just his emotions getting the best of him. He needed to be cautious. “Please.”
“Are you uncomfortable with me so close?” Kelevra asked, gaze dropping down to linger on Rin’s mouth.
He barely resisted the urge to lick his lips, keeping himself still. That was always the best course of action when face to face with a predator. So he’d keep still, hold his anger and his unease in, and get through this the same way he got through everything. By faking it.
“We’re at Vail University,” Rin replied calmly. “As representatives of the Academy, we can’t do anything that could be considered unfavorable.” He swallowed and then managed, “Why are you here? Did you come for Baikal?”
Kelevra’s eyes narrowed. “Are you two acquainted? I didn’t think you were, but then he obviously knows your brother, a man I didn’t even know existed.”
“That sounds accusatory,” Rin pointed out. He really wished the Imperial would step back and give him some breathing room. The warm and slightly sweet scent to his perfume was starting to wrap around him, almost like a coaxing lover, and Rin decided he didn’t like it.
It smelled fucking fantastic, that’s why.
“You should have told me,” Kelevra said.
“I didn’t have the chance if you recall.”
“Oh,” he grinned suddenly, “I do.”
“Move,” Rin repeated.
“I’ve decided against it.”
He caught himself just before a frown could furrow his brow. “Didn’t you mention before you hate wasting time?”
“This doesn’t count,” Kelevra told him. “I’m here with you. Time with you is never wasted.”
That…Sounded dangerous.
