“Raea here is making me beg,” Jensn remarks with a wink.
I scoff at the exact moment I feel the heavy weight of Anders’ gaze and the charged energy in the air, sending the fine hairs on my neck standing on end. A warm heat envelops me, and I know that if I were to turn and look, Anders would be seething. The thought makes me pause. Instead of pushing away the strange flow of energy between us, I let it in.Anders is barely holding it together.
A flicker of sadness stirs within me, but I’m pulled back to reality.
“Oh, she likes to make them beg,” Tate purrs, eyeing me from head to toe playfully with a wild grin.
“I appreciate you asking, but I’m busy,” I respond quickly, attempting to keep my tone light. “I believe Aada also has a study group, and she’s brilliant. I’m sure she could help.”
Jensn’s grin falls, masking his disappointment with a quick shrug. Ciara nudges me gently, still engrossed in the phony conversation with Britta, who appears equally entertained by Jensn’s attempts to get close to me.
“Raea,” Trysten interjects as he settles behind me. “Can we step outside?” When I glance back, I read his expression and see the lifeline he’s offering.
With a grateful nod, I quickly apologize to Jensn before my gaze shifts to Tate. His grin widens, making me wonder if I’m escaping some sort of hell he was bound to trap me in. I throw a withering glare his way that makes him chuckle as I push out of my seat, sidestepping Jensn.
As we make our way out of the transport hall, the atmosphere shifts, and I’m met with a rush of cool, pine-scented air that fills my lungs alongside the scent of fresh snow from the mountains.
My attention snaps to Trysten, who stands a few steps away, looking a little hesitant and cupping his nape. “Yes?” My directness disarms him, causing him to raise his hands, palms out, backing away in surrender.
His eyes lighten with amusement as I lean against the opposite wall.
My eyes roam over him, taking him in without the distraction ofAnders, who is usually plastered to his side. His tanned skin is covered in ink, one piece of art fading into the next, and beneath it, an athletic physique, toned and strong but different from the bulk on Anders.
I sigh with relief when I realize there’s no Bond, no flickering light, no zaps...absolutely nothing between us. He must sense the same thing as I watch his shoulders visibly relax.
Trysten crosses his arms first, then his ankles. “I was rescuing you. Or maybe them. You looked seconds away from eating them alive.” There’s a spirited glint in his eyes, daring me to challenge him.
I let my false swagger rise as I take a step toward him. “I didn’t need saving,” I chuckle. “Maybe...” I take another step. “I just wanted to watch him beg.”Lies.The words taste like ash on my tongue.
Trysten studies me intently for a moment, his gaze unwavering, before he responds, “Unlikely.” He lifts a brow in response, waiting for me to argue. Instead of rising to the bait, I find something curious about his demeanor—an openness I’ve never seen before. His features soften. “Come sit with me. I’ll fill you in on all you need to know for the test.”
I crumble, revealing the swirling storm of emotions. His eyes gleam with genuine empathy, and I can’t help but reflect on how different he is. Then again, I’ve made the same mistake judging Anders, too.
I’m so tired of this game, the tumult of hormones, and the intensity of all these Bonds. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the time when school consisted of learning and easy friendships.
“Okay,” I reply quietly. A small but genuine smile tugs at the corners of his lips. He opens the door, the quiet calm instantly dissipating in the loud chatter filling the hall. He gestures for me to enter first, and I mutter a quick, “Thanks.”
I hesitate inside the doors, half-expecting him to lead us to the open seats beside Anders. Instead, he guides me up the steps to the top of the hall, to a pair of secluded seats away from prying eyes.
My friends exchange puzzled glances as their eyes bounce between Trysten and me. I can feel their curiosity even from up here. ThoughTrysten and I haven’t had many conversations, I’m glad he’s my division leader. He shares a brief, meaningful look with Anders, a silent communication of intent, before settling in beside me.
The classroom door swings open, allowing Professor Brendn to stride in. He’s one of my favorite professors despite his lack of practiced manners. Trysten fills in any gaps with his insights and experience as Professor Brendn explains that we are expected to fly to other planets, racing against transport teams.
There are twenty-one teams among the juniors, and each team will be assigned a senior to assist and guide us throughout the test.
Trysten doesn’t hold back when it comes to gloating about his team’s victory last year.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll engage in rigorous training sessions focusing on launching and landing, alongside logging hours in the simulator, which will allow us to practice in various weather scenarios.
We’ll receive our senior assignments a day before the mission. For now, Ciara, Tate, and I need to hone our skills because I plan on winning.
We have one month between me and my first off-planet mission, and the bubbling excitement feels like I am going to burst. By the end of class, I’ve warmed up to the division leader and given him my gratitude before rushing down the steps to meet with Ciara and Tate.
“Let’s go, Raea. Right now,” Anders demands, his voice cutting through the background chatter, pulling me from my thoughts as I finish the last bite of my stew. The energy in the air pricks the edges of my senses.
Gods, what now?
Here we go with his demands. I take a deep breath and set my spoon down, carefully patting my lips with the linen napkin. “Excuse me, are you speaking to me?” I reply with a playful lilt, my eyes drifting across the table to Ciara, who’s stifling her laughter behindher hand. It’s a struggle not to smile, especially when the banter between us gives me a rush.
