I open my mouth, but he quickly cuts me off.
“I know you aren’t married to him.” He glares at me. “So, don’t even try that.”
“First of all, it’s none of your business, and second of all, Knox told me you did some digging on that. Super creepy by the way,” I say. “Searching me up and all.”
“I’ll tell you where I got the scar.”
I am not that curious about the mark, but getting him to reveal anything is like pulling teeth. I have to take advantage of the moment.
“We’re best friends, and when we’re bored, we kiss,” I say. “Your turn.”
“How can you be friends if you kiss?” Ender frowns. “That makes zero sense.”
“I wasn’t ready for anything serious, and Gray was always gone. A relationship didn’t make sense,” I say. “So, we took what we could get.”
“Sounds like you have a fear of commitment,” he says.
I bristle at his observation. “You don’t know anything about me. Vale.”
“I reckon you would tuck tail at any mention of an arranged marriage,” Ender says.
His eyes dart my way for one, lengthy second.
I turn my head away from him, staring at the passing houses.
“Lucky for me, my sister was born three minutes before me,” I say. “So, I don’t have to worry about having a raging madman for a husband.”
“Your sister is more bearable than you,” he says. I can feel his gaze on me. “I wonder why you are both so different?”
“Sounds like a match made in heaven,” I say, with a fake smile. “Finally, someone who can tolerate your unpleasant personality.”
“A perfect arrangement,” he says.
He doesn’t need to say it, but I know what he thinks of my sister. Mercy is a burden to him. One that he would rather ignore than acknowledge.
“Anyways, that scar, what’s the story?” I ask.
“I was a frightened four-year-old who refused to sit still to get the Bind.”
All the children with powers got their Bind at six. It was rare for one to display signs so early. Ender must have always been an overachiever.
“You were younger than most,” I say.
“That’s why I was so scared,” he says. “My powers came too early, and I hate needles.”
“Me too,” I whisper. “Needles, that is. I hate them.”
We sit in silence for the rest of the ride.
Grayson is waiting in the entrance hall of Block A when we arrive. His hands are shoved deep into his pockets, and his golden hair is boyishly tousled.
“Gray,” I exclaim.
He wraps his arms around me, drawing me to his chest.
“Morning,” he says. His words muffled by my hair.
“Visitation hours are only for recruits in Blocks B and C,” Ender says, in a clipped tone. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to leave.”
