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Right... Alarik had made me responsible for her.

“Don’t worry. Your training sessions don’t start until next week,” I waved her off, and she nodded with a desperate look on her face.

Alarik wanted me to play pretend with her to reassure Father. Something I had absolutely no desire to do, but maybe then Father would see how well Alarik had trained me.

“So you're not here tonight?”

“I'm in town with...” Damn it. “Mica.”

I tried to look only at Bayla, but my gaze had taken on a life of its own.

And it was as if the expression in Miles’ eyes changed in a flash.

“With the son of the loud Russian?” Bayla asked, and when I saw Miles standing there with that look that spoke volumes, I decided to start a new game.

“With my future husband.”

I smiled as the words came out of my mouth, even though they felt so strange, almost suffocating. But the look on Miles' face was worth it.

His jaw tensed as if it were about to pop out. There was a glint in his fixed eyes.

The others only knew vaguely about the games, knew next to nothing. It was enough that he knew. And the best part was that it upset him.

Hardman Returns

Christopher Tyng

Admittedly, I had expected Mica's message. I just hadn't known when he would ask me.

The message had arrived shortly after I had fled the lecture hall to escape Olivia's presence.

I had been surprised, though a little confused. Because the words, Put on something comfortable and meet me in front of the house at six p.m., had of course made me almost burst with curiosity.

I had put on black athletic pants and my Vanderwood hoodie, along with a comfortable black winter jacket, just in case it started raining or snowing.

Now I was sitting in a Land Rover that belonged to the Rolanows, listening to strange Russian music, but my anticipation allowed me to ignore that today.

I glanced over at Mica, who was wearing grey regular chinos and a white knitted sweater that more than flattered his toned body. His hair was neat, as always, and it was interesting to see him so focused.

“Where are we going?” I blurted out, and the right corner of Mica's mouth turned up ever so slightly. The sharp angles of his face seemed softer than usual. More relaxed.

“It's a surprise.”

I already knew that. And I had never told him that I couldn't stand surprises. Not because I didn't like them, but because I was impatient and needed a certain amount of planning. Nothing was worse than being unprepared. How could anyone put others through such torture?

“But I'm curious,” I whined, watching his smile intensify.

“You should learn patience, Emely. At home, it's…”

“…a virtue. I know, I know…” I sighed exhaustedly, realizing too late that I had stepped out of character.

The smile disappeared from his lips, and he gave me an indecipherable look before looking back at the road.

“Our virtues are just as important to us as we value yours as guests.”

I bit my tongue.

Of course, I had noticed how he adapted to our ways, that he strictly followed most of the rules.