Page 53 of Nova Academy

No matter how much or how hard I flipped through the information I had about Arty, I simply could not figure out what it was that triggered him. His reaction was extreme and completely befuddling, and I could not figure out how to be there for him if he was so determined to push us all away. All I could come up with was to support him from a distance until he was able to calm himself down.

Or maybe that was the issue.

I stared at the punching bag’s guts scattered at the edge of the mats, begging them to give me an answer. But maybe theywerethe answer. Maybe he needed to destroy a few things to get it out of his system.

The idea took root, and I ran through a few different ideas for how to accomplish it while we showered, changed, and rode up the decks towards our new room for the midday meal.

Foryk elbowed me as soon as we entered, gently nudging meaway from the others for a bit of privacy. ‘What’s got you thinking so hard?’ he asked.

‘Arty.’

He scoffed, but it wasn’t mean. ‘Obviously. Why, though?’

I didn’t want to go into too much detail, but I’d already told Reece, Brin and the captain, so my closest friend shouldn’t be that big of a leap. It just didn’t sit well with me that I’d told anyone at all, but since that ship had already disembarked, I spilled.

‘A couple nights ago, when you left us so we could talk, I said we didn’t,’ I began.

‘I remember.’

‘Well, we might not have talked, but we did… kiss. Passionately.’

His forehead crinkled as the thick black line above his eyes rose at his shock. His spikes quivered as they bristled, the only other outward sign of his emotions. ‘And you thought that was a good idea?’

I scowled at him, not liking the way he was placing blame on me when I wasn’t the only participant, so I said as much. ‘He was into it, then when things got…spicier,he shut down on me and left.’

I didn’t know why I left out how he’d pinned me by my throat and threatened me, or how it had turned me on when I thought he was taking charge and being rough with me. I honestly didn’t believe he would hurt me, even with his actions today, and with how it already felt like I was breaking his trust by telling people. I didn’t want Foryk – or anyone else, for that matter – thinking the worst of Arty. Especially after his most recent display.

I was fairly certain Foryk knew I wasn’t telling him everything, but he didn’t push or call me out on it. That was how we’d always been, though. Even when we’d shared lovers during our time on Burnos, he never asked too many questions. He got what he needed, and never crossed any lines. He was respectful, kind, and compassionate, despite his rough-around-the-edges demeanour.

I suspected it was because he had his own secrets to hide, but Ididn’t try to drag those out of him, either. It was a large part of why our friendship worked so well.

‘That was two days ago, though,’ he reasoned.

I blew out a breath. ‘I know. But that’s all I know. He didn’t give me an explanation, just said it was never going to happen again and that was that.’ I shrugged.

‘If it really is a trauma response, then you’re not at fault. He needs to work through it himself. He needs towantto,’ he concluded.

I was nodding along my agreement. ‘I know, I do, but I still feel there’s something I should be doing to help.’

His eyes bored into mine, probing and searching. ‘You like him.

I gave him a look that suggested he was a bit slow. ‘He’s not a bad guy, regardless of the way his emotions got the better of him today. Of course I like him.’

‘No,’ he shook his head and pierced me with his intent gaze. ‘You havefeelingsfor him.’

It was my turn to shake my head. ‘I barely know the guy, Foryk. There’s no way I like himthatmuch.’

His stare was starting to make me uncomfortable. It was as if he was looking right through me and seeing things I didn’t know we even there. ‘Love sneaks up on you like that,’ was his completely absurd response.

‘I’m not in love with Arty,’ I protested.

He merely smirked. ‘Not yet.’

And then he walked away, leaving me to stare at his retreating back with my jaw on the floor.

The man was insane, there was no doubt about it.

Except, the longer I stood there mulling over his words, the more they started to make sense. No, I wasn’t in love with Arty. Attracted to him, yes. I cared about him, sure. But love? It was far too soon for such a compounding, life-altering emotion. But the stirrings of it, maybe…

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