Page 96 of Nova Academy

Artemis

Irounded on Captain Hironimus as soon as Reece was escorted out of the room in handcuffs by the Chief. ‘How could you do this?’ I demanded.

Stand down, cadet. My hands are tied. This decision isn’t mine to make.’

‘Bullshit,’ I spat out. ‘This is a copout. This whole thing is one big frame job, and you’re just letting it happen.’

‘I saidstand down,cadet. You are in no position to question me. Do not forget your place.’

I knew he was right, to a degree, but I was done playing games. I was out of time and Reece was being thrown in a jail cell for something he didn’t do, and everything was going wrong and I wasdone.

‘Fuck that, Captain. And fuck you. This is wrong and you know it.’

I shoved past everyone and left the suite, heading straight for the elevator. I didn’t know what to do, so I figured I would use this time to expel some pent-up energy on the track. The training deck was mostly empty when I got down there, all cadets and the majority of the crew taking their evening meal. There were a few officers dotted around the place, clustered in small groupings around the weight machines or sparring on the mats.

I didn’t bother to change into my workout gear, choosing to move straight to the track and start my run. I had to restrict my speed, however, so it wasn’t doing what I needed it to do. Instead, even more energy began to store up inside of me, my internal well feeling like it was about to burst at the seams. It was a similar feeling to the other day when the panic overcame meand the overwhelming sensations of new emotions and sensory overload compacted around me. I felt like I was encased in an ever-tightening cocoon and no matter what I did, I couldn’t break free.

When it became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to really let loose and expel all that energy, I slowed to a stop and tried deep breathing in an attempt to calm my racing heart, lower my adrenaline and calm myself down.

‘Arty?’ a tentative voice called from behind me. Of course Bromm would follow me. Why couldn’t he just take a hint?

Because you’ve been sending him mixed signals, dumbass, a vicious voice whispered to my in the back of my mind.

‘What is it, Bromm?’ I asked in a small voice. Despite all the energy rolling around in my body I simply didn’t have any to spare for my emotional capacity.

He approached, stopping close enough to me that if I swayed even an inch forward I’d bump into him. ‘I’m here,’ was all he said.

Those two, simple words were enough to close a hole inside me that had always been there, but simultaneously turned another into a gaping wound. ‘You shouldn’t be.’

‘Tough shit.’

I sighed. ‘Bromm, you really should go.’

‘No. I’m not going anywhere Arty. I’m staying right here beside you.’

My body moved of its own volition and my forehead came to rest on his shoulder. ‘I’m tired, Bromm.’

His arms came around me and he pulled me in tight, though mine remained dangling by my sides. ‘I’m here,’ he repeated.

I pressed a shaky kiss to his neck as I pulled away, then I looked him in the eye to tell him what I needed to say. ‘I’m so sorry.’

He frowned. ‘For what?’

I merely shook my head. ‘I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I hope you can find it within you to forgive me anyway.’‘Arty, where is this coming from?

I lifted a hand to caress his cheek, his beard tangling with my fingers gently. He leaned into the touch, his eyelids fluttering. ‘I wish things could be different,’ I admitted on a whisper. ‘I wish I could be what you deserve.’

His own hand encompassed mine, holding me in place against his face. ‘You are. Fuck, Arty youare.’

I placed a lingering kiss against his lips, and was grateful when he didn’t try to deepen it, accepting it for what it was.

When we pulled away there was a tenderness in his gaze I had never seen directed at me before, and it set off a tingling, fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

‘I’m falling in love with you, Arthur Mercer,’ he whispered against my lips, and while my heart and soul soared at his confession I flinched at the use of my fake name.

I was insane. That was my only excuse for what I said next. ‘Don’t call me that.’

He lifted a single brow, but something in his bright blue gaze told me he was waiting for something. ‘Why not? It’s your name.’

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