Page 44 of The Amber Sunburst

No one likes Kleitos. Really, no one. But what they all tend to give him is attention. He’s a loose cannon, dangerous when left unattended. There’s only one person with the guts to leave him unsatisfied.

“Kallias,” Kleitos growls again.

Kleitos finds a reason to publicly confront Kallias at least once a month. It’s always embarrassing to watch, and it always ends with Kleitos storming off in a huff. He just never learns.

Today Kleitos slams a book down on Kallias’ table.

“I know you had something to do with this.”

Kallias doesn’t close his own book, but he does glance up to see what he’s being accused of. His mouth tightens like he’s trying to hold back a laugh. It’s a rare expression for him—makes him seem sweeter than he is.

“Looks like someone was trying to help you out,” Kallias says before returning to his reading.

“Bagging Baddies for Dummies on my doorstep?” Kleitos shouts, and everyone in the room manages not to laugh except for Alexander. Kleitos throws him a quick glare.

“I didn’t leave that at your door, if that’s what you’re asking,” Kallias responds without looking up.

“You really expect me to believe that?” Kleitos asks.

No response.

“Kallias,” Kleitos demands. He snaps in front of Kallias’ face, a menacing mirror of what Xia had done to Alexander that morning, but Kallias doesn’t even flinch.

“Forms, you’re insufferable,” Kleitos groans. There is nothing he hates more than silence. “Do you think anyone is convinced by your quiet act? I see the marks on your neck. I know you’re not as shy as you want everyone to think.”

Not even a hint of a reaction.

“You think you can pull the shit you pull—” he points at the prank book still sitting on the table “—and not expect consequences.”

Nothing.

So Kleitos tries a new tactic, rage turning to menace in an instant. “You know what I think?” Kleitos says, tugging Kallias out of his seat by the collar. “I think you need someone to teach you how to pay attention.”

Kleitos’ hand moves from Kallias’ collar to hold his throat. Kallias doesn’t move, but he’s not wearing his normal indifference anymore. Now he looks like he’s frozen, dissociated.

Zeno feels Alexander start to jump out of his seat and reaches out to yank him back to the table.

“Alexander, don’t.”

When Alexander glares, Zeno shakes his head. “Trust me. Don’t.”

He’ll see soon enough. Kallias doesn’t need his help.

“Or maybe,” Kleitos says, hand going down to pin one of Kallias’ hips against the table, “I’ll just take you upstairs and we can finish this conversation alone in my room. We both know that’s all you’re good for.”

Kleitos pushes at Kallias’ other hip and moves to hold him against the table with his own body.

“Zeno,” Alexander hisses, eyes screaming do something, and Zeno’s tempted to. Because Kallias isn’t moving, still frozen. But before he can jump up, Kallias shakes out his hand almost absentmindedly and slugs Kleitos square in the face.

Kleitos staggers back, cursing, and Kallias grabs the front of his shirt and hooks his ankle out from under him. Kleitos stumbles to the ground.

Kallias stands still for a moment, eyes vacant but vaguely aimed at Kleitos on the ground, then blinks back into himself. He tosses Bagging Baddies for Dummies down at him.

“You need this more than I thought,” he says, a hint of a forced smirk on his face. Then he’s back to his book like nothing happened.

Zeno shakes his head as Kleitos’ lackeys drag him, groaning, out of the dining hall. Alexander stares in awe at Kallias and, as if he can feel it, Kallias puts down his book and stares back. Zeno doesn’t even try to stop it. He just sighs and turns to Eudoxia to commiserate over their crazy friend’s choice of crush.

But Eudoxia doesn’t look like she’s commiserating. She looks guilty.