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“Listen.” He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets as they stepped inside the building. Students dotted the corridor around them. “I told you. I’ve never been to college.”

“Don’t worry. You’re going to be all right. You’re with me.” They entered the lecture hall and took a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Daven sprawled beside him like he owned the entire row, one thigh pressed against Ryneth’s from the moment he sat down.

Ryneth felt stiff as a board as he took in all the other students entering. They looked to be from all over the Velaryn Reach, the five-planet bloc Helion liked to call an alliance and Düren mostly experienced as rule. “And what is it that you study again?”

“Governance, baby.” Daven’s hand slid into the hair at Ryneth’s nape.

Good Light. He was unbearable. Ryneth fisted his hands, annoyed. He felt trapped inside a cage, with nowhere to go. “I told you to stop touching me.”

“And I told you that you’re in my world now, aethera. And that I’m your owner.” Daven greeted a group of girls who giggled at him. “Try to keep that temper under control. Everyone is looking.”

“Then let them see me break your hand,” Ryneth whispered.

Daven laughed, his breath hitting Ryneth’s cheek as he pulled him in too close. “I’d love to see you try. But for now, you sit. You listen. And you stay exactly where I put you.”

Class began with a dry-voiced man introducing himself as Professor Vane before launching into things Ryneth had never even heard of.

This was going to be a long two hours.

Ryneth stared toward the inner courtyard where students lounged in the sunshine. Lucky bastards.

He was about to turn back to the holo screen when a familiar crown of blond curls caught his attention.

Sudden fear dropped like a stone into his stomach.

That guy…

Even without the mask, Ryneth knew him. The same blond curls. The same lazy, vicious way he moved, like hurting people had never once cost him sleep. He’d watched that man laugh while a prisoner was beaten on the shuttle.

He should look away, but he couldn’t. The memory of being locked in that cage was too painful. Of seeing that prisoner beaten…

What the hell was he doing here, walking through an Academy courtyard like he belonged?

The blond man suddenly stopped in the center of the court and turned his head like a turret until his gaze locked onto the window. He was looking directly at Ryneth.

Static thrummed in his veins, drowning out the steady hum that had been threading through him since he’d woken up on Helion.

His multi-slate flashed with an incoming message from an unlisted sender.

Ryneth’s stomach dipped. Who the hell would even be messaging him? He’d barely had the thing on his wrist for an hour.

You look good in Helion colors.

Did they dress you up for me?

I’ll come when it’s time.

His stomach dropped so hard it hurt.

For a moment, the world narrowed. The lecture hall dissolved into white noise and sunlight. His pulse roared in his ears, fingers going numb around the edge of the desk.

He’d barely been on Helion a week, and somehow whoever was behind this already knew what he was wearing. Not just what he was wearing. That he was with Daven. That he was being displayed.

Ryneth stared at the message, reading it once. Twice. Again.

Then he looked up.