Chapter 5 Nova
NOVA
Walking through the cold, austere halls of Cranham University, I could almost kid myself that everything was the same as it had been last year.
But it wasn’t. I would soon be an engaged woman, and my fingers would no longer be free of jewellery.
My left hand would carry the heavy weight of my burden.
My permanent reminder of the part I had to play.
The original plan was that my engagement would happen in the summer after my second year of university, with the wedding taking place the following summer.
It felt far away enough that I’d been mostly able to pretend it wasn’t happening until now, especially because I rarely interacted with Anton.
But with the pieces moving into place much more quickly than I wanted, the negotiations had been accelerated, and I was to become an engaged woman far sooner than planned.
Bargained for, traded like a commodity, a product of the twisted agreement between the Thorpes and the Volkovs.
I shifted my bag on my shoulder, scanning the corridors as I made my way to the lecture hall.
No one spoke to me, but everyone spoke about me.
I could hear the whispers. See the envious stares—after all, who wouldn’t want to lock down the handsome, untouchable Anton Volkov?
Tall and broad-shouldered, with dirty-blond hair and icy blue eyes, skilled on and off the ice, not to mention the rumours of just how ruthless he could be when his enemies crossed him…
Yes. There were plenty of others who’d gladly take my place.
It was unfortunate that I felt nothing for him. Not a thing. But maybe that was me. No one else had ever made my heart race, my breath catch in my throat, my—
Dark brown eyes caught mine and held. My pace stuttered, but I was able to cover it, flicking my hair over my shoulder and setting a disdainful expression on my face.
It came easily when I was faced with Jayesh Attwood.
He might have been one of my twin’s best friends, but he was still an asshole who loved to make my life a misery.
True to form, when he caught sight of me, a sneer twisted his lips, and I tore my gaze away, ducking into the open doorway of the lecture hall.
“Nova! Over here!” Liana Lazovsky waved to me from her position halfway up the rows of tiered seating.
I exhaled unsteadily, passing Jay as I entered the room, doing my best to ignore the heat of his body as my shoulder brushed against his solid chest. I thought I heard him say my name, but it was lost in the sound of the crowds, louder than usual after the long summer break.
I reached Liana and swung into the seat she’d saved for me. A wave of shimmering red hair spilled across her desk as she cocked her head, eyeing me with a frown.
“I was going to go for a simple greeting, but then I saw your face. What’s wrong?”
“Just contemplating my life choices.”
Her lips curved upwards. “Sounds painful.”
“It is.” I sighed, busying myself with getting pens and my notebook from my bag to give my hands something to do while I avoided Jay, who was sliding into the row behind me, a few seats to my left.
Despite pointedly not looking in his direction, I could feel him in the same way I could feel the presence of my twin.
No, not the same way. It was a different kind of awareness. The kind that a deer has when it knows it’s being hunted by a wolf. That prickle up my spine. The need to run.
Except I was Nova Thorpe, and Thorpes didn’t run.
“You’re not excited about the big party?” Liana said mockingly, one delicate brow raised.
I snorted. Keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t be overheard by the people behind me, I leaned closer to her. “Would you be happy if you were in my position?”
Her humour disappeared. “I know what it’s like.
Being in your world. I— No. I wouldn’t like it.
I’m surprised my father hasn’t been more forceful with my choice of partners.
He’s…different from the way he was when I was younger.
Softer, I suppose. He moved to the UK for my mum, and ever since she left, he…
well. I sometimes wonder if deep down, he’s afraid I’ll leave him too, and he’ll be all alone. ”
“Oh.” It was all I could think of to say.
The thought of the hard, drill sergeant hockey coach having a heart buried inside his layers of ice was almost impossible to contemplate.
But I guessed none of us knew what happened behind closed doors.
What people were truly like when they let their masks drop.
“Yeah.” She flashed me a quick smile, lifting her hand to tick off points on her fingers. “Think of the pluses, though. A hot man to keep the other assholes away. Premium vodka. Diamonds. The kind of connections money can’t buy—”
“The kind of connections my family bought,” I reminded her, smiling despite myself.
“Yes.” Lowering her hand, she gently squeezed my arm. “No matter what, you have me and Vesper. If you need anything, and I mean anything, we’ve got you.”
A throat cleared loudly at the front of the room, and the chatter around us died down.
Liana turned her full attention to our lecturer.
I shifted on the hard plastic seat, designed to be just as uncomfortably spartan as the rest of the university, and did my best to ignore the eyes boring into the back of my head.
It was a lost cause.
“Nova. Wait.” Ryker placed his hand on my shoulder, and I turned to look up at him.
It was weird to think that we were the same height once.
Now, he towered over me. His jaw was tense as his grey eyes scanned my face.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Fucking hell, I can’t believe they brought the engagement forward.
” He scrubbed his hand through his hair, frustrated. “I tried— I can talk to Dad again.”
I shook my head. “You’ve done enough, and there’s no point in dragging it out. We both know the deal has been made and signed in blood. This is too big of a deal to back out of, and if I break it, I’ll be disowned. Or worse. And I don’t want you to get into trouble on my behalf, either.”
His hand tightened on my shoulder before relaxing. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. I knew the words that had gone unsaid.
We can’t break the agreement.
Divorce was a potential option further down the line, if Anton was agreeable. But first, I had to get through the engagement and marriage part.
“I’ll be there for the meal tonight,” he said aloud. “Arson and Banks will be with me too.”
“Still not my nickname,” a low voice said, and I flinched, seeing Ryker’s two best friends appearing in my field of vision. Daniel was grinning as he slung his arm over my shoulders, on top of my brother’s hand.
“Nah. I really feel like you’re starting to embrace the name, mate. We’ve finally found one that sticks.” Ignoring my brother swearing under his breath as he pulled away from him, Daniel turned his gaze to me. “Whatchu up to, ice princess?”
I slid out from under his arm, jabbing him in his hard chest. “No. What have I told you about using that nickname? You call me that again, and I’ll de-ball you.”
“Ooh.” He hissed, his hand going down to cup his crotch. “Ry. Your sister’s vicious.”
“Do what she says,” he replied in a bored tone, and it was my turn to study him with concern. Ever since we’d left school after finishing our A levels, he’d withdrawn into himself even more, and despite my “twin telepathy,” I found it harder and harder to read him.
“Sorry, Nova. Supernova. The brightest star in the sky, lighting up my world—”
Ryker slammed his hand over Daniel’s annoying mouth, and I took that as my cue. Turning on my heel, I spun away from them.
Anton was there. He must have been standing right behind me. How long had he been there?
“Oh. Um. Hi,” I managed, caught off guard to see him there.
As usual, he remained cool and implacable, giving me a simple nod of acknowledgement before his gaze slid over the top of my head to the place where my brother and his friends were standing.
The corner of his lips tugged up in the barest hint of amusement, and before I could process that shocking display of emotion—for him—his fingers were wrapping around my arm, and he was gently pulling me into his side.
I did my best not to stiffen at the unexpected contact.
“Nova. I’m looking forward to seeing you at Thorpe Manor for dinner tonight.”
“We’ll be there too.”
Jay’s voice was…different. Steely. Challenging, almost.
“I’m sure you will,” Anton drawled. Leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek, he released me. “Until then. Thorpe. Hoyton. Attwood. See you at training.”
“See ya there, Volksy.” Daniel broke the tense silence. “Try to save my shots this time, yeah?”
“Fuck off,” Anton told him, his gaze warming just a fraction. He strode off down the hallway to the sound of Daniel’s ribbing, and I leaned back against the wall with a groan, closing my eyes. Being a woman in a man’s world was exhausting.
“Nova.”
My eyes flew open. The hallway had emptied out, and my brother and Daniel were nowhere to be seen. I had a sudden flash of another empty hallway, another time, back when I was sixteen…
“Move. You’re in my way.”
My lip curled as I took in the sight of Jayesh Attwood standing in the centre of the school corridor, raven hair falling over his eyes and his dark gaze trained on me. “No, you’re in my way. You move.”
He stepped forwards, his chest brushing against my school shirt. “I said, move.”
The hallway was empty, so there was no one else to witness our stand-off. Even if there had been an audience, I’d still hold my ground. “And I said, no. Don’t push me, Attwood. Or do you want my brother to hear about this?”
He scoffed. “Your brother is my best friend.”
“Yes, and he’s my twin. Family comes first. You should know that. It’s why you keep quiet about your dad’s little sideline, isn’t it?”
“A sideline that benefits your family.”
“Mmm. My family. The Thorpe Syndicate. Should I bring up our future alliance with the Volkovs, or is our name enough of a reminder?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “The Thorpe ice princess. You think you’re so—”
“Nova?”
We both turned at the sound of the new, timid voice. My best friend, Aleksi, was standing behind me, a pile of textbooks clutched in his hands. He shifted on his feet, biting down on his lip as he stared at the floor.
The fact that he’d even addressed me in public when our friendship was basically a secret spoke volumes, and I immediately moved to shield him from Jay’s glare.
“Sorry. I lost track of time. Did Professor Stewart send you to find me?” We shared an art class, and it was the excuse we used if anyone caught us talking.
He nodded, still staring at the floor, and I pasted on the smile I’d perfected. False. Empty. Jay responded with a sneer, and my smile widened.
“It’s been a pleasure, but I have to go.” I went to brush past him, but his fingers wrapped around my wrist, dragging me into him. His touch was a hot brand as he dipped his head to my ear.
“This isn’t over. Your little ghost won’t always be around.”
“Your threats don’t scare me,” I hissed, yanking my arm out of his grip.
Asshole.
Forcing the memory from my mind, I licked my suddenly dry lips, Jay’s eyes tracking the movement. “What do you want?”
“You’re really going through with this farce of an engagement? I thought you were better than that.”
I bristled. “Fuck you very much,” I hissed. “You, of all people, should know what this kind of agreement means for the Thorpe Syndicate.”
His eyes narrowed, his lip curling into a sneer. “You’d really let your parents dictate your life for the sake of a business deal?”
“Yes. Because they’re my family, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the people we care about. Clearly, loyalty means nothing to you.” I stared up at him defiantly. “Why do you care, anyway?”
His jaw flexed. “I don’t.”
“Good. Great talking to you as always,” I ground out, pushing away from the wall and storming down the corridor. I hated him. Hated him.