6. Chapter 6 #2
“Is this him?” a new voice asked interrupting his thoughts. Ludiin looked up to see an alpha standing beside Hym. Unlike the others, this one wore a plain shirt and trousers, as if he didn’t care about his image.
“Roc, Ludiin. Ludiin, Roc,” Hym said, still surveying the food. “He’s a genius like you.”
“Damn, that has to be the driest introduction I’ve ever heard,” Roc said with a low chuckle. “I have other attributes, you know.”
“Like what?” Hym asked without looking up.
Roc tilted his head, as if he might actually come up with an answer, but then he only laughed. “Fine,” he said, holding out his hand. “Guess I’ll settle for genius.”
Ludiin’s stomach fluttered, but he forced himself to accept the handshake. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Roc said warmly.
That wasn’t so bad , Ludiin thought as he let go of the alpha’s hand. He turned toward the table, hoping for a breather, but Luci was suddenly there, snatching up his hand.
“Clint just arrived,” Luci said, eyes sparkling. “Come, I’ll introduce you.”
Please, don’t , Ludiin wanted to beg. But instead, he let himself be dragged forward, reasoning that the faster he endured this, the sooner it would be over.
“Hey, Clint,” Luci greeted with his usual excitement. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Clint said with an easy smile. Then his eyes shifted to Ludiin. They were dark, sweeping over him with quiet interest. Ludiin’s breath caught in his throat.
“You didn’t tell me your brother was as gorgeous as you.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Luci said, and the two of them laughed easily, as though Ludiin weren’t even standing there. Ludiin forced a polite smile, trying to look engaged.
“Luci told me you’re in school,” Clint said, finally focusing on him.
“Yes,” Ludiin answered quickly, almost tripping over his words. “I study mechanics.”
“Wow. And Luci, you’re only studying food technology,” Clint teased with a laugh. Luci swatted his arm playfully.
“I don’t have his brains,” Luci said with a grin. “And for that, I’m stealing him away.” He looped his arm through Ludiin’s and dragged him off, while Clint only chuckled and gave a careless wave.
“You’re doing great,” Luci whispered. “I think Clint likes you.”
Ludiin dared a glance over his shoulder.
Clint was still watching, but Ludiin couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze lingered more on Luci than on him.
He swallowed the thought and kept quiet as Luci paraded him around the room, introducing him to one alpha after another.
His jaw ached from plastering on polite smiles, his stomach churned with nerves, and he felt like vomiting every time he forced himself not to stutter.
His eyes kept drifting to the glass doors that opened into the garden. If only he could vanish into the night.
“Would you like a drink?” the alpha beside him asked, drawing his attention back. Ludiin blinked, searching for his name, but he’d already met at least ten alphas, and they were all starting to blur together.
“Did you hear me?” the alpha asked again, eyebrows lifting.
“Uh…yes,” Ludiin stammered. “Yes, I would like a drink.”
He watched the alpha head toward the table, the urge to bolt surging deep inside him. Overwhelming. The alpha would have to forgive him. He needed a moment. Just one minute where he could breathe without choking on nerves.
Ludiin rushed through the glass doors and let the darkness swallow him whole. The cool night air wrapped around his skin, soothing the tension coiled in his chest.
At last, he could breathe.
He stepped down the stairs that spilled into the garden, but froze when a low voice cut through the quiet.
“Running away from your party?”
His head snapped toward the deep voice. Tarymn was casually leaning against the wall a few paces from the door, bathed in the semi-darkness.
“I’m not running,” Ludiin said.
“Oh?” The single syllable hung in the air, challenging, amused.
“I just…needed a second to breathe.”
Tarymn pushed off the wall, his long strides closing the distance between them. “Then take a walk with me,” he said, already descending the steps.
Ludiin hesitated, torn.
He wanted to be alone. And Tarymn was the last person he wanted to be around.
But the thought of going back inside, of plastering on a false smile and pretending to be interested in conversations that didn’t interest him, made his stomach twist. With a quiet sigh, he gave in and followed the alpha down the paved path.
Motion-sensor lights flickered on with each step, spilling soft white glow over the garden.
Flowers gleamed in the fresh wash of light, their petals jeweled with dew, their fragrance sweet in the night air.
Ludiin’s breath caught. He hadn’t explored the garden after dark until now. It was magical, almost otherworldly.
“See anyone you like in there?” Tarymn asked suddenly, shattering his bliss.
Ludiin blinked, thrown. “What?”
“The alphas your brother and mine lined up for you,” Tarymn said casually, but his voice sounded tight. “Did any of them interest you?”
Heat flared in Ludiin’s cheeks, mortification rising fast. Why did he have to say it like that?
“You don’t have to put it like that,” Ludiin said, glancing away.
“Like what?”
“Like I was on display or something,” Ludiin said, though it was exactly how it had felt. The whole room had been packed with alphas. Even Hym had brought one. Not a single omega in sight.
“Weren’t you?”
“Ugh… stop.” Ludiin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “It was humiliating. I felt like I was dying a slow death with every smile.”
Tarymn chuckled, low and unbothered. “Everyone goes through awkward moments. Don’t torture yourself over it. You handled it well.”
Ludiin’s head snapped toward him. “You were watching me?”
Tarymn stopped and faced him. “Yes.”
Ludiin’s heart stuttered. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to make sure you were alright.” His eyes narrowed, one brow lifted. “You said you don’t like strangers, remember?”
Heat curled in Ludiin’s chest. He looked away quickly. “Thank you?”
“Is that a question?”
“No,” Ludiin corrected softly. “Thank you.”
“Good,” Tarymn said, then continued down the path.
They wandered the paths of the garden, light spilling across blooms that glowed under the night, but when they circled back to the double doors Ludiin still couldn’t summon the will to return. His stomach twisted at the thought of stepping into that room again.
“There’s a door at the back of the house,” Tarymn said as if he’d read his mind. “You can use that instead.”
“You don’t think it’s rude that I don’t go back?”
“You’ve reached your limit,” he said with a shrug. “They’ll understand once I explain.”
A relieved smile tugged at Ludiin’s lips until it bloomed into a joyful laugh, he couldn’t hold back. “Thank you.”
Without waiting, he darted around the side of the house. The door swung open just as he reached it, and a maid stepped out, nearly colliding with him. Her eyes widened in fright.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” Ludiin mumbled as he slipped inside before she could say anything.
The cooking station blurred past as he rushed through, then he was up the stairs, heart racing, until he closed his bedroom door behind him with a sigh of sheer relief.
He sagged against the door for a moment, gathering himself, before pushing off and heading to the washroom.
He cleaned up quickly, changed into comfortable clothes, and finally made his way up to the sanctuary of his den.
Tarymn appeared a few minutes later, his presence filling the space with ease. “I knew I’d find you in here. You shouldn’t make too much noise. I told your brother you were too tired to stay up.”
“And he believed you?”
“Yes. I can be convincing when I want to be,” he said, stopping right in front of Ludiin. He reached into his back pocket and pulled something out. “This is for you.”
Ludiin blinked at the small silver object resting in his palm. It was a multi-tool. A very expensive one. Ludiin stared at it. Not moving.
“Aren’t you going to take it from me?” Tarymn asked.
“You shouldn’t have,” Ludiin said, remaining still. The air between them grew taut. Hard to breathe.
“I wanted to,” Tarymn said simply.
“I didn’t expect… a gift from you.”
“Why not?” Tarymn asked. "You accepted Hym's gift. Why are you rejecting mine?"
“Because you’ve already done enough,” Ludiin murmured.
"Hasn't he done enough?"
"He has, its just…"
"What?"
Tarymn’s gaze lingered on him, making Ludiin shift from one foot to the other, heat creeping up his neck.
Then Tarymn leaned in, his intoxicating scent flooding Ludiin’s senses, rich and overwhelming.
Ludiin froze, holding his breath. When Tarymn’s fingers closed gently around his wrist, sparks shot up his arm, sharp and dizzying, leaving him trembling.
What was he doing?
"I'm your stepbrother too, Ludiin."
"I know. I…"
“Don’t reject my gift. You’ll hurt my feelings.” He gently placed the cool metal into Ludiin’s hand, curling his fingers around it. “The beta who sold it to me swore it’s perfect for students.”
“It is,” Ludiin managed, his voice thick as tears suddenly pricked hotly at his eyes. He forced them back, unwilling to let them spill in front of Tarymn.
“Happy birthday, Ludiin.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Tarymn gave a short nod, then turned toward the stairs. Ludiin’s gaze followed him, his chest aching in a way he couldn’t quite name. Earlier, Tarymn had asked if he’d liked any of the alphas Luci had invited. The truth was no, because the only one he might like was him.