The Academy Read online

  “What are you talking about?” I asked but Wilkenson only gave my roommate a cool glare.

  “Well, well, the Ice Prince speaks. To what do I owe this honor, your majesty?”

  “Cut the crap, Wilkenson.” North frowned. “I’m doing you a favor—I’m letting you know you’ve got the wrong idea.”

  Wilkenson cocked an eyebrow at him. “And how would you know what ideas I may or may not have in my pretty little head? Jameson isn’t even in your form.”

  “North’s my roommate,” I said. “But we just met today.”

  “Really? Just today?” Wilkenson batted his eyelashes at North. “Now, I must say that’s not very long. Not nearly enough to know someone else very well.”

  “I know him well enough to know you’re barking up the wrong tree,” North said shortly. He looked at me. “Be careful. I’ll see you back at the room before DLO.”

  “What was he talking about?” I stared after him in confusion, as he dumped his tray in a hole in the wall and strode out of the mess hall.

  “Who can say?” Wilkenson sighed. “He’s an enigma. So much pain and prettiness and mystery all tied up in one unravelable knot.”

  “He told me he missed most of last year for personal reasons,” I said, hoping to get a little more information about my mysterious roommate.

  Wilkenson nodded sagely. “So he did. But if you’re hoping I can fill you in on the sordid details, I’m sorry but I really can’t.”

  “Why not?” Though I didn’t want to admit it, I was bursting with curiosity.

  Wilkenson’s pale green eyes opened wide. “Why because, dear boy, no one knows! And believe me, it isn’t for lack of trying.” He watched North speculatively as my tall roommate pushed through the plastiglass doorway and into the night. “Ah, he’s a riddle. But one I fear I personally am never meant to solve.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to either.” I sighed. “One minute he’s nice and the next he’s…”

  “What?” Wilkenson looked at me, eager curiosity in his eyes.

  I shrugged. “Cold. Distant. I don’t know—maybe that’s just the way he is. I haven’t even known him a whole day yet.”

  “Well, you have the rest of the year to get to know him.” He smiled at me. “Speaking of the handsome but distant Ice Prince, did he give you a tour of the campus yet?”

  I shook my head. “No. And I’m deathly afraid I’ll get lost trying to find my classes tomorrow.”

  “We can’t have that.” Wilkenson nodded down at my plate. “Are you quite done with that? Don’t worry if you’re still hungry—I have an extra protein bar in my pocket you can have.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled gratefully. “In that case, I’m definitely finished.”

  “Let’s go then,” He stood, gathering his tray and my own as well. “I’ll show you around a little before lights out.”

  For a moment I considered turning down his offer. North had told me to be careful, hadn’t he? Then again, if he was that worried he could have waited for me so we could walk back to the dorm together. Although that would have meant being seen with me, a lowly third-form cadet, in public.

  The thought made me mad and I nodded at Wilkenson. “Wonderful, I’d love a tour.”

  He smiled, exposing very white teeth. “Come on then, little chicklet, let’s see what mischief we can get into.”

  Chapter Seven

  I wondered if there would be enough light to see anything but I needn’t have worried. There was no moon in the sky, of course, since we were on a moon but Zeus reflected the light of Prometheus beautifully, illuminating our way. We nibbled our protein bars and Wilkenson led me this way and that, pointing out the various buildings and letting me know the easiest way to get to my classes.

  After about half an hour, he took my arm and tucked it through his as we strolled by the side of the large, man-made lake at the far edge of the campus. The affectionate gesture startled me at first but it also reminded me of the way I had strolled with Kristopher back home. Was this Wilkenson’s way of being friendly? I hadn’t seen any of the other cadets strolling arm-in-arm, but then again, I hadn’t been here very long.

  Wilkenson looked at me, his pale green eyes glimmering in the reflected light. “Is this all right with you?”

  “I…guess so.” I looked at him uncertainly.

  “I hope I’m not being too forward.” He smiled at me. “It’s just that when you find a kindred spirit, you want to connect with them At least, I do.”

  “Of course.” I returned his smile, deciding to ignore my uneasiness. “I understand.”

  “You do? I’m so glad.” He sighed. “Sometimes I feel completely surrounded by trolls and troglodytes here.”

  “I can see why,” I said, thinking of Broward and Dakes. “It’s a lot rougher here than I imaged it was back home, when I was deciding to come study here.”

  “At least you got to choose.” Wilkenson sighed. “I’m here because my dear father wanted his only son to carry on the family tradition of honor, excellence, and all around military idiocy. I wanted to go to theater school on Dionysius but of course that was out of the question.” He patted my hand in a warm, familiar way. “But enough of my woes. DLO in ten more minutes, and then RLO not long after that. We’d better go.”

  “DLO and RLO?” I said, remembering that North had said something about that as well. “What do those stand for?”

  “Dorm lights out—when all the cadets have to be back in their dorm buildings and room lights out, when everyone has to be back in their rooms. Every light in the place is supposed to be off at that time but you can get away with a small lamp to study by—as long as you can prove that’s what you’re doing if the dorm monitor comes by to check.”

  “Oh, all right.” I nodded and let him lead me away from the lake and back toward the dorm buildings. We didn’t see anyone else out and I assumed the other cadets were already in their rooms. Before I knew it, we were standing in the shadow of the Goddard building, saying goodnight. “Thank you for the tour,” I said politely, wondering when he was going to release my arm.

  “Thank you for the pleasure of your company.” Wilkenson’s face was suddenly very close to mine—much closer than was comfortable. “Do you mind if I kiss you goodnight?” he murmured.

  A shock went through me. “Wha—?” I started but then his mouth had descended onto mine and I was suddenly fighting for air.

  “Hey!” I pushed him away and wiped a hand across my lips reflexively. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He frowned. “Kissing you. I did ask first.”

  “You didn’t give me a chance to answer though.” I could still feel the press of his thin lips against my own and it made me want to scrub my mouth with soap.

  Wilkenson gave me an exasperated look. “Don’t play coy. If you didn’t want me to kiss you, why did you let me hold your arm?”

  “I don’t know. I…I thought that was how friends treated each other here.” I shook my head. “Look, I have to go.”

  “Fine, run away then, little boy.” His tone was bored but I could see genuine hurt in his green eyes.

  I didn’t know what else to say. “Good night,” I mumbled and let myself into the dorm.

  It was a good thing Broward and his gang weren’t waiting to ambush me again because I climbed the staircase to my room in a kind of daze. Wilkenson’s kiss—which had been my first—had left me almost as shaken as the bully’s punch. It had felt wrong and frightening and slightly disgusting. In Victoria we didn’t kiss another person on the lips unless we were married or at least engaged to them. I felt Wilkenson had robbed me of something I would rather have shared with someone else—someone I truly cared for.

  “What took you so long? It’s almost DLO—if you get caught out after that it’s demerits and five licks with the paddle or the cane.”

  I looked up to see North frowning at me as I closed the door of our room behind me.

  “I…Wilkenson gave me a tour of t