Page 75 of Broken Obsession

“You don’t know anyone else here?” According to their intel, Inzer was well acquainted with Sedos. He wondered if the two of them pretended otherwise, and if so, if it had anything to do with their past crimes. The man before him certainly wasn’t acting like someone with a guilty conscience.

With the way Inzer was acting, however, it could very well be that he kept his friendship with a student on the down low simply to keep up a professional appearance. There weren’t as many years between them as there were separating Eden and Ares, since Sedos had chosen to double major and extend his schooling by two years, but still.

Inzer didn’t come off like someone inflicted by remorse. He held Eden’s gaze unflinchingly. If Eden hadn’t known better, he might even question whether or not their intel was correct.

But Ares wouldn’t make a mistake like that.

Eden didn’t know why he was even giving Inzer the chance to fool him. Maybe he felt that if his old friend was honest with him about something, it might ease some of the furyswirling in his gut. Might make him rethink all the things Ares was planning to do for him.

Might make him step back from the ledge and choose to save even a smidge of his humanity.

“I relocated alone.” Inzer sighed. “But I’ve befriended most of the staff in the year I’ve been working here. How about we grab lunch? I can introduce you to a few of them.”

“Sounds great.” Eden allowed Inzer to take the lead, heading back the way he came. They took the steps up to the exit leisurely. That, added to the invite, made it painfully clear that Inzer held no regrets about what he’d done. “Hey, I’m sorry for losing touch.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, things just got…difficult for me after what happened with my family. When I found out you also work here, I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to rebuild some bridges. My father always liked you.”

“Mr. Baldur was a kind man,” Inzer agreed, though he at least dropped his gaze this time.

“Honestly, I think it was because he knew Ella had a crush on you.”

“She was a sweet kid.” He reached for the door. “I’m sorry about what happened to them, Eden. I think of them often.”

It was only right that he did, since he’d been responsible, and yet Eden didn’t believe him for a second.

“Thanks,” he forced out, keeping his composure as Inzer opened the door and stepped into the hall.

Only to freeze when he discovered Ares standing across from them.

The Black Hart was leaning against the wall, ankles crossed, left hand in his pocket. The other was tapping away on the screen of his multi-slate, beeps and tiny explosions mingling with an upbeat musical track Eden was familiar with.

He was playing one of the Vanity mini games.

Inzer shifted uncomfortably on his feet and cleared his throat, going laughably still all over again when Ares briefly lifted his gaze from his device and rested it on him.

“Professor,” Ares greeted, then continued with his game, leaving the three of them to stand there.

Eden lightly elbowed Inzer, keeping his voice low when he played naïve and asked, “What’s up?”

Inzer shook his head warningly, frazzled, and then drew up to his full height, clearly attempting to gather an air of superiority in the face of a student he was obviously afraid of. Was he trying to show off in front of Eden?

Pathetic.

“Mr. Major, is there anything I can help you with?” Inzer asked.

“Hold on.” Ares kept clicking away on his device.

Eden gave it a moment and then glanced between them. “Inzer?”

He waved him off and pressed a finger to his lips, indicating Eden should remain quiet.

“Do you let all of your students treat you this way?” Eden asked, and when Inzer’s eyes went wide, he chuckled. He took a step toward Ares, evading the hand Inzer tried to grab him with.

“You’re being rude,” Eden turned his tone chiding as he addressed the Black Hart. “You shouldn’t ignore your teachers.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Inzer rushed to his defense. “You’ll have to forgive him, Mr. Major, he’s new, and—”