Page 78 of Broken Obsession

“Balthazar Corbett.” He didn’t extend his hand over the counter or anything like that, merely came to a stop and continued to stare with that eerie gaze of his that seemed to see too much.

“Eden Baldur.”

“The Starling.”

“Just Eden.” Honestly, he didn’t know why he bothered at this point.

“Creation doesn’t like his past either,” Zar said.

“What past?”

“The one that ties the three of us together.” He tipped his head to the side and pondered into the distance for a heartbeat. “He’ll be here soon. It’s almost time.”

“Time for?”

“Your branch. What you do next determines how reality deviates from its current projection. That’s what I was viewing before.” He covered his black eye briefly, as though that answered all the questions Eden could possibly have about his cryptic statement.

“Right.” Were all the Black Harts certifiably insane? So far, they were two for zero.

“Yo, Reality, my bike isn’t working.” Another man strolled into the kitchen, a smear of grease across his left cheek. He slowed when he noticed Eden, expression alighting with mirth. “Who’s the hottie?”

“He’s Creation’s,” Zar warned.

“Ares is back? Haven’t seen him. Never mind about the bike then. I’ll get him to take a look at it later.” The newcomer planted a hand onto the counter and lifted himself, leaning over to snatch the toast from Eden’s grasp. “Thanks.”

“Nyoka.” Zar’s gaze never left Eden’s. “Unless you want to find your precious bike at the bottom of Silent Lake, you’ll apologize.”

Ah, so this was Nyoka. The Black Hart looked charming, rich in that laidback, never had a care in the world kind of way. But at Zar’s comment, his brow furrowed slightly, and he paused.

“You see that?” he asked, all seriousness in his tone. “He gonna rat on me?”

“It’s one of several possibilities,” Zar confirmed.

“He’s going to tattle,” Nyoka pointed at Eden, “and Ares is going to take his side? Who are you?” he asked. “Aren’t you just another one of his gaming buddies?”

“I’m Eden.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t ring a bell.”

“He’s Ransom,” Zar provided, and a light went off in Nyoka’s eyes, but before he could reply, Lucifer finally joined them.

“He doesn’t like being called that,” Ares told them, entering the kitchen and heading straight toward Eden. He came around the counter, stopping at his side, and rested a palm on Eden’s lower back. “Trouble, Paradise?”

“Not at all,” Nyoka jumped to answer for him, waving the half-eaten toast. “We’re getting along so well, he even shared his food. Isn’t that right, Eden?”

He was more interested in the enigmatic look on Zar’s face than the pleading one on Nyoka’s.

“That’s right,” he ended up confirming anyway. Since he had no idea how long he would be staying here, it was smarter to get on everyone’s good side. Besides, he was used to fighting his own battles. There was only so much relying on Ares he could allow himself. A snatched piece of bread hardly seemed worth causing a stink. “Your friends are…interesting.”

“They bothered you.” Ares’ eyes narrowed.

“No.” Eden made a big show of dusting his hands off and checking the time on his multi-slate. “If we don’t leave now, I’ll be late. I refuse to be late on my first day, Lucifer.”

“Lucifer?” Nyoka hummed, clearly agreeing with the nickname.

“Oh, there’s a problem with his hoverbike,” Eden added. “Check it out.”

“All right.” Ares grabbed Eden’s briefcase—the brand new leather one with his name embossed on the front that he’d gifted him an hour ago—and urged him toward the door. “I’ll fix it after classes.”