Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

look before resigning himself to offering something of an explanation.

“I feel their emotions, and please keep it to yourself. It’s not something we advertise.”

She tapped her chin as she mulled over his words.

“Wait, so... Is it kind of like how Celeste always knows when I’m pissed off, or horny, or have gas?” She drew in a sharp breath as realization struck and caused her to leap back to her feet; “That’s why the Aegis recruited you! Even though you’re shit at math and built like my little cousin!”

He ground his teeth together as he cleared the last of the pie from his face with the now sodden napkin.

“I volunteered. No one recruited me.”

But she wasn’t really listening at that point, pacing excitedly as she worked through the numerous implications of his gift.

“Holy crap, no wonder you’re so good with monster girls! Even that little Gigas of yours must be just putty in your hands!”

“You’re playing with fire calling her little.” He remarked drily.

After several weeks of living across the hall from her, he had learned that conversations with an excited Ginger very quickly became conversations between an excited Ginger and herself. So he took the opportunity to go and wash his face properly at the sink.

“And that explains why everywhere you go Amazons are all over you! And the new security team, with the crazy feathers and stuff! But I mean, I kind of thought that was because of Volka, and hey! Is she the one that shrunk my green bra? Not cool man! That was one of Celeste’s favorites!”

“She draws the line at messing with people’s underwear.” He lied absently.

With his face now clean, he frowned as he became aware of the state of his shirt; Volka had been very thorough in her pie mashing and he was more than a little concerned about blueberry stains on the uniform.

Without a second thought he pulled it over his head.

He heard an odd strangled noise from behind him; evidently Ginger took notice when he began to disrobe.

“Holy shit!” She exclaimed, her attention now riveted on his naked back; “How did you get those scars?!”

His hands paused, holding the balled up shirt over the sink.

Slowly he turned around, meeting her wide-eyed stare.

Milly’s previous owner had struck him across the chin and chest with a whip, but it was the scars from Evadne’s attempt on his life that the excitably redhead was referring to.

Despite the painful memories, the look on her face had him fighting not to smile: the poor girl was waiting on bated breath for his response.

Then he had a wicked idea and put it into action without a second thought.

“Being bonded to a Gigas... comes at great personal cost.” He said grimly.

Her hands flew up to cover her mouth as it fell open and he abruptly left the room without giving her any further explanation.

Wanting to get the shirt to the laundry before it stained he rounded the corner a bit too quickly and ran right into Baron.

“Shit, sorry Baron.” He mumbled.

The last thing he needed was another argument with his fellow cadet.

But rather than the long-suffering sigh or eye-roll that he was expecting, Baron merely looked him over, his eyes speculative as he turned to one side to let Nameless pass without any grief.

“Thanks.” The orphan mumbled.

Inwardly he was concerned that perhaps he could have been more circumspect in his brief conversation with Ginger.

Chapter 17:The Sacred Current

Despite his busy schedule, and the numerous concerns taking up space in his mind, Nameless found time for Booker’s errand the evening after visiting with Sadie.

Having spoken to the older Empath, and more recently Volka, regarding Juni’s problem, Nameless was confident he knew how to help her and sought out the Amazons’ camp after having dinner in the mess hall with the girls.

It took some doing but he managed to convince Milly, and more importantly Nina, to stay at the dormitories. The Amazons’ camp was near enough that having their heartstones attached to him wasn’t a problem, though his real concern was that they might crowd Juni and make his task more difficult than it had to be.

When Yana had left on her quest to hunt down Evadne and Jonathan her second in command, Tiana, had taken up the task of hauling around the Undine in her massive gourd when needed. Privately Nameless suspected there was something else at work, something political, as having Juni so nearby allowed Booker to keep close tabs on the goings on at the academy.

Tiana was the first to greet him when he entered the little strand of woods on the northern end of the academy grounds.

“Hail Valkyrja-data! It has been some time!”

Without complaint he accepted the towering woman’s hug, her hand on the back of his head holding him close to her bosom.

“Hi Tiana.” He mumbled as best he could into the warmth of her cleavage.

As she pulled away she levelled a speculative look at him.

“Are you here looking for Escrya? Or perhaps you came to share in our dinner?”

But he shook his head.

“No thank you, I’ve already eaten, I’m actually here looking for Juni. Aegis Booker said that she was with you?”

She was taken aback for a moment, but quickly nodded.

“Indeed she is! But I’m afraid I lack Yana’s strength to carry her gourd all day, so I left her with the others.”

On their way to meet the Undine he was greeted by many familiar faces and felt a pang of regret at not visiting the two Amazon tribes more as their faces brightened at the sight of him.

He shook off the sudden melancholy though when he spotted Juni’s gourd leaning against a tree, the Undine draped over the side and looking somewhat melancholy.

Though just like the Amazons,