Page 63 of Group Studies

He unbuttoned his dark blue and red camouflage jacket down the front, before removing it. A deep red t-shirt clung to his chiseled chest and an assortment of tattoos I’d not noticed before peaked out of his left sleeve. His man bun bounced as he slid into his chair and crossed his arms over his chest—the same as he would’ve any other day.

I looked away, my jaw clicking shut.

“I didn’t fucking intend for you to find out this way,” Ashe whispered harshly.

Anger simmered in my gut and I squeezed my clasped hands.

Doctor Roy started waving his hands in the air. “Calm down. You all already know Marcus Ashe. You’re seeing him in a different light. Please focus.”

“Is he an MA agent?” Someone asked.

“Officer,” Ashe corrected. “Twice decorated. And yes, use your fucking eyes.”

I shook my head, feeling like an idiot.

Doctor Roy took a deep breath. “I believe there will be an announcement on Mêler, but if it will focus everyone…” he gestured to Ashe. “As I understand it, Ashe has been here for the last month working undercover to help the MA in their assessment of the incident during the last Aptitudes. As the assessment is over, he’s been reassigned to shadow Aphrodite while she gets a hold of her unique magic.”

Mercedes sneered. “He assessed something all right.”

The class laughed. I flushed. The last two days of PDA with Ashe hot in my memory. My blush only got deeper when it led to the memory of being sandwiched between him and Beryl in the shower. Beryl’s last message combined with some of the cryptic things he said around Ashe last night.

I sucked in a breath. Beryl already knew Ashe was MA, and he hadn’t stopped us or even warned me.

White hot anger turned my vision red. I ground my teeth together, still refusing to even acknowledge Ashe’s presence.

“In summary,” Doctor Roy said, waving his arms to get the class’s attention. “Alignment of Interests is essential to trust. It’s not about believing the same thing or even prioritizing the same thing. It’s about being invested in the same idea, whether short term or long term.”

The bell sounded twice, ending class. Students popped up from their seats as Doctor Roy called out the reading for the next class. I jotted it down on my phone, ignoring the looks my fellow students shot me as they exited.

Eventually, it was only Ashe and I left.

I started to stand, freezing when I felt his hand on my shoulder. “I know you’re pissed at me but please let me fucking heal your neck? Just give me that and I’ll fucking wait until you’re ready to talk.” His stiff posture fell. “I thought I’d have more time to figure out how to tell you.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I ground out, stiffly perched on the edge of my chair. “The MA destroyed my life. You! You were one of the people who set fire to my life!” I squeezed my hands together on the desk. “I spent this entire time thinking you were my clean slate. That you hadn’t seen what I looked like, or the wreck I was when I first came here.” My fists hit the desk with a thump. “I thought we were kindred spirits trying to survive – but I was just your fucking job.”

Ashe’s lips set in a line. “At first, yes, you were.”

My chin jerked back as pain stabbed through my heart.

“I won’t fucking lie to you, Kitten,” Ashe said, gripping his beard. “I didn’t set fire to your apartment, but I was there, and I shot you. Twice.” He winced as he said it.

I leaned forward, my eyes bugging out of my head. “Why would you tell me that?”

“Because I never want to lie to you again.” He held my gaze but respected my space. “I stopped you from fucking bleeding out. I didn’t know you at the time, you were a job, and that’s my point.” Ashe pulled on his beard. “You’re not a goddamned job anymore.” He spread his hands out. “I’m putting everything on the table right fucking now, because,” he looked around the empty room before lowering his voice, “When I said I don’t fuck around, I meant it. Kitten, A, you’ve become my world.”

My heart caught in my throat. “Ashe, you’re an MA agent.” I willed him with my gaze to understand.

Ashe flexed. “Officer and fucking proud of that.”

I looked away. “I don’t want to become an MA agent. I don’t want to be bound to a single person or anything ever again.”

Ashe grunted, his shoulders slumping. “I fucking know.”

The faint sounds of electronics buzzing filled my ears, along with the quickly diminishing sounds of people walking in the halls.

Ashe cupped my cheek. I studied the scar running through his eyebrow and the small crow’s feet creasing the corners of his eyes. “We’re at an impasse right now, Kitten. It happens. Even people who love each other don’t agree on fucking everything.”

Love each other.

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