Page 93 of Akarnae

Bear looked torn, but he eventually said, “His brother died, five years ago.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Jordan had a brother?”

“An older brother, Luka. There was a ten-year age gap between them, but Jordan idolised him. I never knew Luka, since I didn’t meet Jordan until we started at the academy, but from what he’s told me, Luka was everything anyone would want in a brother. He was smart, funny and an all-round nice guy. Jordan was a spoiled brat in comparison, having always been given everything he wanted—except maybe some quality attention from his parents. But Luka gave him that attention. They weren’t just brothers, they were best friends.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“Luka killed himself,” Bear whispered and Alex gasped. “It was very sudden; no one even knew anything was wrong. He was so normal, so happy. It really hit Jordan hard.”

“How awful,” Alex said quietly.

“Yeah,” agreed Bear. “But what’s worse is that Luka left a note for Jordan.”

“What did it say?” she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.

“I don’t know,” Bear said. “Jordan never told me. But it changed him. He decided he didn’t want to be the spoiled child anymore, and that’s how he became the person he is today.”

“That must have been difficult, to lose his brother like that and not have his parents around for support,” Alex said.

“Yeah,” Bear agreed. “I can’t imagine having to go through that. But Jordan’s made of tougher stuff than we sometimes give him credit for.”

Alex murmured her agreement and they descended into silence. She looked around the room, watching the waltzing couples who shared whispered words and secretive smiles.

Bear must have followed her gaze since he stood from his seat, held out his hand, and asked, “Do you want to dance?”

“Um… I don’t really know how.”

“That’s okay,” he said, grinning widely as he pulled her to her feet. “I don’t either.”

Alex laughed and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Despite his words, it was soon clear that he at least knew the basics since he was able to keep them moving in time with the music. He was the best partner she could have imagined for her first waltz, and he even managed not to cringe every time she stood on his feet—which happened a lot.

“You’re not too bad,” he said after they finished their third dance. They’d decided to skip the next one to catch their breath—and in Bear’s case, rest his damaged feet.

She snorted. “Liar.”

“Okay,” he conceded as he handed her a glass of water which she eagerly gulped down. “You’re not too badnow. When we started, I thought I’d have to amputate my feet by the end of the night.”

She chose to take his words as a compliment. “I’ve truly flourished under your expert guidance.”

“That’s what all the ladies say.” He winked at her and proclaimed, “I am the dancing king!”

“Did he have some of the punch?” Jordan asked Alex as he stepped up beside them. He gestured towards their empty glasses. “You know that stuff’s potent, right?”

Alex laughed and shook her head. “No, it’s just him being normal.”

“Ah. That explains it,” Jordan said. “Well, in that case, I’m going to have to insist you sit this next one out, buddy, while I show Alex how toreallydance.”

Jordan took Alex’s glass and handed it to an indignant Bear before sweeping her into his arms and back out onto the dance floor.

Alex had to admit that he was a much better dancer than Bear. He held her firmly and she didn’t have to look down at her feet because he led her through the steps with such a confident assurance that she followed him without hesitation.

“You’re very good at this,” she said as he guided her around the room.

“I’ve been dancing at events like this since I was five,” he said, shrugging away her praise. “I’d want to not completely suck after all that time.”

“I suppose so,” she agreed, imagining a cute little five-year-old Jordan trying to waltz across a ballroom.

“I’m sorry about before,” Jordan said as he led her effortlessly through a complicated set of steps that she and Bear had disregarded on their previous attempts. “With my parents, I mean. I know they can be a bit… difficult.”

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