Page 107 of Blinding Light

“I’ll be back later.” Cyprian smiled as Moargan stood, handsome as ever, dressed in black and gold, ready to head out. There will be another press conference today. He walked up to him, charcoal in his hands, and pressed a kiss on his lips. He yelped when Moargan’s teeth came out, tugging playfully at Cyprian’s bottom lip while he slapped him on his ass. “Be good.”

Cyprian rolled his eyes. “Always.”

“We’ve sent all the guards out searching for Helianth.”

“Meaning I’ll have to cook for myself?”

Moargan grinned. “I’ll be back before you know it. With food.”

“That sounds good. Now go. And good luck with the press conference. And Moargan?—

His prince turned around at the door.

“I’m sure your brother will come back soon. That it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Moargan smiled softly. “I hope so.”

Cyprian waited until the door shut before turning back toward his canvas to face the drawing of his mother.

Of hismother.

On paper, Celia wasn’t lying in bed but seated in an armchair in front of a large window, the gown cascading over her frail shoulders as she stared at him.

The entire place had been sowhite. And his mother had stood out with her black hair and blue eyes. With her pink lips that were curved into a smile that radiated pure joy once she recognized him. One of her children had come back for her. One of her children had known it washerwho had put him into this world, even if foster care was the only thing she had given him in return.

That first glance. That first exchange. That moment when the recognition had turned on in Celia's head and she had understood who he was.

His mother had not wanted to give Cyprian up. She had wanted to keep him, cradle him in love, and wrap her life around his.

They hadn’t exchanged many words, both overtaken by raw emotions that had felt like a knife slicing through their hearts, followed by a needle and thread that tried sewing the traces of hurt back together.

Those three words.

I wanted you.

Cyprian sighed in the silence. Out there, somewhere, he hadthree siblings. Had they survived the injections? Or had they died in a silent cry, their tiny bodies buried in the cemetery he had seen with Archer?

Cyprian’s palm thrummed, stomach fluttering with the sensation that Moargan was thinking of him at this very moment. It was still a foreign, yet welcoming feeling to be so connected. Fated mates.

Cyprian touched the sensitive spot on his throat. This is where Moargan had touched him, had marked him that first time on board the spaceship. A ripple shuddered through his system.

He’d barely had time to go back to drawing when his multi-slate dinged with a holo call. Archer appeared on screen, eyes twinkling as he waved. “Check this out.”

“Uhm—” Cyprian squinted when Archer turned his wrist around for him to see. “What am I looking at?”

“The perfect spot for Professor Dai’s assignment. It’s a huge parking lot for hovercars used by the city. Impressive, right?”

“Well…” If you were into dark and desolate places. Metallic shapes simmered through the twilight. “It looks eerie. I don’t know if that’s the best place for inspiration.” He didn’t like enclosed spaces. They made him think of that room in the attic back in the jester. “Is it open to the public?”

“Absolutely not.” Archer came back into view. “But isn’t that part of the fun? It’s underground.”

“Underground?” Cyprian’s chest rippled with unease. “How the hell did you get down there?”

“I’ll explain. You’re coming, right?”

He glanced back at the drawing. “Oh man, I don’t know.” His gaze narrowed at the shape that had been formed in the window, behind his mother. It was tiny, almost unremarkable. But he saw it. And it made his heart thunder at the discovery. He knew what was coming next. Still, he flinched when thepressure rose. A string of voices penetrated his head, and then he heard that same, female voice.

Go there.

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