Page 110 of Blinding Light

“Cyprian.” Theo climbed out of the car as well. “Those candies?—”

A window scrolled down. “Get in the car, Runt.”

“Coming.” Theo wrapped his arm around Cyprian, pulling him in for a hug, mouth finding Cyprian’s ear. “Go home whileyou can. Your new status has made you vulnerable. And he is watching.”

Who is?Cyprian wanted to ask, but his mouth didn’t cooperate. He swallowed under the scrutinizing eyes of Theo. They were so blue. He had seen those before. In a different moment, but with a similar haze threatening to make him go under. His mind filled with cotton.

“Theo.Now.”

Theo looked back at the car and let go of Cyprian, who could barely keep himself up.

“Theo?” His voice resonated in his head. He thought he heard those girls giggling, high-pitched voices that hurt his ear. And then the car left and he was all alone, walking through a darkening fog, step by step, and he felt himself sliding…down, down, down.

29

“Father?” Moargan’s multi-slate hadn’t stopped pinging ever since their press conference earlier that morning. So far, he’d diverted all messages automatically to Yure, needing to clear his head. His father’s declaration had created chaos and the Green Mansion looked like an army base with Luminary sprawled around.

“In my office, son.”

Milanov looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes that sat engraved in his alabaster skin. He stood by the fireplace and stared at a photo framed in gold. It was a family picture taken when his mother was still well. “You have the right to be angry,” Milanov looked up, his amethyst eyes glowed wet and sharp. “But I won't apologize.”

“Why didn’t you tell me he was officially reported missing before the press conference?” Moargan snarled. “You—” He’d been caught off guard when he had to listen to those words in front of the camera. “I—” He snapped his mouth shut. The wave of helplessness was foreign and unwanted. It made his stomach clench and his hands fist. “Damn it. You made me say those things.”

“I made you fall apart.”

“Exactly,” Moargan gritted through pointy teeth. His plea for his baby brother to come back to them had been off-script. So was the feeling of ache that rolled through his entire body, lighting up his veins with acid.

His father’s smile was soft, a silence before the storm. “I wanted the people to see,” he admitted.

Moargan paced the office. “What happened with trusting Helianth to nail this secret mission? You were the one telling me not to worry.”

“Moargan.”

Moargan didn’t listen. The words kept spilling, fueled by bitterness and regret. “No, you listen! You were the one telling me to fuckingtrustmy baby brother. You are just as guilty!”

“Moargan.”

“You didn’t stop this from happening! You did this. You?—”

“Moargan!You’re nearly killing him.”

Moargan blinked and stared at the uniform who stood wheezing in front of him, his face splattered with red from the lack of oxygen. Moargan released the hand he’d wrapped around the man’s throat and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. He hadn’t even noticed grabbing hold of the guard’s throat. The man coughed and sputtered.

“When did you decide that he was missing?” Moargan’s voice was a dangerous rasp.

“You know when. When Kylix was found.Alone.”

“Why didn’t you tell me of that decision before the fucking press conference?” He peered at his father. They both carried the same glint in their eyes, the same need in their bones.

Violence.

Moargan needed it like he needed water.

“Because we need the people by our side,” Milanov sighed. “Something like this has never happened in our history. A royaldisappearance? A ruthless killer taking away one of the most valued men on the planet? You, their cruel prince, their fuckinghero, falling apart in front of camera? That engrains rage.” He bared his teeth on a growl and his gems flared violet. “And we need them angry, Moargan. We need them fucking furious. We need them to roam the streets and find those responsible for takingmyson.” He tipped his head back and let out a roar. The sound sliced through Moargan’s heart like the sharpest of knives, stirring up his own fire.

“Because the Luminary has failed,” he hissed.

“Oh yes,” Milanov agreed, “they failed. They’ve allowed this killer to play us all like a cat plays with a mouse.”

---