Page 122 of Blinding Light

“Cyprian was also drugged,” Moargan snatched one of the blue wrappers. Before his cousin could ask any questions, “but the candy he was given had a pink wrapper. Judging from the length of his intoxication, I take it they weren’t as strong as yours.” He turned to Vandor, who stood by the door as usual. “Did we bring in the Luminary guard who handed him the candy?”

“I questioned him myself,” Vandor replied. His hands carried bloodstains. “He sticks to the same story. He was given candy on campus by a guy who was in class with him. Luminary is already out to arrest the student.”

“Was it Theo?”

Vandor shook his head and eyed his multi-slate. “No. We are searching for Landn Jefrey.”

Moargan frowned. The name didn’t ring any bells. “Show me an image.”

Vandor marched forward and showed him an image on his multi-slate. The broody-looking guy with a black mohawk welcomed him.

“Hmm. I don’t know him, but Cyprian mentioned him. Have him picked up. We’ll talk to him ourselves.”

“Does Cyprian know who gave him the candy?” Kylix asked.

“Yes. Theo.”

“Theo?” His cousin blinked. “That little fucker. Turns out he’s got character after all. Well, if it’s revenge he’s looking for, he can get it.” He got up, staggering to the door before Moargan realized what was going on. Vandor’s face twisted in horror because the Essential was surely about to crash.

“Kylix, no.” Moargan was out of his seat in less than a second, supporting his cousin back to the couch and sitting down next to him. He didn’t mention the lonely tear that rolled down his cousin’s cheek.

Kylix leaned back and shut his eyes, closing off that look of pain. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I will never forgive myself if something has happened to him. He is my protege, my family. And I promised to protect him. I need to find him.”

“And we will,” Moargan said with more confidence than he felt. “We’re connecting the dots. Theo’s involved, that much is certain.”

“Luminary is on their way to pick him up,” Vandor confirmed.

“Good, though I don’t think he’s a killer. So, what’s the link we’re looking for?”

Kylix licked his dry lips, shaking his head. “I don’t know. But one thing's for sure. We underestimated them—this waspersonal. For too long, we believed there to be a serial killer on our streets who randomly killed foreign individuals living on Helio. But this was political and there are no coincidences. It’s all connected. I didn’t want to see it, so perhaps it is I who failed.”

“You didn’t fail, cousin,” Moargan growled.

“Think about it,” Kylix continued, ignoring him. He still carried so much guilt in his eyes. “The theft. The explosion. It’s all part of a bigger plan. Attica is not one killer. It’s a group of people who operate like revolutionaries.” His lips tipped up. “The fucking idiots.”

Moargan contemplated that new piece of information. “We’re looking at a bunch of violent idiots who carry enough hate to want to throw their entire nation.”

“I don’t know such people.” Kylix’s eyes fluttered, visibly fighting against his sleep. At least his wit was returning.

“Aside from those who get thrown in mental hospitals or chewed up in the arena?” Moargan chuckled cruelly, chest warming when he caught Kylix’s smug grin. Even in his current state, he was proud of what he was. “I mean, just look at you, cousin. You wear the casual arrogance of an Essential.”

“I’m glad you’re here, but don’t push it,” Kylix grumbled, but they both chuckled.

“I know, I know. It’s hard to accept that not everyone loves us.” Moargan’s gaze narrowed when his palm lit up through the bond.

The knock on the door startled him. Kylix’s bodyguard, Silas, came in. “All the information on Theo Zaid.”

Kylix hummed. His eyes started drooping. “Did they bring him in yet? Read it out for me.”

While Silas ticked off the most important things on their suspect—chemistry student at the Helion Academy, one sibling, father employed by the Helion mining, and mother a housewife—Moargan’s multi-slate dinged. He expected it to be his father or Cyprian.

“Moargan.” It was Aviel. Sounding unusually distressed as he fought with a string of words.

“Calm down,” Moargan snapped at this friend. “Take a deep breath and tell me what the hell’s going on.”

“You’re not going to believe this,” Aviel finally managed.

“Trust me, today I feel like things can only get worse,” Moargan muttered.

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