Page 26 of Blinding Light

“You know Father. He would never turn his back on you. He needs to know what you need exactly.”

“We need to conclude the profile of our killer. Aside from the few things I told you, we’re still searching in the darkness. Random outsiders are attacked, or so it seems. We need to understand his motive.Theirmotive, because another possibility is that this is the work of multiple people. It feels like whoever’s behind these killings, is trying to make a statement against the Imperials, polluting Helion’s reputation with assault and murder.”

“Yesterday you said that the victims come from off-planet?”

Helianth sighed. “We’re not in the position to assume.”

“But up until today, the killer’s victims are outsiders?” Moargan let out a puff of red smoke.

“Yes.”

Moargan’s gaze drifted back to Xander. Fuck, did he look good in his sheets. “Alright. You, me, Kylix, and Father are going to sit together and talk like grown-ups. Don’t give me that,” he added when Helianth let out a protest. “This is a threat to our family, and we will not yield to crime. We stand together.”

Once he finished the call with his brother, he checked in with Yure.

“Did you have fun?” It was Aviel who replied, and he sounded smug.

“I did.” Flicking away the cigarette, Moargan got up andstalked toward the bed, crouched down, and rested his fingertips on Xander’s cheek. His skin was cool, his heartbeat steady. “It was a good chase.”

The memory of Xander’s fear, followed by desire and release, filled his cock once again. Tracing a line from his cheek to his temple, he slid through the unruly, black strands. This wasn’t anything like him. Moargan had the reputation of chasing many, many prey. There was something about this one though.

This one was different. This one feels chosen by something deeper than desire.

He pulled back his hand and got up. “Soon, I’ll be making an announcement.”

8

Cyprian jerked awake. Blinking open his eyes, he swept his gaze to the large windows. One of the curtains wasn’t drawn, showing green trees and the peaceful sound of pattering rain.

Back home in the jester, everything had been grey. Grey apartment blocks, a grey sky, a grey life. But here…

The sheets were soft. Smooth and warm, just like the firm arm that was wrapped possessively around his naked waist.

Cyprian flinched as unwanted memories started filling in. He closed his eyes once more as if trying to shut them out. It was futile.

He’d been in Archer’s apartment when they’d burst in. Luminary. They’d brought him to the Imperial.

The chase.

Cyprian groaned. So much for staying in the shadows. He had left everything behind to come here and find where he belonged, only to be stopped in his tracks by the most powerful family of Helion.

He gingerly looked over his shoulder, half expecting those mocking, purple eyes to be on him. They weren’t. Moargan wasasleep, his face smooth and slack as he lay on his pillow, breathing softly. He formed the perfect charcoal drawing. Like this, his blond hair swept out of his face, ears adorned with jewels, he looked young, and innocent.

Which was laughable.

Carefully, Cyprian removed Moargan’s arm and got out of bed in search of his clothes. He needed to get the hell out of here before Moargan woke up. He found them discarded on the floor and slipped on his underwear and pants. He groaned when he saw the result of his shirt. There was no way he could go to the academy like that. Entering the dubious dressing room felt uncomfortable, and Cyprian kept his gaze fixed on the wardrobe, ignoring any other shady item that lay spread out in the open.

Flicking through Moargan’s clothes, he had to swallow that nagging feeling of envy at the ridiculous amount of everything. Cyprian and his siblings had owned two of each piece of clothing except for underwear, of which he’d had 5.

Moargan Zephyranth had enough to dress himself for what felt like a lifetime without needing a single wash.

Cyprian chose a plain white shirt and slipped it on before throwing his school jacket over it. This would have to do.

In the bathroom, he relieved himself and quickly dipped his face under the cool water, before he snuck back to the front part of the house. He had reached the front door when he caught sight of his backpack. Relief washed through him before he frowned. More details from last night flooded his mind.

The Imperial Prince hadpurchasedArcher’s apartment.

No, no, no, no, no.

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