Page 27 of Blinding Light

Had they taken all his stuff from the house?

The data chip.

He dove for his backpack, realizing too late that he wasn’t the only one in the kitchen. Grabbing the ratty bag with both hands, he pushed himself against the wall.

“Well, good morning.” It was the guy from last night. The one with the black curls and the video camera. He stood behind the kitchen island, a steamy mug in his hand. His eyes flashed brilliantly and Cyprian blinked, heart racing. The backpack slipped from his hands and fell with a thud to the ground as a strange, prickling sensation fluttered his insides.

“I—I was just on my way out,” he muttered.

“Want some coffee? You look like you could use some.” The guy chuckled and started filling another mug. He slid it toward him on the kitchen island. “Here.”

Cyprian stood glued to the wall, eyeing the drink as if it were a cup of poison. One he was desperate to drink. But no, he should go.

“Bacon and eggs? Or do you want some tiganos?” He started taking out ingredients and lit up the fire. “I hope you had a good chase, uhm, night.” He grinned, batting his own words away. “Sorry, don’t mind me. I’m having too much fun. So, what’s it going to be, sweetheart?”

This guy was trouble. That much was clear from the way he spoke, smirked, and looked at him with those brilliant eyes. And Cyprian didn’t want to complicate things even further.

He grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I need to go.”

“Why? It’s only six o'clock. The academy doesn’t open until seven. The apartment where you stayed is sold, and your room is gone.” He started breaking eggs in a pan. “Just saying. It doesn’t seem that youhaveanywhere to go. You might as well have some breakfast with me. I won’t bite, promise.”

Well, Cyprian didn’t care. He was not going to stick around. He would call Archer and together they’d sort out this mess. There had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. Then they could get things back to normal and Cyprian could slip once more into the background and continue his research.

“Where are the rest of my things?”

“It’s Aviel, by the way.” He pointed the spatula at his chest, grinning. Then he pointed it toward the corridor behind Cyprian. “And your stuff is in the guestroom, second door to the left.”

“I will have someone pick them up as soon as I have found appropriate accommodation.” Cyprian stepped out of the kitchen, only to halt in his tracks at the sound of a cruel chuckle. Turning over his shoulder, he watched with surprise at the way Aviel had transformed in less than five seconds. His golden eyes burned as if they…as if they had molted into actual fire.

“I don’t think you understand,” Aviel rumbled. “You don’t make the rules here, Xander.”

Cyprian blinked and everything was back to normal.What the hell was happening to me?

First, the Axe, now the opium. He was probably still high on drugs, hallucinating. It made him afraid. And fear made him angry. “No,youdon’t understand,” he balked, clutching the strings of his backpack tight around his hand. Desperation clawed at his insides. “I have come here to study. I am a free being.”

Aviel clacked his tongue, shaking his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. Tell me, Xander, where are you from?”

“That’s—”

“Do youknowwhere you’re from?”

“Aviel?” Moargan called through the corridor, making them both freeze. The other man recovered faster, face splitting once more in an obnoxious smile.

“Oops,” he gloated. “Might as well stay for breakfast now.”

Cyprian dashed for the front door. Aviel’s laughter echoed through the corridor, intermingling with the approaching set of footsteps and the beating of his heart as he slid his ring over the sleek metal. Finally, the door opened, revealing heavy rainfall and a stormy wind. The perfect autumn day to stay inside.

A day that was about to get worse.

Luminary were scattered all over the gardens all the way to the open gates. They were watching him, but strangely enough, nobody stopped him from leaving the Imperial’s property. When Cyprian finally passed the open gates, he stepped onto the road. Soaked. He had no clue where he was.

After a half an hour wait, the bus finally arrived, and only when he took a seat in the heated cubicle, did he let out a relieved sigh. Since public transport was free for students, Cyprian was tempted to keep his seat and drive around the city for the next hour until the Academy opened, but once the building appeared, he changed his mind. He was too hungry, and hopefully, the restaurants were already open and serving breakfast.

Security didn’t flag him and he headed straight for one of the smaller bars that had a special breakfast menu. Tiganos and coffee. That sounded like music to his ears and tasted even better.

As soon as the art building opened, Cyprian walked in. His clothes were wet and rumpled, and he sat down on one of the heaters in an attempt to dry them before class started. He thought of his friends back home, of Grady and Juri, of the good times they’d had before his foster parents had thrown him to the wolves in an attempt to climb the social ranks.The Devils.Fuck them…

He called Archer, but he didn’t pick up. Cyprian hoped he was okay.

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