Page 30 of Blinding Light

It also convinced him that Xander was lying about something.

So far, Yure hadn’t found anything on Xander Devers, other than the little information they already knew. That would change. Yure was a pro, and much like Moargan, his friend liked a challenge.

One of Vandor’s guys had shadowed Xander the entire day on campus, where he had mostly stayed inside the art facility, aside from the break. He had spent lunch alone in the park, drawing.

There was something fragile about that detail. Something that he fucking loved.

Moargan didn’t date. As the eldest son of the Imperial family, he was mostly focused on getting prepared for his future duties. Ruling Helion, assuring the safety of the planet. His father managed the board of counselors and generals and had allowed Moargan access to evaluate meetings, without the right to intervene.

When the day came, Yure would be his right-hand, and together with the Luminary, led by Kylix and Helianth, they would rule the political and security organs of their world.

No, Moargan didn’t date. Heconquered. Toyed and nipped on trembling flesh and fucked those who were either chosen or offered to the Imperials. Helions considered their rulers immortal, the favorites of good light.

And then there was Xander Devers.

Moargan had wanted him, he hadtakenhim. And right now, he was being held in his home and waiting for Moargan to come home. Just the way he liked it. If this evening would ever finish, that was.

“Can we please not do this?” He groaned. He sat in his father’s study, listening to Helianth and their father throwing accusations back and forth. “I mean, we’ve been here for three hours now. Not that I don’t love spending time with my family, but—” Moargan’s multi-slate lit up with another update from Vandor on the evening’s progress in his mansion.

“Moargan’s right,” Milanov sighed. “Helianth, we don’t have much to go on at this stage. We don’t have a motive. We don’t even have a clear profile of the victims aside from them being all foreigners.”

“What?” Helianth crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You sound just like Kylix. Don’t you think it’s fair to inform the public?”

“And risk putting a stain on our image?” Their father sighed when Helianth balked. His brother’s nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed. “Alright, alright. We’ll get something out.”

“Great. That only took us three hours.”

“That’s because you’re not listening to m?—”

“Oh, come on,” Helianth shouted. “And what about those men I requested? Will it take another three hours for you to decide on that?”

Milanov sighed. “You stubborn boy. I’ve already told you that I will back you up. Your brother already told you I would. Haven’t you been listening? Moargan!”

Moargan looked up from his multi-slate and nodded dutifully. “You’re right, Father. Now, can we please move on? Helianth?”

His brother dipped his chin and grumbled. He didn’t look ready to move on. There was something about this case that messed with his younger brother’s usual composed and sensible self.

“Eleven victims,” Helianth muttered under his breath. “Please tell me that we’ll make that press conference urgent. The next victim could be attacked at this very moment.”

His father held up his hand. “And I have told you, we will make this our priority and all the resources to find the killer who’s responsible.”

“Do you know what he does to the victims?” Helianth exclaimed. “Do you know what their bodies look like when I find them? How they are cut open and fucked with before the victims die from excruciating pain?” He jumped out of his chair and paced around. “What’s he looking for? What does he want? Is it pure macabre satisfaction, or is there something else?”

“I’ll get you fifteen more people, Kylix.” Their father told thesilent guy who had sat waiting. Unlike Moargan’s younger brother, their cousin didn’t seem emotionally as involved, despite him being barely two years older than Moargan.

“Thank you, Milanov.”

His father nodded toward Helianth, who was still pacing around, agitated. “And keep an eye on him. My son is fragile and in desperate need of some relief. Moargan?”

“I’m on it.”

“Announce Helianth’s next Aureate.”

Everybody looked up at that. “Father?”

“Your brother so desperately wants to go public. Make us show our power. Let’s give him his own, personal show.”

Moargan’s gaze shifted from Helianth back to his father. “And where should this Aureate take place?” Unease crawled up his spine. “You know that’s not what he meant.”

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