Page 35 of Blinding Light

Blinking, he stared off, willing himself far away from this shit.

Someone whistled a tune, the sharp sound rattling his nerves. Pressure was building inside the room, and Theo was snarling in an attempt to mask his fear.

Cyprian wanted to know what was going to happen now. He wanted to know if anyone had already checked the information on his chip. They were mostly lists of addresses he had bought from the Helion source he’d found on the deep space. Even if they didn’t care for the list, they would arrest him for purchasing illegal documents. Then they would ask him who Cyprian Creighton was. And then…he would be fucked.

They’d send him home to his death and his biological parents wouldn’t even know that he'd gotten so close to them.And he wouldn’t know if they’d miss him. If they’d ever thought of him, hoped for his happiness.

The thought made his eyes burn.

“Since you’re so eager to talk, let’s play a little game,” Moargan mused. “To get us all in the mood.”

A complaint rumbled through Cyprian’s chest, only to get stuck in his throat.

Moargan clapped his hands, breaking the silence. “Theo.”

The blond guy startled and bared his teeth. That…he had courage, that was for sure. Cyprian hadn’t dared stand up like that against the Imperial, too scared to be unmasked.

“Did you check the contents of the chip before putting it on deep space?”

“That’s none of your fucking business,” Theo snarled.

Moargan let out a long sigh. “I’m already tired of listening to his voice. Since he’s not going to use it in an effective way, might as well get rid of that tongue now. Vandor.”

The junior general nodded and slid the knife toward Theo’s mouth.

“No! I…fuck, please,” Theo choked. He shook his head violently. “I didn’t check the chip. It’s secured, and I wasn’t able to decode it and then I received your offer to sell and I couldn’t resist it. So much coin, and I have a sick mother and…”

“Save me your excuses.” Moargan held up a hand and Vandor lowered the knife, sliding it once more against Theo’s neck. “So you didn’t see what was on that chip?”

Theo shook his head.

“You know what I think?” Moargan’s voice was smooth as velvet, the words sharp as a knife. He turned to Cyprian. “I think he’s lying. And liars get punished.”

“P-punished?” Cyprian stammered, heart thumping in his throat. “I don’t think he’s lying,”

“Hmm. I think he is.” Moargan’s lips curled up. “You see, Helionis praised because of its rules and regulations. Rules you have difficulty obeying, littleaeon. But the truth is, I can cut anyone into pieces, and no one will stop me. Now, for Theo, he stole from me. Fromyou. And what do we cut first when people steal?”

“Please, no…” Theo whimpered.

“That’s right. We cut off those stealing hands.”

Cyprian watched as the Imperial licked his teeth. “Then the arms. The legs. I could even give poor Theo away to the boys here. He’d make the perfect fucktoy.”

“No!” Theo wailed.

Cyprian put his hand on Moargan’s. The gesture had them both staring down at their fingers as they reached out, intertwining like growing branches.

“Unless you want to save him, littleaeon?”

Cyprian felt himself nodding before he realized it. The corner of Moargan’s lips ticked up.

“You can save him a limb for each truth you give me. Do you think you can do that?”

Cyprian inhaled shakily. Of course, it had been a trap. “I don’t want him to die because of me.”

Moargan’s fingers brushed over Cyprian’s palm and he shivered from the touch. The connection felt electric, and part of him wanted to lean into that touch, wanting to absorb its warmth.

“Exactly.” Pulling up Cyprian’s hand, the Imperial pressed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. Cyprian shivered. “This one is for a hand. We’re going to start easy. Why did you come to Helion? And please, littleaeon, don’t give me your academy bullshit.”

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