Page 57 of Blinding Light

Because tomorrow was Helianth’s Aureate.

16

Cyprian woke up to fingers softly tracing his back. Humming, he leaned into the touch, mind still too foggy to ascertain his whereabouts. “Feels good,” he sighed.

“Yeah?” Came a husky drawl.

“Hmm.”

His palm itched a little, and he fluttered his eyes open, blinking a few times for his view to become clearer. Aside from the slight itch, he couldn’t find anything off. Teasing fingertips crawled down his spine and to the curve of his ass.

“How’s your hand?”

“A little sensitive.” Cyprian bit his lip as he gazed through the fluttering curtains. It was still early, judging by the way the planets were positioned in the dark sky. He looked at the inside of his left hand once more. It felt warm beneath his sensitive flesh. Something simmered under the surface. “Is that what woke me?”

“Hmm.” Moargan’s fingers skidded back up his spine until they reached his nape. He brushed the hair aside and blew inside the curve behind his ear. “You woke up because I was awake.”

“I woke—” Cyprian turned over his shoulder, catching Moargan’s brilliant stare. “Is that what this is? This…our hands, are weconnectednow?”

Moargan smiled. Cyprian was only half surprised to see that the gems on his incisors had transformed to the same amethyst color as his eyes. He’d seen it happen before when he mutilated Theo. “We are. I claimed you,aeon. You are mine.”

“But I thought…” Cyprian halted. What had he thought? He stared back at the outside scene of darkness and colourful spots high in the air and sighed. “Why me?” He asked instead. “I have nothing to offer you.”

“Why won’t you let me be the judge?” Moargan closed his lips on Cyprian’s earlobe. He sucked on the tender flesh while snaking a hand around his waist, making Cyprian shiver. “What’s on the chip, Cyprian?”

“Nothing that’s of importance to you.”

“Then why don’t you help us get access?”

“Because it’s not your business.”

Moargan grunted and pulled him closer. “Lift your left hand above your head.”

As soon as the new position exposed Cyprian’s palm, Moargan wrapped his own over his. It felt as if the blood in his veins heated, creating a soothing rush through his insides. His body relaxed and he felt his eyes flutter closed. “What’s happening?”

“It’s still early. Sleep some more.”

“How do you do that?” Cyprian wanted to look over his shoulder again, but he didn’t have the energy. “That’s you, right?”

“You can do it too.” Moargan’s words reverberated against Cyprian’s ear, and goosebumps erupted. “From now on you’ll be close to me, littleaeon. Your feelings are mine.Everythingabout you is mine now.”

Cyprian's throat locked with emotion. Those words…he tried to shake them off, but hope was an ugly beast.

Keep me.

He must have fallen asleep, because the next moment he opened his eyes, the dark sky was replaced by a blue one. The other planets were no longer visible, instead birds flew through the air.

“You’re awake.” Moargan’s arm was still wrapped around him, and he nuzzled the hair on the back of Cyprian’s head. “Your mind is like a labyrinth,aeon. A very confusing place to be.”

Cyprian blinked. “What?” Their hands were still connected, his body still full with this comforting buzz. “Were you there?”

Moargan chuckled raspily. “Not in the literal sense, no. You were mumbling in your sleep. Something about Nikkie and someone called Ichor?”

Cyprian grunted. “My oldest brother. I hate him.”

“And something about your hand. I think it hurt, so I tried to take the pain away.” Moargan traced Cyprian’s wrist with his fingertips. “The palming ritual is like an alliance between two people, but for Dariux. We haven’t had many of those unions yet, but we hope more will come.”

“You didn’t ask me for my permission.”

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