Page 61 of Blinding Light

The stands were bulking with cheering people, flags, and music. “How many of them are there?” Cyprian asked as he pressed his nose against the window.

“I don’t know, about twenty thousand?”

“Wow. So many. And they’ve all come to watch this Aureate?”

Moargan came to stand next to him. “Love how our language rolls off your tongue. They have. Now, show me your hand.” Moargan dribbled a bit of oil onto his fingers and rubbed them on his hand, inspecting the palm and fingers. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

“No, not anymore.” Cyprian opened and closed his fist a few times, his gaze still on the crowd. They were close, yet so far away, only mere glass separating them. He watched as a mother strolled by, two children holding her hands, laughing and chatting to her friend.

“Nowhere?” Moargan winked, then slid the iced bottle down Cyprian’s spine to the curve of his ass. Despite the cloak, a cold trail lingered when he lifted it away, and Cyprian bristled when blood pumped south.

Moargan looked up. “I know. I’m such a tease. Come on,aeon. Let’s get you comfortable.” Positioning himself at Cyprian’s back, he handed him a glass, then leaned in. “After all, the show is about to start.”

Cyprian shivered. “People can see us.”

“No, they can’t. It’s opaque glass, one-sided visibility.”

Cyprian’s gaze flicked up at the outside movement. Soldiers entered the field, with a struggling prisoner between them. “There’s Theo,” Cyprian breathed. He felt pity for the blond man.

“There he is, indeed,” Moargan hummed. “That means Helianth will be out there soon.”

A band followed the soldiers onto the field and started playing a song. It didn’t take long for the crowd to pick up and vividly sing the lyrics.

“The Helion national hymn. You should learn it, too.”

When the song finished, the crowd gave a thunderingapplause. The soldiers bowed in unison, then marched away, leaving Theo all alone, a shivering heap. He was dressed in a purple jumpsuit and looked so small, with the way he looked up at the crowd, his blond curls shining in the sunlight. His gaze was morphed into one of pleading as if he truly expected any of those beasts here to have mercy on him.

“There he is, our mouthy thief,” Moargan mused. “Not so mouthy anymore.”

Aluminum casings unrolled, showing huge holo screens, projecting an image of the Imperial, looking as charming as usual. He smiled down at everyone.

“Dear fellow Helions.”

The crowd roared.

Moargan trailed his fingertips under Cyprian’s shirt, skidding over his bare skin.

Milanov Zephyranth held a speech about values and traditions and made every single attendant promise that they’d look after each other.

And then, just when the crowd had left another massive round of applause, Helianth came walking out and onto the arena.

The sound erupted.

He looked handsome in a sleeveless, white cloak that fell to his knees and was tied at the waist by a golden belt. His blond hair was tucked away in a high bun that revealed the string of earrings.

Cyprian tried to wriggle free from Moargan’s mouth as he laid open mouth kisses on his throat. “Stop it, I need to concentrate on this. What’s Helianth going to do to Theo?”

“That depends on his prey.” Moargan looked outside as well. Their cheeks were together, the touch intimate and sweet, a strong contrast to the burning desire Cyprian felt between his thighs. “He could fuck him. Kill him. Make him a soldier. What would you do?”

Cyprian blinked. “What?”

“The guy stole something important to you. What punishment would you give him?”

Cyprian thought of it. “Well, I wouldn’t kill him for it, that’s for sure.”

“Okay. Fuck him? Does he look fuckable to you?”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

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