Page 91 of Blinding Light

“Bad...” Moargan whistled lowly, then tilted back the guy’s head by his hair. “Boy.”

“P-please.”

“Hmm.” Moargan deeply inhaled the scent of fear, savoring the intoxication. “You know you killed four innocent people, right?”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen.” Tears fell down his cheek.

“But it did. And look at you. Now you’re here, at my mercy.” Moargan smiled with flashing teeth. “Your lips tremble sweetly.” Unable to resist, he licked the curve of that mouth.

Someone cleared his throat, and when he peered up, hecaught Cyprian’s glare. Moargan smirked. “Oh, you don’t like that,aeon? Come here.”

Cyprian hesitated, then got up and stalked his way. “I won’t hurt this man.”

Moargan forced the guy to look at Cyprian. “Do you know who this is?”

The prisoner sobbed and shook his head.

“My Royal Consort. Mychosenone. He’s a good man. A man who has searched for his own family his entire life. And you just slashed away an entire family, leaving a two-year-old to live a miserable, lonely life.”

The prisoner’s shoulders trembled with shock as more tears flowed down his face. “I’m so sorry. I know what I’ve done is unforgivable, but I fell asleep behind the wheel. When I woke up?—”

“Why did you take the car when you knew you shouldn’t?” Cyprian asked.

“No,” Moargan yanked the prisoner’s head back until he choked and begged to be released. “Hedoesn’t get to talk.Iget to play.” His fingers traced the lines of Cyprian’s pale skin and he leaned in to taste those plush, wet lips. “You are so lovely, Cyprian,” Moargan mumbled. “So sweet.” He growled, and the gems on his incisors flashed a bright violet that made the prisoner wail. “And you,” he turned his gaze to the prisoner, “are unfortunate. Because you,” he tilted his head back until the prisoner cried out in pain, “are going to die. Slowly, painfully, deliciously—” He pressed his nose against the man’s neck. “Yes. So much fear. Listen to that heartbeat.”

“Please, anything else,” the prisoner sobbed. “I’ll do anything!”

“Ssh, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Make me a soldier, make me anything, but don’t let me die in prison!”

“In prison?” Moargan chuckled viciously. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you die in prison. But you’re lucky, interrogation time is over. String him up boys, I’m starving.” Moargan winked at a frozen Cyprian. “You’ll soon be hosting your ownAureate, myaeon. It’s time you learn from the best.”

24

Luminary guards strung the prisoner up by a chord from a hook out of the ceiling, laughing at his pleas and cries. Cyprian stood, mortified, and watched. Watched as they tested the ropes, watched as Moargan flexed his fists. His amethyst eyes shone wickedly, matching the gems in his mouth. Like this, with blond hair, flawless skin, and those brilliant eyes, he was the most beautiful man Cyprian had ever seen.

He was perfect. Wicked, possessive and powerful.

“Please!” The prisoner begged, now set loose and dangling from the rope.

Moargan didn’t say anything. Instead, he kicked the guy right in the jaw, making him yank backward on the chord, sputtering in pain. There was another kick and another, then the cracking of bone, followed by a howl.

Blood. So much of it, dripping from the prisoner’s nose.

“Fuckkk,” Moargan groaned.

Cyprian stumbled back to the couch, feeling light-headed. He…felt weird. The sound of pain should make him feel disgusted. And yet…

He was hard. Embarrassed, he quickly covered himself with his hand.

“Enjoying the show?” Milanov hummed. He sat across from Cyprian in the other chair with hooded eyes and a visible bulge in his pants.

“I…no?—”

Milanov waved him off. “Don’t deny it. It’s what you were born to be. I can’t wait to see what you’re capable of.”

“I don’t,” Cyprian whispered. He thought of the visions. Of the lightbulbs. Of the voices.

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