Page 34 of Blinding Light

“Will you please let me go?” Xander finally whispered. “I promise you won’t even notice I’m here.”

“Haven’t you heard a word I said?” Moargan wasn’t sure if it was the implication of his littleaeonnot appreciating his efforts, or him not being as confused as Moargan was about their chemistry, but it hit the wrong nerve. “This is your new home now.” And it was time to show his supremacy in another way.

Typing a message on his multi-slate, Moargan stretched out and hummed in satisfaction. “You really seem to find it difficult to understand the code of ethics of our beautiful planet.”

“I didn’t mean to?—”

“You keep on saying that, and then you keep on forgetting. Here, let me show you instead.”

There was a knock on the door, followed by Yure and Aviel who had both dressed in black cargo pants and a black button-down, the simple attire of the Luminary. The golden broach shimmered in unison.

Vandor followed them inside, the tip of a knife pressed against the neck of a guy with platinum curls.

Next to him, Xander gasped. “That’s the guy from school. He was the one who got attacked outside the art building.”

“Yes,” Moargan hummed. “Theo is a student at the academy, but he was picked up because he broke the law. Didn’t you, Theo?”

“Fuck you,” Theo spat. Blood splatters had formed a circle on his otherwise grey uniform. His throat bobbed against the knife. He looked perfectly helpless, despite his fury.

“Breaking into apartments I recently purchased. Searchingunder mattresses.” Moargan clicked his tongue. “Aviel, why don’t you show Xander here what you found under his mattress?”

Thump. Thump.

Moargan could sense his little liar was panicking and it made his chest flutter with wicked anticipation.

“What do you mean?” Xander’s voice sounded small.

Aviel grinned and patted Theo’s hair. “We found a bid on deep space. Our friend here managed to steal various objects from Archer’s apartment before we caught him.” His smile turned threatening. “So, we had to bring him in for questioning.”

“Questioning,” Theo growled, the sound transforming into a whimper when Vandor pressed the knife deeper against his flesh, breaking the skin. “People love the Imperial family,” he let out. “They want a piece of you.”

“He’s right.” Aviel winked and opened his palm, revealing a data chip. Next to Moargan, Xander sucked in a shocked breath. “I paid a sweet coin for this tiny object.”

“That’s not yours,” Xander bristled.

Aviel closed his fingers around the chip. “It is now. I paid for it.”

“That’s not…” Moargan felt Xander’s hand clutch around his. “That’s illegal. Please, that’s mine.”

“Hmm, Xander is right. What Theo did is against the rules. He will be punished,” Moargan decided.

“No, you don’t understand,” Xander wailed. “That chip is mine. It’smine.”

“And I can sell it to you for two thousand coins,” Aviel smiled.

“You can’t do that,” Xander panted. He tried to get out of bed, realizing that he was butt naked. “I don’t need to buy what’s mine. It was stolen from me!”

Aviel threw the chip in the air, catching it easily. “Then what are you going to do about it?”

“I—I?—”

“I suggest that you decide later if you should buy it, littleaeon.” Moargan turned to face Xander, brushing a raven strand from his pale face and ignoring those pleading eyes. “For now, let’s figure out what we're going to find on that chip. You’re so worked up,” he smirked. “I can’t help but feel a little curious.”

10

“Well?” Moargan pressed.

Cyprian kept his lips firmly glued together. His heart was racing. He was fully aware that Moargan could hear it, and would probably revel in that fear, but dammit…hewasterrified.

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