Page 69 of Blinding Light

Cyprian frowned. “I’m not sure. Did I?” On paper, he’d visualized the large, round center surrounded by stands, filled with grey and black swipes that represented the mass. Inside stood a person.

“An interesting drawing, Cyprian.” Profession Dai joined them. “I take it the Imperial Prince took you to yesterday’s event?”

“Yes. It was…interesting.”

Professor Dai chuckled. “Do you have events as such on Tulniri?”

“No.” He frowned at the drawing. “I don’t think so?”

“Ahh.” Professor Dai’s voice carried the hint of a smile. “So you are giving us the way you experienced it?”

Cyprian shrugged. “Maybe? I guess.”

“Hmm.” Professor Dai pointed toward the cabins high above the stands. “And those are….?”

“I’m still working on that part.” His face heated at the memory.

Professor Dai let out another pensive hum, then traced his fingertips to the lonely figure standing in the middle. “Who’s that?” He leaned in further, his chest nearly pressing against Cyprian’s shoulder. “That’s not the person from yesterday?”

It was a woman, dressed in shades of grey.

“I—I don’t know…” He stammered. But he did. Cyprian stared and his heart thumped in his throat.

He had drawn the image of his mother.

“Am I interrupting something?” Came a warm, raspy sound.

Cyprian flinched, and Professor Dai immediately pulled back. Moargan stood at the beginning of the gardens, Vandor and Yure at his back. A cool smile spread across his handsome face. His amethyst eyes flashed at Professor Dai.

“We were analyzing Cyprian’s work,” his teacher said, a tremble in his voice. He didn’t lean in closer.

“I can see that. Don’t stop on my behalf.”

Professor Dai cleared his throat. “Very well. Who did you draw?”

“A stranger,” Cyprian lied. He stood up. “If you don’t have any further questions, I’m calling it a day.” He gave a wave at Archer.

“Absolutely, Cyprian.” The professor gave him a relieved smile and Moargan a dip of his chin. Both men didn’t speak when Cyprian brought his work inside and stalled it next to his classmate’s work by the wall, then got his things.

“Let me get that.” Stalking inside with Vandor and Yure in his wake, Moargan practically shouldered the professor before sliding an arm around Cyprian’s nape and grabbing his backpack. “I’ve got you a few surprises,” he whispered, then pulledCyprian in, kissing him with an obscene hum filling the silence.

“Surprises?”

“Indeed.” Moargan smiled, and his purple eyes swept back to Professor Dai. “Wrap this drawing up so I can take it home. Come on, lover, you and I are going for a ride.”

He ushered Cyprian inside the hovercar and took a seat across from him.

“Let me start with the good news. You spoke the truth.”

Cyprian frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Yure tracked you down. Of course, nothing came up when we searched under your false name, but the name Cyprian Creighton gave him access to your personal records. You were raised in foster care in a jester on Tulniri, just like you said.” Moargan hooked his ankles, then gazed outside.

“Well, of course, I told you the truth.”

“Time for the bad news.” His voice had gone low, and when he turned back, his eyes were dark with emotion. “You and I both know that you entered our planet with lies. Your name, for starters. And that data chip?—”

“That got completely blown out of proportion,” Cyprian argued. “It was mine, and then it got stolen. By Theo and then by you! But it’s mine, and I had the right to use it as I please.”

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