Page 71 of Blinding Light

I can’t do this alone, he thought. But he didn’t voice his weakness. The prince might seem sweet now, but he was a Dariux, programmed to be cruel. A vicious king to be.

“Aside from you, who had access to that chip?”

“No one. Well, Theo.”

“Archer?”

“No.”

Moargan rubbed the back of Cyprian’s nape, circling the clammy skin. “Are you sure?”

Cyprian contemplated his answer. His roommate had never come into his room in the short time he’d lived with him. Had he? He shook his head a little firmer. “I trust Archer. Please—believe me.”

There was silence. “Strangely enough, littleaeon, I believe you.”

“You do?”

“Hmm. No offense, but you don’t seem like the kind of guy who knows how to install advanced software onto a data key.”

Cyprian huffed and pushed Moargan in his chest. “Are you saying I’m not clever enough to do that?”

Moargan tipped his head back and laughed. The sound was a pleasant rumble that made Cyprian shiver. He had never heard the Imperial so unguarded. It was…a beautiful sound. “Alright, I’ve got some more good news. So, dry your tears, lover.”

For the first time since the car had left, Cyprian looked outside the window. He didn’t recognize the neighborhood.

“As you know, Zimeon, my father’s right hand, oversaw the Dariux project when I was young. I have asked him to go back into his file and dig. Names, addresses, and anything relevant about the parents who sold their babies. As you can imagine, there were quite a few over the years, even twenty years ago. Mostly because not every baby made it to being injected.”

Cyprian shivered at the true meaning of his words. What had happened to those babies who hadn’t made the Imperial’s selection? He didn’t dare ask.

“Since the parents hadn’t named their babies, he couldn’t just search under Cyprian Creighton. It made it more difficult to figure out—you know.” He gave Cyprian an uncomfortable purse of his lips. “Who belonged where.”

Cyprian held his breath. “...But?”

“But I think we might have a hit.”

“Is that where we’re going?” Fresh tears rolled from Cyprian’s eyes and he laced his hands around Moargan’s neck, working himself closer around the Imperial. “Please tell me that’s where we’re going.”

Moargan planted a kiss on Cyprian’s nose. “Quiet down, littleaeon. Your heart is nearly jumping out of your ribcage.”

Cyprian smiled through his tears. “Do they know…” The rest of that phrase died in his throat.

Moargan’s gaze softened. “About you? I’m going to be very honest here. I don’t give a fuck about those people. I do this for you.”

Cyprian’s chest fluttered at the words.

“Come here, lover.” Moargan squeezed Cyprian’s ass and pulled him in for a bruising kiss. Lacing a hand in Cyprian’s raven strands, Moargan used them to tilt Cyprian’s head back so he could trace his tongue over Cyprian’s throat, reveling in the scent of his lover’s skin.

“Tell me what you hope will happen.” Fingers dug into Cyprian’s clothed ass, and Cyprian arched his back and rolled his hips for more friction, his earlier sadness morphing into desire.

“What happens in your dreams, hmm? Does your mother cry and take you into her arms? Or does she not even know who you are? She might even kick you out.” Moargan let out a moan and ground up against Cyprian’s rocking hips. “Denying she ever gave up her son.” He thrust up, harder and faster, and Cyprian cried out, clenching Moargan by his shoulders, his face pressed against the Imperial’s shoulder.

The words stung.

“In my dream she cries,” Cyprian admitted, mouthing the words against Moargan’s throat. Like him, Moargan was still in his Academy uniform. “In my dream, she’s happy to see me.”

“Oh, littleaeon.”

Cyprian whimpered when Moargan slid him down and onto his knees, enveloped by his strong thighs. They squeezed him tight and Cyprian watched as Moargan whipped out his thick, leaking cock from his pants. Cyprian didn’t need any further encouragement.

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