Page 98 of Blinding Light

Aviel dropped the knife and dried his hands on the towelhe’d slung over his shoulder. “Remember what your father said the first time he met Cyprian? Those who were injected with the Dariux enhancements are supposed to return to Helion by themselves. It is the power in them that creates that pull. If Cyprian’s siblings survived all those years, they will come home. When they’re ready.”

Moargan blinked, frowning. “Or they have already returned.”

“Possibly,” Yure agreed. “Regardless, we have no way of checking. Nameless babies were randomly sent off Helion all those years ago. Their destinations aren’t marked on the contracts I got a hold of.”

“You know what I believe?” Aviel left the stove and joined them at the bar, leaning on one of the stools. “I believe that Cyprian came home to you, Moargan. And I believe that your body and mind chose Cyprian in return before you even knew he was Dariux. Hell, youclaimedhim during your first encounter. Your instincts knew. Yourheartknew. Your body sings for him.”

“Fated mates.” Yure frowned. “Are you sure? I mean, does that still exist?”

Aviel huffed. “Clearly.”

“Is that how you think you’ll marry one day?”

Aviel scrunched up his nose. “Me? Nah.”

Moargan looked at his beer as if it was a foreign drink. His thoughts tumbled. This whole concept was starting to get a little overwhelming. “I mean, Cyprian is—”Special. Undeniable.“Mine.” He settled with. He cleared his throat. The word missed the true meaning. “Just to clarify—you called him ‘brother’. Cyprian’s been wondering.”

Aviel slowly shook his head. “I don’t have a biological brother, unfortunately. But if I would have had any, it would have been him. He’s had a lonely journey.”

“Yeah, well.” Moargan got up from his stool and smoothedout his pants. “He’s reached his destination. Now we’ve just got to get to the good stuff.”

“Something else before you go.” Yure looked up from his multi-slate. “You’re not going to like this, but I’ve just got confirmation on Celia Fandi’s whereabouts.”

“Fuck me,” Aviel muttered under his breath.

“Where?” Morgan snarled, suddenly impatient.

Yure’s mouth opened, then closed. He looked away, then looked back at Moargan.

“Well, come on then.”

“She’s at the Helion University of the Living.”

If possible, the room quieted even further.

“What?”

“Her file is sealed, but she seems to have vanished from Helion records many years ago.”

Aviel whistled. “Could she have been in there for that long?”

Yure’s gaze was on his multi-slate now, busy typing out a message. “I’ll see if I can find out who classified her file.”

“Don’t bother,” Moargan said, scooping up the documents from the bar. Tipping his head with the documents, he left the kitchen and strolled toward his sleeping quarters, night vision kicking in.

How was Cyprian going to react if he knew where his mother was? He entered the bedroom, not surprised to find his lover already buried under the sheets. Part of Moargan wanted to tell him they knew where his mother was, that his search was nearly over. But Celia was in a hospital. And not justanyhospital.

That was unexpected.

What was she there for? And why the fuck was her file sealed? Moargan lit a red cinder cigarette, slumping back against the windowsill. He glanced at his lover, peacefully asleep—fucking finally—then turned up to look at the sky.

He couldn’t just overwhelm Cyprian with news like this.Only yesterday he’d been presented with the shock of his life. His biological father rejected him in public, calling him a monster.

No. Moargan would visit the facility himself tomorrow to check it out. He stared at the circle of red smoke that left his mouth and floated off into the dark air. He couldn’t possibly ask Celia if she knew about a son named Cyprian. She hadn’t named him like that, after all. He contemplated bringing the baby photo for recognition but decided against it. She had signed her agreement to have those babies taken away.

The University of the Living was a notorious hospital. It wasn’t the establishment most victims were taken to. It was a place with history. Unfortunately, Moargan and his family knew that all too well.

It wasn’t a place you could easily get out either.

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