Page 6

5

H elianth whistled when they watched Xander leave their table. Like the rest of the Luminary, he wore a golden brooch, identifying them as a member of the official security organization of Helion, despite his family status. “Did you see?—”

“His eyes?” Moargan finished. “Yeah. They’re spectacular. Do me a favour and let one of your guys shadow him for now.”

His younger brother watched him curiously. “For now?”

“That’s what I said. Now, you showing up one day early to come and find me is not reassuring. What’s going on?”

His brother contemplated egging him on about Xander, his mouth opening and closing as if he wasn’t sure what to ask. Good light, Moargan wasn’t even sure what to tell his younger brother, should he pry. He had no idea what had gotten into him, searching around for Xander the way he’d done. It was something primal, is all he could say. Something that called for it deep inside his core.

Helianth finally dropped his silent inquisition with a shrug and a thorough sweep of their surroundings. Then he leaned forward. “There was another victim. The police called it in this morning.”

“Another one? Where?”

“Behind the Three Stars bar. Police were called to control a student night gone wild. They found a corpse in the alley. The body was fresh.” Helianth exhaled heavily and sagged back against the chair.

“Was it a local?”

Helianth shook his head. “The police are still working on the victim’s identity, but like the others, this one isn’t on Helion’s list of residents. That’s the tenth murder in eight weeks.”

“What does Kylix say?”

Kylix, their cousin and head of the Luminary, was the one calling the shots. In this case, he’d been the one deciding to keep it quiet.

Helianth looked troubled. “Kylix needs more forces. We’ve got ourselves a serial killer, and people deserve to know. There’s Luminary everywhere on the streets after dark, and it makes people feel restless.”

A serial killer.

Moargan detested the fact that someone was out there on a murder mission, dirtying Helion’s otherwise stainless reputation. Someone other than the Imperials who owned this planet.

“So that’s who he goes for?” He asked Helianth. “Foreigners residing on Helion?”

“Looks like it. He calls himself Attica and smears the name in his victim’s blood at every crime scene. We’ve been paying off the media trying to keep things quiet, but we won’t be able to keep that up forever.”

“Do you have any idea who he is or where he’s hiding?” Moargan asked.

Helianth slowly shook his head. “I’m still profiling him.”

“What have you got so far? ”

“He is a narcissistic person. He craves attention. His methods are horrifying. The victims are chased and tortured before being killed. I suspect him being close, watching when we are called to a scene. He needs to see us caring for his ‘work’.”

Moargan whistled lowly. “And they call me cruel.”

“Yeah,” Helianth snorted. “Well, we both know you are. But this killer is begging to be unleashed. I bet he can’t wait for the media to leak.”

“Which is why Kylix wants to keep it quiet.”

“Yup.” Helianth looked up, and their eyes met. “But I feel like he’s slipping away. His murders become crueler. It’s like we’re getting caught in this game of cat and mouse. We’re there to clean up the destruction but can’t get ahead of him. We need to prevent this from happening.”

Moargan stared absentmindedly at the spot that had just been occupied by Xander.

“So, what is it you need from me?”

“Father.”

“Father?” Understanding dawned.

Helianth looked away. His brother was like that. Complicated.

Emotional.

“We need more people to work on the case,” Helianth explained. “Classes are about to start, and though we agreed for Kylix to train me and all, we didn’t anticipate this . We can’t do it alone.”

“I thought Father already gave Kylix a few guys to help him with the case?”

“Two Luminary,” Helianth spat. “As if that will do the trick. These guys are students, they haven’t even finished their training. We need people, brother. More experts. Profilers and AI specialists who can search on deep space for any clues. Who will he kill next? Why? Where? We are grasping in the dark. ”

“What about the police? Surely, they have resources?”

Helianth snorted and stuck his nose in the air. “We don’t want to work with those fools. Let them focus on parking tickets and litter on the streets.”

Moargan grinned. “Arrogance, I see. And now you need my help to talk Father into giving you more brains, hmm?”

Helianth’s stare turned pleading. Like this, there was nothing in the world Moargan wouldn’t give his younger brother, and they both knew it. “We all know that he’s preparing you for leadership. If he listens to anyone, it’s you.”

“That’s because I’m such an intelligent species.” Moargan puffed up his chest dramatically.

Helianth rolled his eyes, chuckling.

“Seriously, you’re making me feel important here, little brother. Not even the big, important Kylix can fix this for you. Remember how you used to look up to him?”

“Oh, stop it,” Helianth huffed.

“It’s true. Think I didn’t know about the image of him you had in your bookcase? You didn’t even want his black cape! If I get Father to agree with me, I expect my photo there.”

“Your photo in my bookcase?” Helianth snorted. He grabbed his umbrella and jabbed it at Moargan, who dodged him on an amused howl.

“Alright, alright.” He held up his hands. “I’ll talk to him. Since you put all this trust in me, I won’t let you down. Luminary. Anyone!” He turned over his shoulder. “Send my brother a photo of me. He wants to have one framed in his living room.”

“You really are the worst.” But Helianth smiled, and the tension vanished from his handsome face.

“I know.” Moargan’s eyes glittered with satisfaction. “Give me some time tonight with him. Alone.”

Their father, Milanov Zephyranth, was known to be a tough leader. Aloof, stoic, and quiet, character traits Moargan had inherited. Helianth, however, was quite the opposite. They clashed. A lot.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Helianth pointed to the exit of the canteen. “So, this yellow-eyed guy…who is he?”

Moargan eyed the empty door thoughtfully. “He says his name is Xander.”

“And? You think he’s lying? Come on, give me more. He was sitting at your table! Plus, he’s drop-dead gorgeous, and unless you tell me why I shouldn’t pursue him, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.”

“I met him on the spaceship last night. He…let’s just say he drew my attention.”

“It was the eyes, I bet,” Helianth mused. “He’s got nice hair too.”

Moargan imagined the wild mop of raven strands. He wouldn’t mind grooming those locks and bathing that pale body in hot, steamy water, only to dress him in his own clothes, then set him free and chase him down.

Yes. He liked that idea. A lot.

“He does,” he hummed. “He’s got a nice cock too.”

Helianth sucked in a shocked gasp. “You didn’t.”

“I did.” He shrugged, but inside, he was gloating.

His brother leaned in, and he licked his jewelled incisors, visibly excited. “Did he run at least?”

“He did.”

“Fight?”

“Hmm.”

“Bite?”

“That’s enough to feed your curiosity. If you want a snack for yourself, go find a willing conquest. This one’s mine.”

“Greedy bastard,” Helianth grumbled. He looked at his multi-slate, which had turned into a glowing board. “That’s Vandor. He’s been shadowing your guy. He says they’re walking home. ”

“They? Who’s he with?”

His brother typed onto his multi-slate, and they waited for the buzzing confirmation of the stranger’s identity. “Archer Lyre. A senior here at the Academy. Studies Science.”

“Let Vandor check where they live.”

“You got it.”

“Actually…” Moargan stood up from his chair, flipping off the two Luminaries, who immediately got into position. “I feel like going for a walk. Send me the exact route Xander is taking on his way home. I’ll see you tonight for dinner. Don’t come before seven, and I will have a word with Father.”

Ignoring his younger brother’s final words, Moargan strolled toward the art building. Being the smallest section of the Helion Academy, the U-shaped construction was situated on the far end of campus and bordered next to Umbral Park, an enormous green zone that led to Helion’s capital city Zephyr.

Besides a teachers’ meeting, the corridors were empty. The walls were decorated. Deserted classrooms waited for pupils to come in and make a difference.

Art students.

Moargan snorted at the thought. Desperate creatures who were too caught up in their own minds. What would Xander’s mind look like from the inside? Walking past the open workspaces, he wondered which classes his yellow-eyed beauty had chosen.

He wondered why he cared at all.

A few students chatted about, but when they caught sight of Moargan, they pressed their backs against the walls and let him pass with a polite nod he didn’t return. He reached the classroom for the freshmen and peeked inside. It was spacious and messy, with canvasses and other equipment already set down for tomorrow’s start of the year. They had a great view of the park here.

His multi-slate pinged with a new message from Vandor. An address and itinerary appeared on the fine lines of his tanned skin. Archer Lyre lived in a decent side of town.

Too bad for him.

Xander Devers was about to discover a whole different part of Helion.

Pleased with his train of thoughts and the decisions they had formed, he hummed a tune to himself as he left campus. He flipped off Vandor’s guys, who had been waiting for him outside the hovercar. He did feel like going for a walk.

Heading for the park, Moargan followed the journey planner on his multi-slate. Warmth spread in his chest at the knowledge of what was to come.

Xander was a runner. But would he also be a screamer? The thought excited him.

Around him, people rushed by. They’d left work and were either on their way home or going to the many restaurants that were situated on the busy streets just outside the park. Those who recognized him made themselves scarce. Moargan knew the reputation he and his family had. The Imperial family was loved as much as they were feared, and the people had every right to be. After all, they lived up to their reputation, and that proof sounded like a percussion concert in his chest. Ruffling heartbeats surrounded him, led by fear.

Moargan exited the park and crossed the street, his violet gaze on the three-story apartment building that stood at the foot of the park.

He called Yure through his multi-slate.

“What’s up, bro? I’m at your place. Where are you?”

Moargan heard noises in the background. “Are Helianth and Vandor with you?”

“Yeah.” He visualized his friend letting out a circle of smoke from the red cinder cigarette his mouth seemed to be glued to. “You aren’t here, and I seemed to recall that you needed me for something? ”

True. He had wanted to go over the list of biofarms his father wanted him to do a credit check on. All that appeared very boring with what he had in mind now. “I need you for something else.” Movement on the third floor had Moargan flick his gaze back to the window. He narrowed his eyes at the slight silhouette frame in the glass. He imagined it was Xander watching him. “I want you to purchase the apartment owned by the Lyre family,” he said, keeping his eyes on the shape.

“Come again? Who?”

“We don’t care who they are. We want the apartment.”

“Why?”

When he heard his brother snicker in the background, Moargan spat, “Tell my brother that if he wants me to defend his cause, he’ll change his behavior.”

“Chill,” Yure muttered, but the background chatter dimmed. “Where are you?”

“Right now? Outside the Lyre residence.”

“Alright, I just moved outside for some privacy. I suppose you want me to do that right now?”

“Yep,” Moargan popped the p, watching as the figure disappeared out of view. It was getting darker outside, and soon the streets would quiet down, giving space to those who were looking for adventure.

Moargan gestured to one of Vandor’s men, who had discreetly followed him from campus, and he got into the hover car.

“I got it,” Yure started. “The apartment was inherited by Archer Lyre, a student at the Helion Academy. Twenty-two years of age. Never been in trouble with law enforcement. He lives there by himself—” He corrected himself before Moargan could do so. “No, hang on. He has a roommate. Xander Devers, twenty years of age. He doesn’t seem to be from here.”

“I need all the information you have on this guy.”

Yure paused. “Which one, Lyre or his new friend? ”

“Xander Devers.”

“Why do I get the feeling that this is all about him?”

Moargan stretched his long legs in front of him, crossing them at the ankle as he got himself comfortable in the passenger seat. “Because it is. Can you do me a solid and keep this between us for now?”

Yure hummed in appreciation. “You mean, between me, you, your brother, and Vandor? Sure. Oooh… I see what this is about. I got a photo of your little friend here. It’s the eyes, right? So bright and blue.”

“ Blue ?” The word left Moargan’s mouth before he could catch himself. Something fluttered through his chest.

“Uhm, yeah? Black hair, blue eyes, sweet smile. Does he even know you exist?”

“Oh yeah, I made sure of that.”

Moargan thought of the way Xander had run from him. How he had tried to escape, only to be caught right between Moargan’s arms, back pressed against the door. Hand on Xander’s cock. How he had made the other man come. How he had hunted him down on campus, only to sneak up on him in the canteen.

Why had Xander been hiding the true colour of his eyes?

“I’ll be home soon. I promised Helianth a word with Father before dinner.”

“And I promised to have mine with Aviel. I’ll need to get my revenge after he busted my ass during last night’s game.”

Yure and Aviel shared a houseboat in the river Ar, close enough to Moargan’s royal mansion for them to catch up together.

“You let him win last time?” Moargan clicked his tongue. “Don’t bring that smug bastard anywhere close to my home tonight.”

“I won’t. Anyway, tomorrow we’ll visit Lyre and purchase the apartment. ”

“Perfect. Get me everything on camera. Every detail. I want to see it all.”

Yure chuckled. “You cruel fucker. Luckily for you, you’re not the only one. I’ll have Aviel on the job.”

“That sounds delicious.”