Page 119 of Bonds of Starfall

"That wasn’t a part of our bargain."

He hummed, tucking the phone in his front pocket as he settled back against the chair. "Why are you in my city?"

"I received a tip from a Soul Searcher about a trafficking ring in Lunar City. LunCo. Someone very important to me"—Rin’s throat tightened, hoping Lucien wasn’t worrying over her, or worse—"is being used. Blackmailed. I hope. I found papers with the logo for LunCo and cross-checked it, discovering that it’s fronting as a medical supplier. Which led me here."

"So, you just decided to waltz into Lunar City with a few knives and an Echogun?" Valkar drawled.

"I have training," Rin retorted, bristling.

Cyrus leaned forward until he sat beside her on the bed, hooking his chin over the top of her head. "And an incubus." He raised a hand, and water droplets peppered her cheeks.

His Stella was the least he could do. Which made Rin wonder, why didn’t Cyrus wither Valkar?

Rin’s voice faltered as she said, "LunCo is supplying Aetherborns to be experimented on illegally."

A muscle in Valkar’s jaw ticked. "I know."

Rin paused. "You… know?"

"LunCo’s been a goddamned thorn in my side for years. Stealing Aetherborns right from under me and trafficking them. I thought as sex slaves or weapons, but I never knew it was for wide-scale experiments. You’re sure?" The vampire spoke so plainly, like this was nothing.

"I’m sure," said Rin. "I have proof."

Valkar leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the bed. His eyes pierced right through her. "What are you going to do,exactly? Break into LunCo? Try to kill a bunch of people? I bet you’ve never even shot a person before."

"Leave her alone," Cyrus asserted lowly. "She’s had enough from you."

Valkar didn’t relent. "And what about you, Prince Cyrus Soltren? Were you really going to let her walk into LunCo and get herself killed on a tip?"

Cyrus curled around Rin tighter. "I go where she goes. I can protect her."

"You didn’t protect her from me," Valkar said—not a taunt, but a fact, and the pride in his tone made anger well up inside her.

"I would give my life for her. Don’t sit there and speak about things you have no idea of," Cyrus snapped, his words eloquent, speaking of his status.

"I don’t need protection from anyone. I’ve been handling myself for years," Rin said, realizing it was a lie. Kit had always been right by her side. "The truth is, Rhyden Valkar," she spat his name with the same vitriol as he had said hers, "I didn’t have a plan. Just a purpose. I won’t rest until I prove Lucien’s innocence." She leaned forward, Cyrus going with her, until she was nearly nose to nose with the vampire, breathing in his peppermint scent.

Valkar leaned into her, the corner of his mouth curling into a deadly smirk. "What if I helped you, then, prove thisLucien’sinnocence?"

She exhaled softly, feeling his own breath against her cheeks. "How?"

His red eyes dipped to her mouth, and this close, there was no mistaking it. "This city is mine. I can get someone into LunCo—get you your evidence. Papers, security footage. A hand or body. You name it."

Cyrus’s fingers curled around her shoulder, but he remained silent—supportive. All while she knew he would step in if she needed him to.

"Why would you help me?" Rin questioned warily.

His laugh curled between them like smoke. "My help’s not free."

There it was. Rin sat back; though, Valkar stayed leaning against the bed, elbows notched on the mattress by her hip.

The pull was too great for Rin to resist. "What could you possibly want from me?"

"Your Stella."

Suddenly, Rin was ripped back to another time, news reports that went in one ear and out the other. Lunar City business wasn’t important to her. Until now. "It’s true. You use Aetherborns for their Stella… for your arms trade. You’re just as bad as the traffickers."

Valkar was every bit the feared Noctis leader as he said, "I’m bargaining. It’s choice that separates me from them. They steal. I trade. Everyone walks away with what they need." He lowered his voice. "You of all people should know, nothing is free. Everything has a price, wife."