Page 125 of Bonds of Starfall

"I do not know much, merely a name. Project Phoenix." Auren’s words hung between them.

Lucien had asked him to look into the nature of Kiton’s death, and in doing so, Auren had found only this.

Project Phoenix.

Phoenix.

The dead rising from ashes to be reborn.

The underground was alight in whispers of this project. Something big that was being worked on.

"What is it?" Lucien asked, green eyes hard behind his glasses.

Auren wished he could give a straight answer. He did not know, not truly. Only what the whispers said. That Project Phoenix was…

"A weapon," said Auren. "I believe it is a weapon."

Rin was leddown the dark stone halls, flames flickering in sconces as her bare feet shifted from rugs to cold stone.

Cyrus was pressed close to her back, Valkar in front of them both.

True to his word, she had been allowed to message Lucien before she had slept and when she had awoken. But nothing else.

She fisted her hands in the hem of the too-large shirt she wore, smelling of peppermint—Valkar’s. The hem brushed her thighs with each step.

After she had awoken, Valkar had shown her a cramped shower in the medbay, Cyrus guarding outside. When she came out, hair dripping and skin flushed, she’d found her washed leggings and a folded shirt, waiting on the sink.

The air turned cool, and Rin couldn’t suppress a shiver. At her back, Cyrus inched closer, a constant presence. A part of her was so grateful he was here—yet, she couldn’t help but feel scared for him. Another person to worry about, but so far, he had protected her more than she had him.

It was nice, to be cared for.

The ground sloped down, and Valkar cast a look over his shoulder, red eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Not much further," he grumbled.

"Right," said Rin. "Is this the part where you kill us?" Maybe she’d spent too much time around Cyrus; his jokes were rubbing off on her…

The incubus huffed a laugh, stirring the still-damp hair at her nape. "I’d like to see him try, doll." Suddenly, his lips were by her ear. "Remember the gas station…" All Cyrus said—a reminder.

That made Rin have questions of her own, but she held her tongue.

"Do you want it in writing? Do you want a vow at the altar—again?" Valkar’s voice echoed off the stone walls, and the air was drafty the further down they went, the sloping floors turning to stairs, until the ceilings grew taller and a dank mustiness clung to the walls.

They were underground.

"What?" she asked, distracted.

Because they were in alab.

A lab—or a crime base? Rin didn’t know.

Monitors lined the walls, filled with blue-scale images, flickering by too quickly for her to keep track of.

The far side was an open garage, filled with cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even a few heavy-duty vans—all with tinted windows. The ceilings were lined with metal beams. Thick, hollow cords wrapped around the concrete, snaking to the ground near even more monitors, displaying medical readings—those Rin was very familiar with due to her history.

Valkar walked confidently to the lab area, and her throat tightened as he spoke. "I said I don’t want to kill you, even if you test me. Do you need a vow from me?" The last part was a near growl.

"No," Rin managed. "No vows." She doubted she’d trust him either way.

It was silent and empty. Only the three of them were here.