Page 126 of Bonds of Starfall

She shivered again as Valkar started typing away at a monitor. It was large, numbers flashing by with an empty outline of a body. His foot hooked around a rolling chair, and he tugged it out, sitting on it as he pulled out his phone, typed something, then pocketed it.

Then, he waited.

Rin wrapped her arms around her midsection, Cyrus standing close to her side.

"Okay?" he whispered, fingers curling in the ends of her hair where it fell over her shoulders.

No. Rin nodded anyway.

Footsteps alerted her to a new presence, and she stiffened, turning to a heavy metal door nearby, as it opened and an older man emerged, dressed in a lab coat. Something about him seemed strange, though. Her eyes narrowed, honing in on the frayed hem of his coat and the small blood splatters on the collar.

"What is this?" Rin questioned.

The newcomer spoke, voice thin and reedy from age. "This the new Aetherborn? Have you spoken to her yet?"

Valkar nodded. "We have an agreement."

"Spoken to me about what?" Rin interjected, feeling out of sorts without her Echogun.

Her heart raced at the blood spattered on his coat—for some reason she couldn’t pinpoint. Memories flashed in her mind… Memories? Or dreams? She wasn’t sure. But the sight made her palms clammy.

Cyrus held her shoulders. "Ves, you need to calm down."

Valkar stood from the chair, walking to her, but not touching. "Your heart is racing. Is it another episode?"

"No. It’s not," she said plainly, hating the wobble in her voice.

Valkar and the older man shared a look.

"This is my associate," said Valkar.

"I’m Nessen, miss. Rhyden here keeps my clinic safe, and in exchange, I help him with the Aetherborns he brings in." Nessen stepped forward—she couldn’t look away from the blood.

Rin searched for Cyrus’s hand, tangling their fingers. "You mean the Aetherborns he blackmails into giving up their Stella?"

Valkar blew out an audible breath.

"I’ve known Rhyden here for years. He saved me, after all. Any Aetherborns that come here do it of their own free will," Nessen supplied, walking to a leather chair near the monitors, those hollow tubes connected to the back. He began fiddling with them as he spoke. "A fact I thought you should know, considering you’re here."

Valkar stepped in. "I’ve not had time to tell her much. She knows I siphon Stella and offer safe harbor to the Aetherborns… We’ve made a deal. I’m going to help her, and she’s offered up her Stella."

Rin held back the fact that she didn’t have any.

Nessen turned to her. "What’s your name?"

"None of your business."

"Her name is Vesperin," said Valkar, and she hissed.

"Vesperin, I won’t hurt you," Nessen said to her.

"Then, why is there blood on your collar?" Rin couldn’t help but ask.

The old doctor fumbled for his coat, lifting the collar until he saw the red flecks on it. "I’m a messy eater. Just a little dinner." He rubbed his fingers over it, and her brow furrowed.

What?

Valkar leaned against the desk with the monitors. "Nessen is a vampire."