Page 128 of Bonds of Starfall

When Rin was free, she reached up to tug the rest of the electrodes loose, eyes cutting a violent trail up Valkar’s chest, to his face.

"I told you," Rin said.

Valkar rolled his eyes. "Childish."

Rin wouldn’t be dissuaded. "I told you," she repeated, "that I have no Stella."

The vampire stared down at her. Cyrus had moved to her back, hands on her shoulders, chin hooked over the back of the chair.

Nessen spoke. "She’s right. Somehow, her Aether is entirely gone."

Lucien’s shoesclicked over the polished tile floors. His lab coat fluttered behind him as he walked. He kept his shoulders back, chin held high—even though he was not supposed to be in this wing of the lab.

The underground laboratory hidden in Nova Zone 21.

Sabine had called him here to help run more tests on the new Aetherborn samples. Lucien never did anything but test samples and run numbers. He rarely saw the Aetherborns, himself; though, the simple fact of knowing they were here against their will was corrupt. Wrong.

And he hated it all so, so much.

He had swiped a keycard from one of his associate’s pockets—another doctor, he only saw underground, in these plain white halls, where screams sometimes echoed from deep below, and the air was hollow and heavy, all at once.

The keycard burned a hole in his pocket. His fingers flexed by his side.

He was playing with fire.

But he had to know.

Lucien had been working with the Soul Searcher—Auren—to keep Vesperin safe, and he wouldn’t lie and say it hadn’t been so relieving to share the burden of her. God, he’d never even admit she was a burden. Shewasn’t. She was his everything. His V girl. His light. Keeping her safe had been wearing him down. With Kiton, it had been hard. Alone? It was even harder.

Auren knew that Kiton had also been another piece of Vesperin’s heart. They were both in agreement that his death had not been a mere accident.

If Lucien was to help bring down Blackfall Industries, then it would start not in the upper levels of the lab, but in the deeper, darker corners. Those of which he did not have access to.

If Lucien were found here?—

He couldn’t even finish the thought.

The halls were empty. Endless stretches of locked doors upon locked doors. He walked with purpose.

When he passed by the occasional doctor, nurse, or staff, pushing covered carts or beds, the sheets dotted with blood, he kept his head high. And when he passed by guards strolling down the halls with guns on their hips and wickedness in their eyes, he nodded and kept on.

Yes, he should be here.

Yes, everything was okay.

Whatever Project Phoenix was—this weapon—it was important.

Auren had said that whispers of Project Phoenix filled the dark corners of the city. They had been searching for anything to help with understanding Kiton’s death. A paper trail, a message, or an order…

Lucien had said if they wanted to bring down Blackfall Industries, they’d need concrete, undeniable evidence. TheBlackfalls influenced even the law in Solar City. They could easily get out of a charge if there wasn’t legitimate proof.

Orchestrating the death of their son? That would be incriminatingandwould turn public opinion against them.

Ahead, two female doctors walked out of a room, the heavy metal door falling shut behind them. Their faces were lined with exhaustion as they conversed. One of the women met his eyes, and Lucien nodded.

Their conversation was hard to ignore, echoing off the lone halls.

"…this is bigger than what we’re usually called to work on. If they keep this up, I’ll never see my wife."