Page 138 of Bonds of Starfall

"Incubus," Lucien breathed. Vines shot forth, tangling around the incubus’s wrist and pinning him to the wall. He gasped, the back of his head slamming into it.

"Wait—wait!" the incubus pleaded. "I’m not a threat." He struggled against the vines, and Lucien twisted his fingers, making them tighten. Thorns dug into the incubus’s wrists, blood dripping down his pale flesh onto the floor.

Lucien stalked forward, fear gripping him, tightening around his chest. Oh god. Vesperin. He raised an arm, slamming it against the incubus’s chest and pinning him harder to the wall. He was shorter than Lucien. More lithe.

But Lucien knew incubi and succubi could be deadly. They hid behind a guise of enticing beauty.

"Why are you here, incubus?" Lucien demanded.

The incubus’s brows furrowed, and he gasped as Lucien shoved him harder into the wall. A choked sound fell from his lips. "Lucien? You’re Lucien, aren’t you?"

Lucien bared his teeth. "How do you know my name? Why are you here in Vesperin’s apartment? Did you hurt her? I’ll kill you." The vines grew, tangling around the incubus’s chest like a snake.

Lucien rarely used his Stella to hurt, but in this moment, he felt unusually powerful.

Red hair tumbled over his purple eyes as his head fell back against the wall. He gasped, "No, never. I wouldn’t hurt her, Lucien.Stop?—"

"Wait, wait! Lucien. Cyrus? Oh god, s-stop!" Suddenly, Vesperin was there, and her hands wrapped around Lucien’s shoulders, yanking him back from the incubus.

Lucien had been so wrapped up in his rage, he’d missed the sound of the door opening. He stepped between her and the incubus, an arm shoving her away. "Vesperin, are you hurt?"

"No, Lucien. Please. D-don’t hurt Cyrus," she begged, hands wrapping around the back of his shirt. Her breathing was ragged—and that drew his attention more than the fear in her voice. Her skin was ghastly pale. Deep shadows under her eyes. And she blinked furiously, like she was trying to clear her vision. She wavered. "Please, don’t fight…"

Lucien let go of the incubus to catch her just as she fell. She was light as a feather. "Vesperin, my sweet girl, what happened? You’re back? How do you know this incubus’s name?"

Her fingers tangled in his shirt as she peered up at him. She stood on her own two feet, just barely. Her tired eyes focused on the incubus. "Let Cyrus go," she demanded weakly.

Lucien stood between them, arms tightening around her in protectiveness. God, she was small. "Why, Vesperin?"

Her tongue poked out, wetting her lips, and Lucien’s eyes dipped. Blood flecked the corners of her mouth. The fear grew.

"Cyrus is my Soulbond."

Lucien’s control on his Stella snapped, and the vines loosened enough for the incubus to break free of them, backing up and rubbing his head, a hand held before him.

"Lucien Quenlan, I’m Cyrus Soltren. Vesperin’s Soulbond," the incubus revealed, an ever-present silken lilt underlining his words.

Lucien’s knees grew weak, but he kept himself strong to ensure Vesperin was safe. "Soltren… You’re the missing incubus Prince."

"The one and only," he replied, wincing as he rubbed his head.

In his arms, Vesperin said, "We should talk."

Rin felt groggy.After dinner with her parents, she had grown so tired. Sabine had urged her to stay there for the night. Rin barely remembered the walk to the bed.

She’d woken up just after 3 AM with a pounding head and stumbled to the bathroom to expel the contents of her dinner.

She had ridden her motorcycle back to the dorm, feeling strange about staying in her old room, where Kit still haunted her. The ride had been a blur. As Rin had stumbled up the steps, exhaustion making the trek take far longer than it should have, she’d worried for Cyrus.

That worry hadn’t been misplaced, but felt for all the wrong reasons.

Because when she opened the door to see vines curling across the floor and the pained sounds of Cyrus’s voice, panic had broken through her daze.

Now, the three of them sat in her locked room.

"My V girl," Lucien mumbled, wiping a wet cloth over her mouth. She swallowed, shaking slightly. He had helped her onto her bed, perched on the edge, while Cyrus sat at the foot of it, eyes wide with fear.

"I’m okay," she mumbled awkwardly as he swiped the cloth gently over her lips. "I just think… I ate something bad for dinner."