Page 143 of Bonds of Starfall

The vampire stilled Lucien with a raised hand, rings on his fingers glinting above his fingerless gloves. "Save it, Lucien Quenlan. Trust me when I fucking tell you I could’ve done anything to her by now, and I haven’t. She’s coming with me, and I’ll bring her back to you—safe—once we’ve finished what we agreed on."

"Vesperin, you cannot possibly wish to go with him," Lucien said to her.

"I have to, and I hope I can tell you why one day." She steeled herself, and Auren felt pride for this version of her.

Cyrus stood from the bed, holding out a hand to her as he met Lucien’s eyes, then Auren’s. "I won’t leave her side. I’ve kept my doll safe in Lunar City." A strange wave of violent glee passed over his face before leaving just as quickly.

Auren was on the outskirts, watching quietly, entranced by the way they all interacted. She was his, but also theirs. Perhaps that was why he felt unmoored; in her other lives, she had been his, alone. Now, he must share.

He could share—but never with blind trust. He would not relinquish his hold on her so easily.

Auren pushed off the wall, his scythe brushing against his spine in constant reassurance. "I will go with you. That"—he reached for his scythe and cut the blade through the air in a whistling whoosh, the silver arcing—"is mandatory, Rhyden Valkar."

He could ask for her forgiveness later.

16

SPARK

Rin let out a heavy breath, watching white mist puff before her face and fill the night air.

The wind bounced off the tree trunks and cut under her jacket, chilling her to her core. They were deep within Nova Zone 21—further than Rin had ever ventured before. Great metallic clangs filled the air, echoing in tune with the whistling wind and distant howls of the Rogues. It set her on edge, made her tense, a hand poised at her hip for her Echogun. Her Echosword was back at her dorm; she wasn’t as skilled as she needed to be to use it tonight.

Not when so much was at stake.

Cyrus lay down on the dark cliff’s edge, shifting until he matched her pose, flush to the cold rock, on his stomach, with his elbows notched at the edge of the rock. A great boulder was before them, and that was what kept them hidden in the darkness. The perfect spot, really; however, Rin lamented it, for the boulder made the chill bite deeper, stripping away any lingering warmth.

She rubbed her palms together, her elbows knocking against pebbles, as she tried to generate heat.

"Want me to help warm you up, doll?" Cyrus whispered from her side, leaning in until his lips tickled the shell of her ear.

She trembled—this time, not from the cold—and dug her elbow into his side. "Stay focused, Cyrus."

On her other side, the shadow of nearby towering trees was replaced by that of Rhyden. The vampire shimmied on the ground until he covered her other side. His fangs flashed in the darkness, the only spot of color on him, along with his white hair.

They all wore black clothing. Rin had donned her Hunter’s uniform, ensuring her harness was filled with weapons. Knives, ammo, and, of course, her Echogun.

Her fingers trembled as she tapped the holster.

"Don’t make me regret letting you come with us, incubus," Rhyden drawled lowly from her side. His voice was a soft hiss, careful not to be too loud. It made the hair on her nape tingle.

"Like you could’ve stopped me," Cyrus shot back, folding a hand over her shoulder firmly. "She’s mine."

Caught between the two males, Rin could do nothing but tense up.

"You want me to try and stop you? Because I’d be fucking glad to," Rhyden snapped.

Cyrus readied himself to volley back an insult—another in the long list of barbs they’d shared.

"Enough."

The word drifted over the three of them like the wind.

Rin carefully turned her head, watching as Auren stared at them all. His scythe was gleaming and proud, resting over his knees. He had changed his all-white ensemble to that of a dark cloak. But there was no denying his otherworldly presence.

He sat further back, against the side of the rocky mountain. It was far enough away that he could not be seen from what they watched below.

While Rin staked out the location of the drop below, Auren stakedherout.