Page 42 of Bonds of Starfall

They couldn’t keep this up forever.

After Vesperin’s parents had died in the Rogue attack—after his own had died—Kiton’s parents had been so willing to step in for her. Kiton hadn’t shared everything with Lucien, just enough for him to understand how bad it had been. How, as soon as Vesperin moved in, they had pounced, shedding their sheep’s clothing and revealing their wolven faces. As an Aetherborn, everyone wanted a piece of her, and Blackfall Industries had gotten it, no matter the cost.

It had never been proven, but Lucien sometimes wondered if they had orchestrated the attack on Vesperin’s neighborhood. To make her an orphan and open the door for being her savior—only to pounce and strap her to tables in the dead of night and inject her with things that Kiton told him made her back bow off the metal and the tendons in her neck strain as she screamed with pain.

They would receive their reckoning one day. Lucien would make sure of it. And now, he had Kiton. Together, they would make this life one they could all live safely.

For her.

"Have you heard from your parents?" Lucien asked.

Kiton scoffed. "No. Of course not. I told her they called, though. She just… needs to feel cared for. If she starts to question them, they’ll see right through it."

He was rambling, making excuses, and Lucien knew he would never say it, but it hurt not to have your parents’ affection, to be viewed as a means to an end.

Lucien’s own had been distant with him—nothing like Kiton’s—but to them, if he didn’t go to medical school, he was worthless. And now that Lucien was one of the top doctors in Solar City? They were dead and didn’t know.

"You did the right thing," said Lucien. "If her behavior raises any flags, they could take her right back to the labs." The very thought made him shudder. "Theymustthink everything is normal."

"What about what happened? How can we keep this from them?"

Lucien put his glasses back on and stood. He had been away long enough not to raise any questions. Straightening his doctor’s coat, he said, "I’ve spoken with them already. They know. Just enough. And it will stay that way." He held Kiton’s eyes. "I have the situation handled. Take her home, let her rest, and this stays between us."

Kiton dipped his chin in acknowledgment, understanding that, already, Lucien was donning the cool persona of the near-famous doctor everyone knew.

He would bear the brunt of this, all so Kiton could keep her safe and in the dark.

This was his penance for the wrongs he had done, and he would face it time and time again—life, after life—if it meant she could live freely.

6

NEBULOUS

Kiton Blackfall’s nightmare was always the same.

Screams and cries floated to them from the crackling radio on the ship. The ever-present moon flickered in the distance like the dying embers of a fire?—

Before it imploded, scattering rock and moondust in the darkness of their galaxy.

From their seat among the Stars in their spaceship, Kiton watched his home planet explode. Vesperin stood by his side—always.

The bluish-purple surface of the planet was dotted with darkness. Its time had come to an end.

Like all things, even a planet must die.

Clouds of nebulous gas rippled as the planet shook, then shattered, exploding outward with chunks of debris, hurtling through space, along with a million lost lives and dreams.

Their ship was far enough away that it didn’t hit them immediately.

"Kiton." Rin’s voice was tinged with fear and such deep sadness, his heart broke.

He had saved her from so much in this life—found her when she was a slave, forced to mine minerals in the deep caves oftheir home planet, Veltryss. As the son of a baron, Kit was not lacking in jewels and coin; he had stolen enough from his father to buy Rin and her parents’ freedom. Given her parents a safe place to stay, while he and Rin had been forced to hide from his father’s wrath.

Leading them to their lonesome life in the Stars as lowly transport merchants.

But Kit did not think he could save her from this.

This was it. Death.