Page 81 of Bonds of Starfall

"Just a few minutes," Cyrus answered, falling back when Rin reluctantly pressed a hand to his shoulder and shoved him away. She swallowed at the brief feel of him under her palm. "Is that… the Nova?" Serious again.

"Yeah, it is. Sometimes my heart rate gets too high, and I pass out. Tachycardia is the biggest side effect of the Nova. The doctors say it’s localized in my heart, but it’s everywhere, really." She shrugged a shoulder.

Cyrus’s throat worked. "Why are you acting like this is nothing new?"

"Because it’s not." Rin stared him down. "I’ve lived with this for five years, and I’ll keep living with it until I die." She wanted him to understand. This incubus Prince who followed her to Earth, kneeling, claiming they were fated.

"This isn’t normal, Vesperin. None of this is. You were supposed to see me, touch me, and remember. We were supposed to run away together." Sitting back on her bed, Cyrus looked up at her from under his lashes. "You weren’t supposed to run away from me."

"I didn’t run from you." But she had, hadn’t she? "I ran from a ghost." She was still slightly groggy from passing out, but her heart didn’t thump so dangerously, returning to normal. She stood, the petals of the forget-me-nots brushing her arm as she grabbed the picture with her and Kit, from before the accident. They were standing on his front lawn, surrounded by flowers and perfectly cut grass. It had been his birthday party. Rin had been the only guest.

She handed the photo to Cyrus, unable to look.

"Is this your family?" he asked, taking the picture and staring at it closely.

"In a way," she replied secretively. "A little over a month ago, um, there was a death. He died on a mission to Sibeth. The same mission I took. I thought if I followed in his footsteps, I could getover my grief, but it didn’t help. I think it just… made it worse," she said, voice soft.

Cyrus traced the shape of her face in the photo, elegant finger drifting to Kit’s. He seemed to understand she didn’t want to talk about this, so he nodded. "I’m sorry. I hate that that’s what it took for us to meet."

"Don’t distract me," she warned brokenly, shaking off her lingering grief and drowsiness. Lucien would be back soon. She expected a knock at any time. Her phone lay discarded on the bed; unlocking it, she found the notice still posted on her home screen. "You never told me you were the Prince."

He appeared sheepish. "Most recognize me, anyway. But why didn’t you?"

"It was dark," Rin said.

And she didn’t keep up with the royals on other planets. Not like the other girls who often took trips to Sibeth, especially in hopes of winning the eligible Prince’s attention. Rin had heard the stories. He was a troublemaker, constantly in the news for his exploits. Getting drunk and making a fool of himself in public. He was an untamable force. She couldn’t come to terms with the fact that they could be Soulbonds.

She didn’t know why she felt like he was telling the truth. She just did. She had felt drawn to him from the moment their eyes had locked. Never mind the fact that he knew her name without her ever even saying it, knew her Stella, and knew she hadn’t been born with white hair and grey eyes.

Cyrus hummed. "So, what now?"

That was the question.

"I don’t suppose you’d go back to Sibeth and leave me here?"

His purple eyes drifted down her body. "You’re stuck with me, doll. Forever."

"Do you have somewhere to stay?"

She knew his answer before he spoke:

"Sibeth coin doesn’t translate well to your dollar. Besides, I’m a wanted male." He grinned salaciously. "If my father finds out I’m here… let’s just say we want him nowhere near Earth—or you."

A threat was tucked between his words. But not at her. Almost as if he were gearing up to defend heragainsthis father, the King of Sibeth.

Rin sighed, knowing where this was headed. "Stay here. With me." She felt her cheeks warm as he stared at her intently. "It’s not like you can go anywhere else. And you’ll be safer here with me than out there. I have a roommate, Xara, but she’s not around much anymore. We’ll still have to be careful."

"Because of your lover?" Cyrus purred.

"Lucien’s not my lover, but…"

From outside her closed bedroom door, down the hall, a hollow knock sounded. He was back.

Cyrus unfurled from her bed, arms stretching above his head, cozy hoodie riding up to reveal a pale strip of his lean stomach. "The man himself." He made for the door.

She snapped out of it, moving to stand before him. "Where are you going?"

"To speak with the human who wants you, of course."