Page 83 of Bonds of Starfall

Cyrus smirked. "It doesn’t have to be feeding, doll. I can make you feel good, remember. And this time, I won’t be so consumed with hunger." His voice dropped to a growl.

"N-no, thank you." Rin turned, fleeing the bathroom. She could do without a shower today.

The Echosword gleamedin her hands, and she stood with her feet apart on the mat, shoulders back and chin held high.

"Good," Wyla said calmly. She was tall and lithe, with platinum hair.

Rin struck out again, feeling the zing of the blades meeting travel up her arms. Her body twisted at the perfect angle, years of honed grace behind every move, making sword-wielding appear effortless.

Her Echosword had a sleek black pommel, the tiniest of diamonds glittering in the hilt—a soft bit of beauty among the lethality of the silver blade.

When her arms shook from exhaustion, sweat pouring down her back, Rin dropped the sword.

Wyla wiped sweat from her brow. "Good job, Vesperin. Maybe you’re not so bad," she joked.

Rin got the feeling the girl wasn’t talking about her swordsmanship. "Thanks for meeting me, Wyla."

"Anytime. Not many use Echoswords. It’s nice to practice."

Every time Rin held her gun, she thought of Kit. How he had bought her first gun for her, taking her to the range when they were younger and teaching her how to shoot.

On the other side of the training room, Keir pummeled a black punching bag, sweat drenching the back of his Academy-issued shirt. His grunts filled the room.

Wyla and Rin walked to the benches. Rin grabbed her water and sat with a sigh. She desperately needed a shower.

She hoped Cyrus wasn’t in there again. It was hard enough to keep her privacy, let alone trying to shower when he seemed to love the water so much, pleased to lie in the cramped bath for hours. He was lucky she didn’t have to pay the water bill.

He had been staying with her for almost a week now. It was nearing the weekend, and her appointment with Lucien was tomorrow.

She grabbed her phone from her bag, taking a long drink of water as she scrolled through her notifications.

One missed call from Sabine. Rin grimaced. She’d been avoiding her adoptive parents since her return from her mission—really, since she left to stay with Lucien. Maybe she resented them—couldn’t look at them without thinking of Kit.

Her lower stomach flipped when she saw a message from Lucien.Have you eaten yet? And taken your pills? Don’t forget, you have an appointment with me tomorrow.The message was strictly professional, save for the small heart at the end.

Yes and yes. Thank you.I’ll see you tomorrow.Rin added her own heart at the end.

The stethoscope wascool against her bare chest.

"Breathe deeply for me," Lucien murmured.

Rin did, the exam bed crinkling beneath her thighs as she shifted.

"Again," he prodded. Her next inhale made her chest catch. Lucien stilled, green eyes peering at her from behind his glasses. "It’s a little irregular. I know the answer, Vesperin, but you’ve still not been sleeping well at the dorm?"

Rin shook her head. He did know—but notwhy. It was hard to sleep when harboring an incubus Prince…

All pretenses of professionalism went out the window as Lucien settled a hand on her bare knee. Her dark skirt had ridden up, revealing pale skin. His gaze dropped, hand enveloping her knee entirely, and she shivered at the feel of him. How long were they going to dance around each other and pretend they didn’t want more?

"It’s an open invitation—you can stay at my apartment. Call me anytime, and I’ll come get you. I know your roommate hasn’tbeen staying there. I cannot imagine the quiet has helped you," he observed.

But ithasn’tbeen quiet. Not with Cyrus.

But she couldn’t tell Lucien any of this.

"I’m only there to sleep. I’ve been working hard on my training to make up for all the time I missed." Rin trained constantly, always sore.

"Another thing. We already discussed this, Vesperin. You’re to pace yourself. Your body isn’t up to task the same as your peers. I know you hate to hear it, but it’s a fact. It’s not weak," Lucien added when he saw the way she stared at her knees. His finger notched under her chin, lifting her face to his. "You’re the strongest person I know."