Chapter 10
KING
Rin and Cyrus walked down the quiet streets.
Cyrus wore a dark hoodie, pulled tight over his head to conceal his face. He kept close to her side, even though she was the one who had weapons; though, with his withering, he was the predator between them. Rin often forgot just how dangerous the incubus could be.
She breathed in the fresh air, feeling the lack of winter’s chill. It was almost too warm for this time of year—almost spring.
Her steps quickened, as if she wished to outrun time.
Outside the Academy gates, the flickering lamps cast wavering shadows over the pristine sidewalks. She coughed lightly, her throat still itching.
Cyrus grabbed her hand, stretching her fingers out as he laced their palms together. "Okay, doll?" He kept his voice low, even though they were the only two out.
It wasn’t unusual to see trainees in this area after curfew, coming back or going out on assignment.
Or even like Rin and Cyrus, hunting down one of the twenty-four-hour, unmanned convenience stores, where surveillance cameras tracked who entered and what items they bought, immediately charging the credits to their accounts.
"I’m fine, just thirsty." She couldn’t help but infuse a bit of sensuality into her tone, her words stalling as she saw two Hunters approaching across the street. "Keep your head down."
"Hiding like this… am I your dirty little secret, doll? Do you like stealing away with me?"
"Be quiet already, Cy." Her words didn’t come easily. Everything still felt a little too fuzzy at the edges, and she felt an urgency nip at her heels.
Up ahead, the brightly lit convenience store beckoned.
The sliding doors were closed, but she knew they’d open in just a second, once they got a little closer.
She tugged him onward. On the other side of the glass windows, she saw rows of snacks and the refrigerated section that boasted energy-boosting coffees or strengthening teas.
The doors slid open, a puff of cold air blowing her hair away from her face.
"Come on, let’s go. I want to try one of those coffees," she said.
Cyrus’s fingers flexed around hers. He made a strange sound, just as she registered footsteps behind them. Too fast to be walking steadily.
She turned, finding the two Hunters she’d seen earlier sprinting toward them with agile speed.
"Cyrus!" Rin gasped.
He shoved her behind him, and her back bumped into the doors, which slowly slid shut.
"Stay the fuck away!" he growled.
Rin jolted. She had never heard him sound so angry before.
The Hunters were tall and built with strength.
One was clearly a woman, thick, dark curls tumbling over her shoulders, obscuring her face from Rin.
She moved far too quickly for Rin to keep up, especially with her lingering exhaustion.
She’d be no use in a fight. She was still sore between her thighs from earlier. Dammit!
"Come with us now, and we won’t force you," the female Hunter said.
Cyrus shouldered in front of Rin, shielding her. "No. I made my decision—now leave."
The man spoke, his voice a purr almost. "Who is this? Protecting a little human? Really? He would be ashamed of how far you’ve fallen."
Rin studied Cyrus’s back as he spoke. She swore the shadows above seemed to swell, pressing down upon her. "She is none of your concern. Now leave." Cyrus reached back, grabbing Rin’s hand. He squeezed once—hard, as if to warn her to run.
"Have it your way then," said the female.
A metallic clink rang out. Rin moved back from behind Cyrus just in time to see the Hunter throw a black cylindrical object in the air.
It hovered, whirring, then spun out, dark rope lashing out.
Something caught around Rin, tightening until she couldn’t breathe.
Her arms were pinned to her sides, the rope cutting into her as she struggled.
When Rin looked up, she saw that the male Hunter was gone, and Cyrus was held captive by the ropes, too. Anger burned in his purple eyes as red dotted the air.
"Don’t make me wither you," Cyrus spat.
Why wasn’t he? Rin wondered.
A fabric suddenly pressed into Rin’s mouth. She struggled, holding her breath as a sickly sweet scent filled her lungs, burning, burning.
She barely heard Cyrus curse and scream her name before she tilted, cheek slamming against the pavement. She saw a flash of purple eyes before she knew nothing else.
Her arms hurt, stretched uncomfortably behind her as her sockets strained. Her neck hurt, too. A crick from an odd angle. Strange. She usually slept with her face pressed tightly to the pillow, hands tucked beneath her chin and legs pulled up to her chest, making herself as small as possible.
Groggily, she blinked and felt her lashes brush something thick before her. It was still dark, no matter if her eyes were open or closed.
Her head pounded fiercely, and she couldn’t help the weak moan that escaped her as she tried to move. She felt her body and realized she was sitting upright, arms locked behind her, chin digging into her chest. That explained the discomfort.
Her fingers twitched at her back, and she felt them brush something warm and familiar—fingers that had been inside her.
Rin gasped, eyes wide behind the fabric that covered them as she tried to tap Cyrus’s fingers and get his attention. Her nails scratched his palm.
"Cyrus?" she whispered quietly, then cringed, afraid the room wasn’t empty. But nothing happened, so she said his name again and again, all while tapping against his fingers.
He didn’t awaken.
She didn’t know how long she sat there, but her arms went numb, pins and needles prickling from the way they were forced back. This was too similar to when she’d been taken by Kit. What if it was him again?
Rin grew overcome by fear, hearing nothing but the uneven beats of her heart and staccato breaths.
She didn’t like this, didn’t want to be here. She was scared. She had no trouble admitting it—would do so freely, if only to be saved and have somewhere safe to go. A chest to fall into.
Her mind conjured the image of Lucien, unbidden. This time, he wasn’t the only one. She thought of Auren’s arms; they’d feel secure wrapped around her.
A heavy presence filled the room.
Atlas detested her fear.
He had to lead her out, lead her to this—all so what was going to happen next could unfold. It did not make it any easier, knowing she felt afraid because he had let this happen.
The small meeting room was utterly vacant, except for Vesperin and her incubus Soulbond.
The Celestial crouched before her, placing his palms on his knees. She wore fleece pants that he imagined would feel so soft.
He let his pinky trace over her clothed knee, and she inhaled shakily, teeth digging into her lower lip, red from the worrying her teeth had done.
"Is someone there? Hello?" Vesperin whispered gently. Her white hair was tangled around the edges of the blindfold, a strand sticking to her lips as she spoke.
Atlas felt her breath against his face, and he let his lips part, wanting her breath inside him, too. It was sweet.
With adoration, Atlas tapped against her knee, watching her shiver.
"Kit?" Her voice trembled.
The sound of footsteps echoed from beyond the doors of the room. Atlas straightened quickly, and Vesperin’s legs jerked, as if sensing him.
The door clicked, then was slowly pushed open. Atlas sank into the shadows.
Rin struggled to breathe as the footsteps approached. They were stiff, yet not as even or measured as Kit’s had been. There was a faint stumbling sound, then a clatter, as if someone had dropped something.
Then she felt another presence right before her. This one was different than the one that had just been here, a fact she knew in her bones.
A hand touched her cheek… then her blindfold was ripped away. She squinted into the dimness of the room, blinking up at whoever was before her.
A woman stood, her dark hair falling in thick curls over her shoulders.
She wore fitted dark pants with holsters along the sides, buckling at her stomach.
A deep green jacket billowed open, revealing her black bodysuit beneath—sensuality exuded from her.
Rin looked straight up into the woman’s purple eyes with a gasp.
"Who are you? Why did you take us?" Rin forced out, each word making her temples throb.
A door opened behind her, and Rin saw only a glimpse of a gilded hallway before it shut again. A man—an incubus—stepped in, dressed similarly to the succubus. He had deep brown hair, and his golden nose ring glinted beneath the low lights in the room.
"Is he awake yet?" he asked.
"I was getting to that, Volik." The succubus rolled her eyes, then settled her gaze back on Rin. "I can see why he’d try to protect you. You’re gorgeous."
Rin hadn’t expected to be hit on in captivity. "What—"
"You can stop playing pretend now, Prince. We all know you’re awake," the succubus said.
Rin’s eyes widened as Cyrus made a low sound behind her. His fingers brushed her palm. She tried to turn her head to look at him, but could barely see from the angle. He was tied to a chair right behind her.
The incubus, Volik, stepped forward. The chair groaned as he hooked his hand in the back, pulling Cyrus up beside Rin. She finally could look at him.
The blindfold was pushed down to Cyrus’s neck, eyes a deep purple as he stared at her. "You’re not hurt?"
Rin shook her head. "You?"
"No, nothing like I plan to do to them for this."
The succubus laughed. "You’ve been a hard incubus to catch. We’ve tracked you everywhere. You’ve had us chasing you all over—from here, to Lunar City, and back again. And for what this time? A human girl?"
Realization hit Rin slowly, then all at once, nearly stealing her breath.
The woman had looked familiar to her, after all.
The purple eyes, the wild curls. "You were on the news," Rin breathed, and all three of them looked at her.
"In Lunar City, you were on the news. They interviewed you after the—"