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“That isn’t Luminary,” Ryneth said under his breath.

“No,” Daven said, already moving. “Sure as hell isn’t.”

The craft lowered behind the building, its black hull swallowing what little light reached the graveyard as dust lifted in a tight ring and the landing struts locked into place with a muted impact.

Daven caught Ryneth by the wrist and pulled him closer. “Stay with me.”

Ryneth stepped in without hesitation, close enough that their shoulders brushed. Something between them tightened as both of them fixed on the shuttle.

The hatch began to open.

22

RYNETH

“They’re here,” Ryneth whispered.

His fingers tightened around Daven’s hand hard enough for the rings to bite into his skin.

Concordant.

Static broke loose under his skin before he could stop it. Air slid over the inside of his forearm, then his throat. Daven.

“Take a deep breath, baby,” Daven murmured.

Ryneth tried, but his chest locked anyway. “Do you think they came for me?”

The words left him raw.

Daven squeezed his hand. “No. And even if they did, they’ll fuck off empty-handed. You are not for sale, Ryneth. You never were.”

“You took me anyway,” Ryneth snarled, though his clattering teeth stole most of the venom.

Daven just grinned. “That’s right, aethera. I took you, then branded you with my soul so you can never leave again.”

Black boots appeared first. Then the coats, black and tailored, with handguns resting at their hips.

Weapons that had killed people Ryneth knew.

Ryneth held his breath. His eyes stung from dryness as he watched the first masked figure step down.

“I know that man,” Ryneth whispered. “He’s the one who put me in that cage.”

For one sick second, he was back inside it, metal under his hands and nowhere to run.

Static tore through him so hard his vision blurred.

He lurched forward, then caught himself, nails digging into Daven’s rings hard enough to hurt. His breath came too fast, his body already bracing for something that hadn’t happened yet.

“Why is he here now?”

Daven stepped in front of him, shoulders locking as his fingers tightened around Ryneth’s hand. “Who cares. If he so much as looks at you, he’ll have the honor of dying first.”

Ryneth pulled wildly at Daven’s hand. “Stay here! Don’t—” Static crackled across his skin and snapped at the air between them. “Don’t go near him.”

Daven faced him, his ember eyes flaring with anger. Cupping his face, those ringed fingers were surprisingly cool as he kept Ryneth there, facing him. “Listen to me. No one’s going to hurt you. I won’t let them. Do you understand, baby?”

Ryneth could only stare at him. His mind had turned into a stuffed room, memories scattered everywhere.