"Where is Lucas?"
Aldric froze. The color drained from his face. "He's… uh, on a trip—with his friends—"
"Don't lie to me." Lucian's tone was like a blade. He lifted a small device from the desk, the interface lighting up as it connected to the family's private tracking network. "No transport logs. No off-world clearance. No transaction records for over a week." His gaze darkened. "Where is he?!"
Lucian asked again, voice sharp enough to cut through Aldric's excuses. And finally, out of fear, Aldric cracked and said it—
"Lucas is… under treatment."
"Explain."
Aldric swallowed. "He volunteered for Project Ascendency… our next big thing. The genetic and biotic modification program. The—"
Lucian leaned forward. "You what?"
"It's safe," Aldric said quickly. "I've been working with the prototypes myself. The results—"
