Chapter 132: Lumen

Wednesday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.

LUMEN SAT ON THE curb next to Aspen and pulled her close. Aspen buried her face against Lumen's shoulder as her slight body shook with all the pent up fear, anger, grief. Everything she'd been dealing with. Alone.

Max met her gaze over Aspen's head. There was a barely contained fury in his eyes and the desire to see the whole world burned to the ground. It made Lumen think of how she'd come to meet the boy next door. How the kids had talked about why Lumen's family had to move. She'd been picked on because of her father's indiscretion. Until a skinny boy with a sharp chin and a buzz cut stood in front of her and told the other kids to stop.

He'd become her hero the first day they met. The core of who he was hadn't changed. Max might have made the decision to take a different path in life, but that didn't change who he was on a base level. He was still a fierce protector.