Bones set Pablo next to John, and Caedes left Lynn with them before both Icari went to their knees in the mud. Andrew rubbed a circle in Lucas’ back as he, too, knelt for Rayne. Pablo wasn’t certain, but he thought the Icarus wept for her.

Lynn looked back to him and reached out her hand. Pablo took it. Watching their close friend—their savior—sing a sad hymn about her life while all the Icari half-worshiped her really put things into perspective. Like how fucked this apocalypse continued to get.

“Three billion deaths for Night. Among them, the best outsider. The planet bled. We were mighty and sad.

“Our justice pure. Our warriors righteous. I returned new, and Night promised an end to daylight.

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“The call made. The soldiers ready. We fought for the day. A proud and hopeful people are we.

“Watch us soar.”

A teen in a group of human soldiers whispered, “Who was the ‘best outsider’?”

John stepped over to them. Quiet, but clear, he told a brief and factual account of Xelan’s contributions to this battle and the loss of him.

It left a tightness in Pablo’s chest, but passing on the Icarus’ story was necessary. Before he turned back to Lynn, he caught Caedes nodding approvingly to John. Maybe John found his place in this new world. With a glance at his girl, Pablo thought of his own.

“All that time, Night spurred my loneliness. At my happiness, he grew jealous and violent. Defeated.

“I spent half my life lonely. My family now gone. I ask upon the Progeny to protect these worlds.

“My tears are joyous, not sorrowful. I found a way. I will keep the gate. May our sacrifice be enough.

“Save this world.”

Lynn squeezed Pablo’s hand, and he knew their work wasn’t done.