Matt watched their leader shape the new worlds. In his periphery, Lucy glowed. Not an inch of her clear of blood, despite the rain. Reflecting on how she began the journey, he admired the woman she became. So intelligent, so beautiful. Admittedly, she was always those things. But now she was capable. Of so much and so much more than he knew.
With a smile, she turned to him. He glanced back at the sky with a small smile. Caught looking again. Hooking an arm around his, the acceptance she showed him since Fair ignited all kinds of instincts. The kind that tested his iron-clad control. The woman knew all the right buttons to press, too.
Matt smirked. He liked it.
The sun in Rayne’s eyes flared as her wings expanded, glittering with gold. The voice which possessed hers faded and left Rayne’s in three pitches.
“I am Rayne, the third King of Cinder and the first of Earth.”
Every Icarus grunted. Starting with Kyle, a wave overtook the Collective soldiers. They pounded their fists to the chests over their nacres. Matt and Lucy joined with a sly glance at one another. No need to subject Tumu to more paperwork.
“I have defeated Nox.”
Cheers, shouts, cries, hollers—Any and every kind of celebration imaginable erupted in a joyous chorus.
“But my work isn’t done.” The sounds calmed down as she continued, “We must restore Earth. To do that, we’ll need Icarean aid. In return, we grant them asylum on Earth. Their planet is dying. They need us—the people of the human race—to work with them for a better future.
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“Screenings are mandatory. The Progeny will screen your memories and your intentions at the conduit before emigration. We will also screen anyone from the entire Vast Collective requesting involvement in our affairs. These screenings are also mandatory.
“This brings us to the bureaucracy. We need leadership and guidance. I designate The Brethren as the governing body of both worlds. Historically tied between the two, they have a better understanding of the diplomacy it takes to reach mutually beneficial terms.
“Cooperate. Rebuild. Carry the optimism of today’s victory into the future.”
The last she sang:
“I became Li in my victory. The light of her is within me. With it, keep the shield.
“When the time comes, the light will crush the darkness which must then also be consumed.
“So within eternity I will watch and guide from below. Keep the light burning.
“Make me proud.”
Rayne’s image faded from the sky. All around, people cheered and hugged. Some even cried. Caedes, John, Andrew, and many others shouted down a few enemy Icari.
Caedes clasped two. “Hey, hey! We have to arrest you until The Brethren qualify the definition of a war criminal.”
“Yea, let me check you out.” Andrew placed his hand on the first man’s forehead.
Lucas tied another soldier’s hands behind his back. “I know you can break these bonds, but it would show good faith if you didn’t.”
More enemy Icari were arrested. Many bodies were removed from the battlefield. Either piled onto the big crawler or carried away in the arms of a flying ally.
Lucy peered up at Matt, “I wonder if the guys will give us a pass on the screening?”
Matt shrugged. “They won’t find anything. We’ve only acted in the name of good.” He smirked back down at her. “Haven’t we?”
Roughly, she pulled him to her by his shirt. Quiet, sexy, she teased an excellent idea, “Race you to a dead alien.”
The blond woman took off, and Matt wondered if he grew her in a lab or something before chasing after Lucy.