Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing…

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Seventy-eight hours until maximum destabilization.

Left in his custody, Tumu allowed Rayne to stand with Sagan on the tarmac. Tameka stood opposite for physical support. The Eminents and Pehton climbed into the plane with Korac in their custody. The longing for Sagan in the Icarus’ eyes twinged Rayne’s heart. Jealousy wasn’t the right word. She was happy Sagan knew this kind of love. Rayne wished she could give more.

A whistle drew her attention out of her downward spiral. Abresson caught her gaze and winked at her as he ascended the gangway.

Iuo climbed up last. He glared at Abresson before whispering to Rayne, “I kept it on record.” He nodded and boarded.

Tameka asked, “He recorded what Abresson said to you after the trial, Rayne?”

Her Progeny sister never missed a thing. She guessed Rayne’s secret the moment she returned from the Complex. Mercifully, she never pushed for details.

The pale girl stared at the Tritan’s back as she answered low enough Sagan couldn’t hear, “That after seeing me in person, he ‘appreciated Nox’s impulsive, yet inelegant brutality’ of me. And I was lucky he wasn’t interested in Icarean leftovers.”

“I’ll kill him,” the redhead promised.

“Not yet.”

The plane took off for the Enki conduit. Tameka opened her arms, and Sagan rushed in for a tight hug. Rayne waited for Tumu to reach them before she acknowledged, “Officer of the Third.”

Tumu handed Night Killer to her. “I want you to know, I don’t condone what they said about you or Xelan.”

“You didn’t defend us during the Tribunal.”

He looked away. “It’s more complicated than you can understand.”

Rayne’s eyes flashed with the sun, and Tumu flinched. “Never tell me what I am and am not capable of understanding.” She extended the staff.

He took hold of it, followed by Tameka and Sagan. “You’re right. Today taught me many things I once thought impossible were not only possible, but were happening all along.”

Tameka stared hard at him. “You didn’t expect Celindria to be there.”

Sagan looked incredulous. “Or alive, even.”

Tumu looked down into Rayne’s eyes. “No. I would have told him.”

Xelan. And Rayne believed the Tritan. A change affected him. His posture, his gaze, his voice. He was sad. Rayne broke into a grin that set him back. “Don’t worry, Tumu. We got this.”

All three girls grinned at each other. Certain. Strong. Capable. The desert disappeared, replaced with a landscaped roundabout. The concrete and steel sign read “Iona-29.”

Cheers thundered through the parking lots. Oh, the sweet smell of char-grilled meat. They turned and found enormous tables set out with burgers, ribs, chicken, all manner of sides and breads. Deserts. Rayne spotted a chocolate cheesecake and salivated.

Sagan moaned. “Is that ice cream? I could use some.”

Tameka laughed at Lynn, pointing at a huge bowl of sweet potato mash. Pablo grinned beside her with a plate heaping full.

Chris and Karter set down tongs at a grill with Jack waving nearby.

Matt and Lucy shared feasting space with Colton and Six. Sporting bib napkins, they beamed at the girls.

Cypher and Smith carried trays heaping with ribs to the tables, with Bones distributing them.

Caedes sat across from John, who waved at the spots he saved for each of them at one large table.

Andrew’s warm voice from behind made them turn, “Welcome home, King of Earth and Cinder, General of the Progeny army, and Sovereign Ambassador of the Two Worlds.” He nodded to Tumu. “Officer of the Third.”

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Kyle stepped out with a joint to his lips. “You fuckers finally back? We’ve been waiting on you to eat.”

Lucas pushed him through the doorway. “Go make your plate at the kiddie table.”

Warmth and love flooded through Rayne and threatened to choke tears out of her. The most joyous and grateful of tears. Elden, she needed a hug.

Unable to express her happiness any other way, Rayne let everything onto the outside. Light poured from her with little twinkles of gold. The aroma of sand, ocean, and cotton candy filled the air. Tears streamed from her Atramentous eyes. She smiled wide and cried hard.

They won.

“I’m so full, I might puke. No, wait. I might pass out first. Then I might puke,” Kyle groaned in the rumpus room.

Andrew patted his full stomach. “Yup. That’s where I’m headed.”

Tameka braided Sagan’s hair. The blond girl sat staring into space. She idly fidgeted with a loose thread in the blanket on the poofy couch. Her last word was an hour ago: “mhmm.” If that even counted.

Rayne wanted to touch her so badly. To hold Sagan while she cried for all the trauma she endured throughout the day. Hell, to seek comfort for herself. But she couldn’t, and now she wanted to tell them why.

“I asked you here because you’re the most important people in my life,” Rayne started.

Both Kyle and Andrew sat up as if that allowed them to listen better.

Tameka kept braiding. “We love you, too, King of Earth and Cinder.” She tossed a cheeky grin Rayne’s way.

It was infectious. Rayne shook her head to drop it. This was serious. “I know you watched the trial, and you don’t want to talk about it. But I have to tell you the real reason I chose the Martyr Complex. Why I can’t touch you.”

Sagan perked up then. Tameka tied the braid off, and both girls sat forward to listen.

“What the Tritans did to me to fight Nox… They made me into a Weapon.”

The redhead narrow her eyes, and the blond frowned. Kyle and Andrew glanced at one another.

“My nacre sends me messages like a heads-up display. You know? Like a video game.” They nodded for her to go on. “Tells me when I’m engaging combat. How long it should last. But it also tells me I only have so long before I destabilize.”

Brows shot up at that one.

“It’s like a fuse that I can refill. Elapsed time and non-combative touch expends it.” She swallowed hard to say the rest. “Pain—received and dealt—replenishes it. That’s all I know so far.”

A sniffle broke through the silence. Tameka rubbed circles on Sagan’s back as she wiped away a tear. “Sorry. Long day. Thank you for telling us.”

Andrew stared hard at Rayne before asking, “Do you know the limit of this fuse?”

Rayne licked her lips. “Three and a half days.”

Kyle’s eyes went wide as he whistled. “Wow.”

“I can’t believe they fucking did this to you,” Tameka growled.

Andrew asked the next hard question, “Rayne, what happens in three and a half days?”

Quietly, she answered, “I watched it happen to Nox. He was the only other Weapon they created. If I don’t inflict or receive pain in the next seventy-four hours, I destroy both spheres. And…” She drew a shaky breath. “God damn it, I wish I could hug you.” Collapsing to her knees, she sobbed into her hands.

They all approached her, careful not to touch.

In a mom-voice Rayne really appreciated, Tameka promised, “We will undo this. But until then, we love you. We’ll be here for you.”

Choked on the tears, Rayne begged, “Please don’t tell my brother. I had to tell you because I know you understand what this life is like. But it stops with you four. No one else needs to know.”

“I promise,” Tameka said.

Kyle zipped his lips.

Andrew nodded.

Sagan peered at her, “Why you? You’ve done so much already.”

Rayne shook her head. “That brings me to the next reason I brought you here. Our work isn’t done.”

“It most certainly is not,” Tameka rallied.

She filled Andrew and Kyle in about Celindria living in Enki as an Eminent with the First Wave Progeny in her custody.

Andrew shook his head. “That is a worst-case scenario.”

Kyle growled, “We have to do something.”

Rayne promised, “We will. This is so much bigger than we think. Sagan?”

“Yes, your majesty?”

Kyle snickered, and Tameka rolled her eyes.

“Wow… I don’t know if I want to get used to that or not—but anyway. I have a feeling you won’t mind investigating Gait for me.”

Sagan’s eyes glittered. “Go on.”

“I don’t like the pain market business. Find out who Razor is and how he knew Xelan. And I want to know Pehton’s story.” Rayne nodded to Kyle. “The tech they used for my pain memories makes me think it involves Imminent. Can you handle this?”

“Tall order, sire, but I’m your girl.” Sagan threw in a little extra sultry with her grin.

Kyle waved his hand in Rayne’s face, ruining the distraction. “You need a minute?”

Andrew chuckled, and Tameka swatted him.

Recovered from her momentary lapse into hormone land, Rayne turned to Andrew and Kyle, “We also need to find out who gave away our location for the Icarean ambush on Cinder.”

Kyle offered, “Celindria?”

“No, but I think she had the same source. Enki.”

“But I don’t believe it was Tumu.” Tameka offered. “I don’t think he would put Xelan in such a vulnerable position.”

“You want this one, Tameka?” Rayne asked.

The redhead licked her lips and hesitated just long enough for Rayne to notice. “Yea. I kinda planned to spend sometime there after we finished the battle. You know… being an ambassador.”

Rayne searched her sister. Tameka’s pulse changed. “Okay. Take any back-up you need. Andrew and Kyle? You’re on screening duty while I’m gatekeeping in my sleep.” Although she tried for light, they all winced. “Look, guys. You have to let me find a way to talk about this that doesn’t exacerbate the dread. I’m doing a good thing, and I’m keeping myself from destabilizing. It’s all I can manage right now.”

Andrew smiled then. “You’re doing great, King Rayne. We just love you, and we hate—”

“We hate that we can’t kick their asses right now for what they’ve done. But we promise you, Rayne…” Kyle looked around the circle of their family. “Together, we’ll make them pay.”

Rayne locked eyes with each member of her family. An objective. A mission, even. They would not stop until the Tritans answered for their crimes.

“You’re my family. You’re the only reason I can do this. I know you’ll protect these worlds while I bridge them together.”