“I don’t want to wake them.”

A familiar voice from the kitchen startled Tameka. She spent the hour since Sagan left trying to fall back asleep, but anxiety and anticipation kept her awake. Throwing off the light cotton sheet, she sat on her cot and strained for any confirmation the voice wasn’t a dream.

Sagan argued, “Rayne, they’ll be happy to see you.”

Not a dream! Tameka bolted up and ran on her tiptoes to the kitchen. She wanted private hugs and tears, and then they could wake the rest.

The Lt. General asked her superior, “What will we do with Kyle?”

Tameka stopped in her tracks. Kyle failed on his watch, and Xelan paid for it. He betrayed the Shadow, and Rayne paid for it. What will they do with Kyle? She had a few ideas, and they all ended with a beheading.

She rounded the corner into the kitchen. Rayne glowed. Physically lit the room. Quite frankly, she looked amazing. The memory of the last time she laid eyes on their General crushed her heart. Tears spilled from Tameka’s lashes, and a sob broke from her chest.

Both girls whirled around. Sagan dropped her sizable burden—that would be Kyle—to the floor.

Keeping the volume low, the redhead’s voice squeezed out, “Rayne.”

Rayne covered her mouth with both hands—the left and the right—and she choked on fresh tears. “Tameka.” She rushed over, reached out, and stopped short like she malfunctioned. She stared at her hands and flexed them as if testing their mobility.

Sagan watched intently while monitoring their charge. Her expression closed off with a hint of anger.

“What is it?” Tameka made to brush away the other girl’s tears. At the look on Rayne’s face, she let her hand fall back to her side. Tight, uncomfortable, scared. Physical contact terrified her. The Sovereign Ambassador scanned her General’s face, posture, and how she carried herself. Under the scrutiny, Rayne’s eyes widened, allowing more tears to fall.

Nox stole her away. Drugged. No one to stop him. No one to save her.

Tameka’s lips flattened into a tight line as she shook her head back and forth. Tears fell for the loss they shared, and the one Rayne suffered all alone. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.” It hurt not to hug her, to rock her, and to tell her everything would be okay. The most welcome of lies.

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Sagan peered between the two of them, confused. Did she not know? She made the wrong assumption and said, “I know Xelan’s loss—”

Fire. Rayne’s eyes blazed at the mention of his name. Heat roiled off her skin like the sun. The light from her expanded into the next room.

Lynn cried out in the common room as the rest stirred.

Their leader turned that gaze to Tameka and spoke in three bizarre pitches, “Xelan wants you to know he loves you.”

Sagan recoiled and backed over Kyle. He shouted out incoherently.

Tameka clasped her hands to her mouth to stifle her cry. Her insides twisted with yearning. She choked, “How—”

Lynn burst into the room. “What’s going—Oh my god. Rayne! Everyone! Rayne’s back.”

Pablo and Tumu rushed behind her. Bones hid in the back of the crowd. Pehton stood watch outside.

Rayne continued as if she waited for them to arrive, “He misses everyone.”

A few people exchanged confused glances, but not Tumu. He stared at Rayne with naked terror.

Without any more words, Rayne spun on her heel and walked to Kyle. He groaned and muttered something to her. She lifted him by his ragged collar and punched him square in the jaw. Knocked that boy out.

A collective gasp swept through the room.

And then Tameka understood. Somehow she got the message loud and clear. As if he stood behind Rayne grinning with a shake of his head at how ridiculously she executed his last request, Xelan’s presence filled Tameka with the most beautiful warmth. She threw her head back and laughed, gasping for air all the while. She held her belly and made sure one hand covered their unborn son. She need not ask how Rayne communicated with him. Anything was possible with those two.

Rayne dropped the young man to the floor as if it burned her to touch him.

Sagan broke into a wide smile and said, “For Xelan.”

“For Xelan!” Tameka shouted.

Rayne’s Atramentous faded as the emotional portion of the reunion ended. “For Xelan.”

After a pause, Pehton shouted from the common room, “What the hell is going on?”

Tumu finally constructed a mask to cover his Rayne phobia. “Pehton, come meet General Callahan.”

She headed into the kitchen. “Oh, this will be—” Stopping in the crowded doorway, her dark face scrunched into a pretty frown.

Shocked and excited, Rayne cried out, “You’re a Lyrik! Xelan told me about your people. It’s nice to meet you.”

After examining Rayne from head to toe, Pehton asked, “Where did you learn to make our armor?”

Their outfits were similar. Both blue leather and scant. Sagan sat on the floor. Lynn and Pablo followed suit. Tonight stretched on into the morning and might stretch into tomorrow.

Rayne’s smile faded, and she shrugged. “Instinct.”

Pehton turned to Tumu. “I need to talk to you. Now.” She swept away, and the front entry shut behind her.

Tumu gave an apologetic shrug. “Be right back.” He took one step out before pausing. He didn’t look back as he added, “Sagan. I’d like to speak with you soon regarding how our General suddenly appeared in the cabin.”

Sagan winced, and Tameka shook her head as he left.

Rayne took in the room and frowned. “Where is everyone else?”

Lynn groaned.

Pablo shook his head.

Sagan popped her neck. “Let’s start from your abduction, and Tameka’s encounter with Celindria.”