“You know I’m always so impressed with how calm you usually are, but right now I find it a little unnerving.” Andrew wanted a cigarette. Or some weed. His fingers worried and frayed one of many braids to occupy his nervous hands.

Lucas sat calmly, staring into their modest fire. “True. While I find your nervous tics quite endearing, I worry the mountain won’t survive your fretting much longer.” He patted his thighs. “Have a seat.”

Andrew almost dismissed it with a chuckle, but on second thought—

“Fuck it.” He straddled his partner and stole a hug with the maneuver. He purred against the Icarus’ hair and took in his spicy scent. “We’re gonna be okay, right?”

Lucas nodded and when he spoke the bass of his voice rumbled against Andrew’s chest. “Yes. Sagan said she’d return with Korac in a few minutes.”

“I’m still having trouble computing that. Of all people to help us, why him? He must have an ulterior motive—”

“I do. And she’s standing right here.”

Fuck. Andrew wanted nothing more than to bury himself in Lucas’ sandy blond hair and never show his face again. Alas, this was not that kind of war. He untangled them, and Lucas stood with him. Andrew tried for a cordial nod to the trademark smirk on the fair-haired Icarus’ face. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, General.”

“We’ll see.”

Sagan intervened, “Okay. Let’s skip the theatrics and go straight to the point. Korac knew Celindria all those years ago. He could help us pinpoint a hiding spot. And he agreed to your terms, Andrew. So, let’s just try to play nice. For the sake of the two worlds?”

Lucas straightened his clothes, clearly missing his lapels. “Yes. I’m sure we can manage to be civil.” He held out a hand to Korac.

Butterflies tied knots in Andrew’s stomach as he watched the bad boy clasp his man’s hand. After one single shake, some tension subsided.

“Right. Have a seat here, Korac, and we’ll test your intentions.” Andrew pointed at their only friendly stump.

As the Icarus crossed the camp for his seat, he asked warily, “How exactly does this work again?”

How much of his ability should Andrew give away? “I can sense your…” Ugh. “Desires isn’t the right word. More your motives for actions. Your intentions.”

“You’re not selling me with your confidence, Progeny.”

“Then you’ll have to settle for the results. Ready?” Andrew placed his hands on either side of Korac’s temples.

The Icarus snarled, “Hey, watch the hair, pretty boy.”

“From you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Lucas cleared his throat behind them, and Korac’s eyes sparkled with mirth. It was a nice look for him, and Andrew certainly saw the appeal for Sagan.

“Close your eyes.”

They both did, and Andrew took a journey into a villain’s heart. He found nobility and love. Kindness. But also pain and malice. He shivered. Regarding their current plans, there were no doubts. Andrew confirmed, “His intentions are genuine.”

Sagan perked up, “Great news—”

“But only his intentions toward you. Everything else is pretty murky. But his feelings for you are very, very clear.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Are you done yet?!” Korac snapped.

Resigned to satisfactory for now, Andrew released them. “I guess your loyalty to her will have to be enough for this mission.”

The fair Icarus bared his fangs in an aggressive smile. “Don’t worry. As long as she’s on your side, you’re safe.”

A heavy, feminine sigh resounded. “Korac… stop terrorizing my family.”

He winked at Andrew, startling him into almost falling on the fire.

Lucas helped steady him. “It’s all right.”

Sagan admonished Korac, “We won’t do this. I don’t want to ask myself how we’ll be together once this war is over, if you can’t get along with the people I care about.”

Andrew and Lucas stopped breathing. The male Progeny croaked, “What?!”

“I’ll behave. They’re just so easy to bait.”

“Curb your predatory instincts until we find where Celindria’s hiding the First Wave Progeny. Can you do that for me, please?”

Korac glanced over at Andrew as he promised Sagan, “Anything for you, Lt. General.”

Andrew thought he lost his damned mind. He looked to Lucas, who shook his head. Wow. Sagan and Korac. Sagac? Kogan? Whatever. Oh, wait until Rayne found out.

“On the subject of the First Wave Progeny, I have an idea of where she might keep them.” He glanced at Sagan. Andrew sensed a shift in his emotions. Something like regret. “T.A.O. was my friend. I think I was her only friend. She helped me through a rough time. We traveled around the Collective and beyond. Just brief excursions.

“But once she took me to a place I never imagined existed. It was a chamber grown into Elden’s sphere. Inside were all the nacre of the sacrificed Coalition members and Elden.”

Sagan’s eyes looked as huge as Andrew’s felt. “How did you know?”

He nodded. “I asked the same thing. But she knew. There was even a pedestal for Umbra’s nacre. It was empty. Everything—the walls, the floor, the pedestal—was made from nacre glass. The same material as the spheres. And it was right there… pressed against Li’s fire. It was…” He shook his head as if still trying to fathom it. “Awe-inspiring.”

Lucas peered at the sky, as if he might spot it, and Andrew squeezed his hand.

Korac stroked his axe as if seeking comfort as he continued, “It was also impossible to reach without a Seamswalker. And if Celindria took the original Progeny, as you suspect, she would take T.A.O. first. The cunt.”

Sagan shot him a glance.

He ducked his gray eyes. “Sorry.”

Wow. She had him whipped.

Lucas nodded to her. “It looks like a mission for you, my dear.”

Korac gazed down at her. “It might take us a few tries. All that time alone together will be nice.”

Andrew clenched his fists. This was too much. “You can shove—”

Lucas interrupted, “Sagan, as your friends, may we ask you to please give us a minute or two alone with the General.”

Sagan glanced between the three of them and rolled her eyes. “Boys.” She stepped into the Seam and hollered back, “Three minutes.”

Korac grinned across the fire at them. “Have at it, gentlemen.”

Lucas went first, “Have you decided whose side you’re on yet?”

“Yes. She’s blond, hot, and would kick your ass for talking about her like she doesn’t have sense enough to know who she wants.”

“She’s too young to appreciate what you are.”

“She has first-hand experience with what I am, and yet—”

Andrew snarled, “She deserves better than a casual murderer.”

“What she deserves and what she wants are separate things and completely her business.”

The all-mighty, pragmatic Lucas promised, “We’ll get along for this mission, but the Tribunal will see to you once we’ve won.”

“Then I will face their judgment, but I value yours at less than nothing.”

“Okay, that’s three minutes.” Sagan stepped back into the campgrounds. “Time to take you two home. Iona-29 wants to meet you.” She turned back to Korac, who disguised all his fury from her. “Do you need a ride?” What a choice in words.

He smirked at her until she flushed. “I’ll take a raincheck, amos. I need to stretch my wings. I was due back at the fortress, anyway. Hey, while we’re working this mission together, I can teach you how to fly. Now that I’ve given you your wings.”

He what? Andrew opened his mouth, “Sagan—”

“Oh, and you don’t want to forget this like last time.” Korac unsheathed the axe on his right hip and tossed it to her. She caught it deftly with a reflexive spin.

“Expect to see me, soon.”

“Always, Lt. General.”

He opened a set of gorgeous black wings and flew off the mountaintop.

“Sagan…”

With her back to them, she held up a hand. “Don’t. I won’t listen. Before—before we lost him, Xelan and I already had this conversation.” She turned and faced them. No shame. Just pure determination. “I love Korac. And you felt that he loves me. What happens when this is over… well… we have to make it through this first. Then we’ll see. I love you both. Please don’t press me on this. I’d hate to leave you here for another week.” She softened her threat with a slight smile.

Lucas stepped around the flames and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take us home. Take us to Rayne and our family.”

She hugged Lucas. And, dammit, Andrew joined the hug. With his eyes closed, he smelled the transition from Cinder to Earth. Ash to fresh air. Still, he didn’t need to open his eyes to see home. He felt it in his arms. And he would never let it go.