{Iona-28 | July 2006}

For the first time in seven months, Rayne dreamt of Nox. Both sides of the corroded coin that was the King of Cinder: sexy and sadistic. It was a repeat of her last dream with him. Her favorite dream. The dream where she almost got through to him.

When the first whisper breached the haze, Rayne ignored it and sunk back into oblivion with the monster who’d given her an excellent reason to cut her hair. But the second whisper terrified her.

The hoarse voice argued, “I can’t live without you.”

Rayne bolted upright in the sheets. Where was… “Sagan?!” Her breath hitched in a pant.

The bed dipped in the semi-darkness, and a gentle hand brushed through Rayne’s hair. “Shh… I’m right here.”

Rayne took her hand and stopped the caressing. “Who were you talking to?” The room was empty aside from them and the usual furniture.

When silence descended, Rayne locked eyes with Sagan as best she could in the dim glow of the covered lamp. Oh, no. Rayne said, “Him. Is he here?! How did he get in?”

The distress carved into Sagan’s face alarmed Rayne for so many reasons. Her Lt. General shook her head and tried to take her hand back.

Rayne held on and kissed the back of it to soothe her. “Talk to me. You know I’ll understand.”

Sagan slumped her shoulders and drew a shaky breath. “I think I’m going crazy.”

Rayne rubbed her thumb in circles on the back of the smaller woman’s hand, encouraging and supporting her.

Sagan continued, “I see him sometimes. And before you say anything, I don’t mean like in my dreams. I mean… Like around the facilities. In the car. In our room.”

Jesus, no wonder Sagan always looked ready to pull her hair out. A thought occurred to Rayne, and she said, “You saw him at the Propagation event.” Not a question.

Back at the hospital, Sagan had gone from pissed in that argument to pre-occupied, almost vacant. Locking eyes across a crowd with a certain gorgeous ethereal white-haired warrior would do that to a girl.

“I had to know if he was real,” Sagan confessed. She dipped her head in shame. It didn’t seem fair that Sagan, one of the nicest and bravest people Rayne knew, lived with so much torment and guilt.

Rayne leaned down to catch Sagan’s gaze where she was hiding it. Rayne said, “If you wanted him to be, that’s okay. If you just wanted to see because you needed a sanity check, that’s okay. Any reason you have for walking over there to see him is okay. I know what he means to you.” Rayne dropped Sagan’s hand to lift her chin. “I don’t have to like it, but I understand it. I really do.” There was no room to judge here. At least Korac was proportionately infatuated, if not a little stalker-y. Nox only wanted Rayne to suffer for him.

Sagan sniffled. Tears brimmed on her thick lashes. “How can you be so nice to me about this? I thought… I thought for sure you would think I betrayed you by leaving our dance like that to see him and for keeping it from you.”

Rayne’s abrupt laughter startled the other woman. “I guess I didn’t think of it like that. Wow. Okay. Now, I’m mildly offended.” She leaned in and rested her forehead against her companion’s who gave her a shy smile. “Whatever hold he has on you doesn’t compare to you and me. Besides,” Rayne straightened, “I’m not exactly the queen of healthy coping mechanisms.”

Sagan smiled and brushed away the tears.

Her eyes crossed as she zeroed in on Rayne’s finger leveled in her face. “But with that said, I don’t want you checking on your own anymore. Please. What would I do if he finally spirited you away to some vampiric castle?”

Sagan grew still. “You’d rip the worlds apart to bring me back. You have that in common.”

Damn.

And that’s all Rayne could think about as she finished her latest early AM round through the indoor obstacle course, adjacent to the bloodstained gym.

A weapon. Rayne was only a weapon.

With her heart rate high, body red and heaving, Rayne perked up as footsteps echoed throughout the room. She spotted Lucas entering the arena wearing another dazzling, tailored suit. Armani or Prada? His gilded eyes bore into her, wearing her down until she stopped for the chat he wanted.

Lucas said, “I heard you burned the entire compound down over little ol’ me.”

Automatically, Rayne said, “I’d burn an entire planet for any of you.” The feeling in the words was so strong they left her mouth on a reflex. The nature of the words made her wince, given her current state of mind.

Rayne’s response forced Lucas to pause and consider her. As she resumed her tasks, he remarked, “Such poetry.”

Rayne took her eyes off of Lucas as she made the next leap. She startled when he appeared on the ledge with her. He stopped her from the next strenuous activity with his hands on her shoulders, saying, “Thank you.”

Unable to hold this interaction off any longer, Rayne gripped Lucas in a hug. He swallowed hard against her shoulder, and tears sprung in her eyes. What would she have done if they’d killed him? After all the people she’d already lost, she didn’t think she could take one more.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

In a voice thick with emotion, Lucas said, “I love you, too, firebug.” No more losses. No more close calls. He croaked, “A little tight.”

“Are you serious? I’m so sorry!” Rayne released him and brushed the tears from her cheeks.

“Thank goodness for Icarean healing. You almost broke a rib.” Lucas captured a tiny braid from her ponytail and twisted it between his fingers. The jovial tone of his voice sobered into melancholy. “You know the trouble with it though is we think we’re invincible, us Icari.” He released a heavy sigh and caught her gaze. “For the first time in a long time, I knew what it was like to fear death.” He held off her concern with a gentle raise of the hand. “The occasional check to an ego this size is good for me. But for The Brethren, the Progeny represent the first genuine threat to the warrior caste and higher.” He dropped her hair and peered at her with an intensity that saddened her. “You’re a living, breathing reminder of their mortality. Like Celindria, you don’t hide it. But unlike her, you have no intention to use it unless threatened. I think that makes you more dangerous and easier to underestimate. That’s your superpower. Wield it. Let them underestimate you. Take them by surprise. But ask for help before you decide to burn any planets, firebug. Promise me?” At the end, he pointed a stern finger at her, not unlike the ending of her conversation with Sagan earlier.

The day had gotten off to a weird start. Rayne drew a shaky breath and gave Lucas a reassuring smile. “I promise. No burning of planets without help.”

Lucas took in the room and Rayne’s workout attire, saying, “I’ll leave you to it then until the festivities later in the morning.”

The memorial.

Rayne cast her eyes away, but said, “I’ll be there.”

Lucas went to leave, then stopped and called over his shoulder, “Don’t be too hard on Caedes. He’s self-serving, but he knows The Brethren casualties are inevitable in the defense of Earth from Nox. He doesn’t want to be one of them, but he is willing to be.” And with that, he left.

A shower.

Rayne needed a long, long shower where she might further contemplate the design behind her existence.

Joy.

She collected her things and tried hard not to reflect on the events of the last twenty-four hours. Too much. It was getting to be too much again.

“I should have figured she was in here,” Andrew announced as he appeared in the entryway.

Rayne looked up and saw him walk in with the entire Shadow Progeny present.

Andrew relayed her location over a walkie.

She asked, “Is the funeral starting already?”

Sagan looked away as Tameka answered, “Xelan’s bringing the visitor here to meet us.” Both girls wore gym shorts and a different colored t-shirt. Andrew and Kyle wore cargo shorts and bare abs.

Rayne peeked her ragged, worn sports bra and shorts. In a strained voice, she asked, “Are we being tested?”

“No, we came here to convenience you,” Xelan said from the door.

He’d brought a friend who had to duck under the twelve-foot high doorway.

Everyone looked up—way up—at Tumu. His slim, milky blue body sinewed in dark blue muscle towered over Xelan. There was a slight translucency to his skin. His black blood vessels peeked around his black garments. Rayne suspected Tumu wore them for their benefit as he didn’t bother putting his arms and legs through them correctly, leaving the sleeves swaying around his covered hips.

As Rayne examined him, Tumu swung his hips left and right as if catching her gaze. She shot right back up to his large, almond-shaped eyes, devoid of color or light. A small smile played on his non-existent lips. Staring at him made her head swim.

An alien. A proper, non-human alien.

When Tumu spoke, the depth of his voice made Rayne’s ears pop. “Oh. My. God. It’s you!” Then he shook the floorboards as he rushed further into the room.

Everyone held firm. Xelan’s relaxed, happy posture set the standard. Friend. Tumu was friendly. His pale, long fingers swallowed Tameka’s topaz hands. He jumped up and down, bouncing her with him as he said, “I’m so pleased to meet you!”

Tameka looked taken aback, her red hair bouncing on a gentle recoil. “I-I-I’m honored…”

Beyond them, Xelan shook his head with a bewildered grin.

Tumu continued gushing at her. “I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time now. I’m a huge fan of yours.”

The rest of the group exchanged glances.

Tameka interrupted him and pointed at Rayne standing with Sagan. Tameka said, “I think you’ve got the wrong person. I’m Tameka. She’s Rayne.”

Tumu’s laughter assailed Rayne’s ears like a chorus of drums. He said, “No, I mean you, Tammy: the woman who finally stole Xelan’s heart. You know I tried for thousands of years. One would think he was celibate for turning this down, but I know better—”

Exaggerated throat clearing from Xelan derailed that conversation.

Tumu called, “Oh… still withholding information to keep yourself mysterious?” The taller being turned back to Tameka. He whispered, “Don’t you hate that it works for him?”

Tumu looked over at Rayne and Sagan, gasping as if they’d just caught his attention. He grinned. “And you. We have been watching you for so long.” He crossed the vast space in one step and spoke to Sagan. “You’re such a bright, shining star.”

Sagan rolled her eyes and pointed. With a faint hint of irritation, she said, “No, she’s Rayne—”

Tumu shook his head absent of a chin. Even though his features were alien, the expressions that crossed over his face were familiar. With Sagan, he seemed in awe of her. “Sagan, you’re the most important person on our radar. We love your work.”

She turned red and looked away.

Rayne made a mental note to check with Xelan about it later.

The Tritan beamed at Sagan one more time before stepping over to the boys.

“Gentlemen,” Tumu said with a nod to each.

Kyle and Andrew exchanged a glance and nodded back.

“Don’t both of you jump on all at once. There’s plenty of me to go around.”

Andrew’s jaw hit the floor, and Kyle recoiled from him so hard he took two steps back.

Sagan and Tameka snickered and giggled as Tumu left the menfolk floored.

After what seemed like several rounds in an emotional boxing match, Tumu finally turned to Rayne. He wore a sad, withered smile. The low rumble of his soft voice was like surf battering a cliff. “Hello, Rayne.”

Her name from his mouth made Rayne’s chest ache. Why? Why did two simple words from a stranger hurt her so much? His heavy eyes stayed with her the entire way down.

“Rayne!” Sagan cried. “What’s wrong?”

Andrew and Kyle rushed to her side.

“Get back,” Xelan called as he pushed his way through.

Rayne peered up at Xelan from where she knelt, her head wanting to hang from her shoulders. “I’m fine,” she whispered to him. “I’m fine.” She blinked away from Tumu’s gaze and glanced at her vigilant guardian. “I just need to eat.”

Tumu stepped aside and backed away. He said, “The Progeny children. Xelan successfully made in a year what we failed to create for eons.”

Rayne stood to attend his address with some help from Sagan.

“I wasn’t trying—” Xelan started.

Tumu interrupted him, “And he’s so modest.” The man changed his demeanor from jovial to professional with an obvious transition in his posture and mannerisms. He stood to his full, impressive height, his version of shoulders straight back and his chin high. He thundered through the room, “After seeing the state of your worlds, and putting faces to your accomplishments and calculated potential, I can guarantee Enki’s assistance.”

Beside her, Xelan’s body unfurled, and his breath escaped in a rush of relief.

Andrew muttered, “Thank goodness.”

Tameka beamed.

“But there’s a catch,” Tumu added, and with it, he deflated. He stared right at Rayne as he said, “My superiors request DNA from Nox in exchange.”