{Earth}

Was this the break they needed?

Three hours ago, Pablo left Lynn asleep in his bed. It took two hours of meticulous attention to every one of her details. Then another thirty minutes of lying in bed, watching her breathing relax. Those thick lashes closed on her dark cheeks. Her black locs contrasted beautifully against his white pillow case. She hogged both sides of the bed per usual. But he loved every second.

Afterward, he headed for the lab. As he hurried down the suspension stairs, Silence bumped into him.

No, literally.

The striking Icarean female nudged him, clutched his arm as she apologized in her deep voice, before carrying on with her jaunt.

With a sample of Pablo’s blood.

He almost didn’t feel it. Bumped, grabbed, and pricked within seconds. All under the guise of a considerate act.

Now, Pablo followed her everywhere in the building via the extensive security system. Was this the break they needed? Should he inform the others? What were her motivations?

Throughout the evening, Silence visited the atrium with its open glass view of the ocean below. The conservatory and its collection of rainforest medicinal plants. And the lunchroom where she ate two pieces of bread and a slice of meat, all separate from each other. By 2:00AM, she wandered down toward the labs.

Go time.

Calling for backup, Pablo kept his eyes on the screen to ensure he never lost her. Within seconds of the call, Kyle rolled in with Lucas. Both men looked exhausted. Caring for Andrew in such a sad state drained the Shadow crew. If left alone for more than five minutes, the fractured Progeny fell into a rabbit hole of probable realities. Friendly faces served as the only anchor. Otherwise, they kept him sedated as these two did before leaving him alone.

“What’s she doing?” Kyle rushed over to the monitors.

“She’s in the detainees’ hall off Med Lab 2. Strolling.”

Lucas watched over their shoulders. “Does she seem interested in our Imminent prisoner?”

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Kyle frowned at the Icarus and the implications.

Pablo shook his head and pointed to her on the screen.

Silence, hands in pockets, casually glanced into each of the detainees’ cells. Asleep during the day, they kept their active hours at night. Would she release them? Start a rebellion and destroy the ecology? Why—

She stopped in front of Twenty-One’s cell. He sat back against his bunk set into the far wall. Intrigued by her, the Icarus stared from the floor. Silence fed the capsule of blood into the seal and stepped inside. The heavy Icarean male scented the air and gazed up at her.

Kyle whispered as if concerned she could hear him, “What do you think she wants?”

“Only one way to find out.” Lucas nodded at the monitor.

All three men in the security office watched transfixed as the female warrior crossed the small cell. When she stood over him, they all held their breaths.

Twenty-One reached for her. Silence slipped out of the suspenders, dropped her pants, and straddled him in one fluid motion. He groaned loud enough for the mic to pick up. When she threw her head back, Kyle looked away.

Lucas looked to the ceiling and explained, as if offering excuses for her, “Valkyrie are known for ferocious appetites. Including sex. If not well fed, they tend to lose themselves and behave savagely.”

As if she heard him, Silence let out an animalistic cry. They all turned back. The male Icarus stood now with her clinging to his front. As they moved, he opened his wings, forming a cradle behind her. The female lay back against the feathers. Hands fixed to her hips, he controlled their movements. She locked her ankles around the back of his neck. They both seemed plenty satisfied with this position, judging by the chorus heading to its obvious crescendo.

“If you ever wondered what proper Icarean copulation looks like…” Lucas cleared his throat and indicated the scene.

From a scientific standpoint, it was fascinating—

“Turn it off. It’s her private business,” Kyle ordered as he turned to leave the room.

Pablo stopped him. “She stole my blood for this purpose. And Twenty-One is a special patient. We need to consider ulterior—”

Oh. Oh, Elden, no!

The doctor bolted out of the room and ran straight for the labs. The others followed, calling after him.

The virus.

Pablo never rushed faster to Med Lab 2. He burst into the residents’ hall and banged on Twenty-One’s glass cell. “Stop! Silence, no!” He rushed to open the seal.

By the time he entered, Silence clutched Twenty-One, who surrounded them with his wings. Through the pinions, she peered at Pablo. Her gray eyes told him he was too late.

Completely. Sated.

The Icarean male looked spent and perplexed. Fair point, considering it was the first sex he’d experienced in almost three years. With their wordless exchange, they potentially transferred the most important product of Pablo’s research.

Lucas rushed in behind him and took in the state of things. “Darling, we need to ask you a few questions. Is now a bad time?”

Silence focused beyond them to Kyle standing in the doorway. Awkward tension stretched between them. The Progeny looked away first. After a rough second, she met Lucas’ molten gold eyes.

“There is less time than you think.”