{Earth}

Lucas finished the call on the comms device. “I’m relieved Sagan lived up to her end of the deal.” His rich voice reached through the dark and comforted Andrew.

“Well, you did provide her bad boy toy with six months’ worth of clothes.” Andrew rolled onto his side, putting his back to the Icarus. He worked all day and into the night without a single ache or pulled muscle. Nacres. “If they gave Bethany a nacre, what does that say about…”

With his back to Lucas, Andrew felt the man shake his head. “Best not to worry until we know for certain.”

Of course. Calm. Reasonable. But what other reason would an alien want a human for a pet?

“Are you cold?” Lucas chafed Andrew’s arm.

“I first met Bethany when she was seven. She wanted to follow me and Kyle to a Progeny meeting down the street.” Andrew choked out the next. “She’d lost a tooth the day before and said that made her big enough to join our secret club.”

The Icarus kept up with the comforting touches, but Andrew needed some air. He sat up on the edge of the bed. “Think about it, Lucas. CoN is gone. Kyle lost a potentially dangerous asset. There’s an entire fucking trafficking ring we knew nothing about. We need to call a meeting.”

“Progeny or Brethren?”

“Both.”

Lucas sucked air through his teeth. Yes, this was a big deal. “We can check with everyone and try. But I don’t have to tell you, this poses a major risk.”

Andrew nodded. “I know, but… There are too many balls in the air, and we’ve dropped a few. We need to regroup and consider how to proceed.”

“Let’s meet with the groups separately, so we don’t risk overexposure. Will that work for you?”

The Progeny shrugged. “I guess it’ll have to.”

“It’ll be good for you to get out. I think you’re missing our Shadow.” The Icarus kissed his shoulder. “That’s reasonable.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“No. Lucas.” He turned to meet the man’s golden gaze. “I think something is coming. Again.”

A keening howl pierced the night.

Andrew groaned as Lucas chuckled and said, “It’s your turn.” As the Progeny dressed, the Icarus added, “Shame that.”

It was Andrew’s turn to chuckle. “Don’t worry. You’ll get your remedy when I get back.” Running a hand through his brown hair, he left his partner happy and excited for his return.

As he should be.

Blue lights glowed softly along the zeppelin. They illuminated the surrounding area enough that he didn’t need to rely on his Icarean-inherited eyesight. He picked his way across the stubby grass to the shack behind their home.

Pisces howled again, announcing his arrival. The massive hellkite climbed to her twelve-foot height. Six limbs, tipped with claws, opened. Andrew spread his arms wide and fell onto the monster. The beast rolled onto her back as if the Progeny’s weight was too much for her. She nuzzled Andrew with a crocodile’s snout.

Andrew repaid the affection by running his hands across the deep red scales. “What’s bothering you? You’ve been talkative lately.”

The hellkite snuffed and garbled a response only pet lovers would understand. The war left the sabers, drakes, and hellkites orphaned and purposeless. But Kyle and Andrew saw potential. No. Not freakish experiments. Just good ol’ fashion guardians. Each facility employed one or several for their own protection. Perfectly trained, they obeyed every command.

Except for Pisces. Recently, she wanted to howl through the night. Last night, Lucas said she went into a fit until the Icarus stepped into the light. Then the hellkite was fine.

“You getting lonely, girl?” They used “girl” loosely with an asexual/a-reproductive animal. “You need a friend?”

Hellkite tongue was extra textured to sloth skin off their victims. Rough and wet, like a soggy industrial file. The affectionate licking gave Andrew an excellent view of the creature’s forearm-length fangs.

He patted the super ripped belly and stood. “Gonna need a shower after this. You be good. Don’t wake the town. They work hard and deserve their sleep.” He kissed a horn. “And so do you.”

Like a good girl, Pisces stayed in her shack. There was no tether to hold her. The beastie just liked it here. She flew off occasionally, but always returned by nightfall.

Andrew walked back into their home. Through the living space, the kitchen, the library, and into the master suite. Light shone into their room from the bathroom. Steam filled the space as the sound of water reached him. He sniffed. Lavender and chamomile. And beneath that, the overwhelming spice of ginger.

The Progeny stripped in three quick seconds and marched right into that marble bathroom. He stopped dead in the doorway.

Lucas waited for him in the sunken bathtub. And he got started without Andrew. His hand disappeared and reappeared in the water with his efforts. Peering up at the Progeny with molten gold eyes, he smiled softly. A little breathless, he instructed, “Close the door and get inside.”

Andrew happily did as he was told.