Andrew hated J. A. Fair. Why the fuck did someone build an underground school? There were no windows in the inner hallway. And what was with all these crazy gates?

One blocked their way out of North Hall, leading to the offices and the cafeteria.

Kyle, Rayne, and Tameka rattled it some, trying to raise it, but Andrew discovered a padlock keeping it in place. He said, “I guess we have to go around.”

This was Andrew’s first time meeting John, since they didn’t attend the same school, and so far Andrew had kept from forming an opinion until the Osage teen said, “We’ll march right into the deathtrap they’ve obviously made of the gym.”

John’s observation was likely spot on, but was this really the time for negativity?

Also, Andrew hated the side glances Rayne was shooting Andrew’s way. She clearly found his arrival suspicious—And for good reason. Andrew’s appearance at their school on the very day Nox invaded was suspicious as hell, but he couldn’t live with himself if her wariness toward him distracted Rayne from the fight.

Nikki, a saint as far as Andrew was concerned, nudged John playfully as she said, “We won’t let anything happen to you.”

Kyle humphed.

With a reassuring smile, Sagan said, “There’s only one way to find out.”

Tameka cried, “What the fuck, Rayne?!”

The brunette’s hair trailed behind her as she went headlong into the gym without checking inside.

They followed Rayne into the lion’s den. Andrew breathed, “Oh, shit.”

Six cloaked soldiers spanned the breadth of the gym, acting as personal guard to the woman who led them. Long legs, softly rounded hips, a tiny waist, and a modest chest made up her tall, athletic frame. The mass of blond curls around her face and shoulders emphasized the sky blue of her eyes.

Colita smiled. Large, curved canines protruded.

Andrew blinked, but no matter how hard he tried, the nightmare didn’t go away.

Colita bowed her head, saying, “Celindria, Merit, and The Afflicted One.” She greeted the three girls in front as she scanned their unit.

Kyle swallowed audibly, and Andrew knew instantly Kyle had let the Icarean female seduce him.

Tameka glanced at him.

Kyle’s face filled with blood, and his eyes found the linoleum very interesting.

Rayne blinked at him. “Really?”

“What?! It was a dream!” he cried.

Andrew noticed John also looked elsewhere.

Sagan gaped, asking, “And you, too?”

Heat reddened John’s complexion.

Rayne’s jaw slacked open.

Tameka whistled. “Colita’s been busy.”

John shrugged.

Andrew understood.

Colita gasped in mock surprise. “Andrius. My, my. Our spy said you wouldn’t be here. I suppose we were misled.” She glanced over her shoulder.

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The other soldiers took a step away from one warrior with mahogany-colored hair and skin the color of rust.

He stuttered over his apology, “Mistress, there was no way I could know—”

Colita cut him off with a sharp, “Silence!” Her voice echoed off the walls in one harsh hiss.

Tameka took point on this one. “Colita.”

Colita grinned. As if remembering something unpleasant, she stamped her foot and sighed. “I was told to deliver you a message. Korac awaits you in the cafeteria.” She rolled her eyes. “Not that you’ll make it there. You bleeding hearts aren’t a threat to me.”

“You should worry,” Tameka countered. “You know not all our hearts bleed so easily.”

The cold iron in his unrelated sister’s voice impressed Andrew.

Colita went still, the silence in the wake of it was painful before she said, “I will make them bleed.” She smiled that twisted grin again. The malice in it turned her otherwise angelic face ugly.

Tameka glared at her as she said, “You don’t have a heart or a brain.”

Colita’s sky-blue eyes narrowed into vertical slits. Her hands tightened into fists, and her voice came in layers. “I don’t care what his majesty wants. I’ll kill you myself, Merit.”

“Then stop talking, bitch, and let’s see you try.”

Holy.

Shit.

Without taking a single step, Colita appeared in front of Tameka, lashing out with a backhand.

The redhead was ready for her and took one step back.

The Icarean female stumbled forward.

Tameka impressed Andrew by gripping Colita’s hair and kneeing her in the stomach.

Colita choked and shrieked with rage, wasting precious time and energy.

Tameka slammed the other woman’s head into a cement wall. With a dull crack, Colita dropped to the floor.

Sagan called out, “Tameka?”

“I’m fine.”

Andrew breathed, “That was amazing.”

Colita straightened and faced them. Her nose oozed a bright-blue waterfall. Both eyes were already black and blue.

Kyle raised his hand.

Andrew rolled his eyes with a sigh. “Yes?”

“Did we win already?”

John groaned.

Nikki blinked in awe.

Rayne grinned.

Far too soon, Colita’s breathing improved. A force emanated from her which thickened the air. Then came an odd sound, subtle at first until louder it came. The sound of someone chewing popcorn, crunching and cracking. It came from Colita’s nose.

The bleeding ceased. The color of her nose faded into lighter shades of green. Then yellow. The cartilage filled back into place, and blood receded from the wound, as the swelling faded. The blow would have killed a human. More’s the pity.

Tameka whistled, impressed, before saying, “Instant plastic surgery… Nice. Where’d you learn that?”

Andrew clenched his jaw and said through his teeth, “The regenerative upgrades Xelan warned us about.”

Kyle scoffed, “How the fuck are we supposed to fight that?”

Rayne admonished him. “Let’s start by not admitting out loud that you don’t know how.”

Colita smiled with icy rage in her narrowed eyes. In a silken voice, she said, “I’ll bury you in a mass grave under the rubble of this school, but first, you’ll repay the lost blood of my soldiers.” She made a gesture, and the six Icari marched forward.

They discarded the black cloaks, revealing similar monochrome uniforms, with shiny armor over black tunics and laced slacks. Each male was modeled after a different time and place. One exotic warrior after the next. From ancient Chinese to Nordic Norwegian, each Icarus distinguished themselves with Earth heritage.

Tameka shook her head. “Someone has a fetish.”

Rayne counted everything in the room before saying, “Nikki, John, and Kyle?” At their nods, she continued, “You take the three on the right. Sagan, Andrew, and I? The three on the left.”

Tameka bounced, asking, “What about me?”

Andrew almost smiled. It was obvious Tameka wanted to fight Colita.

Rayne did smile, and it was bitter while making Tameka’s day. “You get Ms. Facelift.”

Colita responded with a snap of her sizable teeth.

“Yes, ma’am!” Tameka grinned with anticipation.

The good guys took one collective step forward. The invading horde took one step back. Colita took two, so that she stood behind a barrier of muscle. Everyone gripped their knives tight and relaxed into a stance.

Rayne held her sword firm at her side.

Tameka stared at it and broke the silence. “Do you mind if we trade for this fight?” She waved her ten-centimeter knife. Child’s play compared to the sword.

Rayne smiled and handed her the shining weapon, saying, “Only if you promise to kick her ass.”

Colita cried from behind her meat wall, “Fuck you!”

A crackle sounded through the gym, and all fighters present turned to the intercom speakers. Except for Andrew. He was the only one with his eye on the prize as a smooth tenor came over the line.

“Now, Progeny, don’t waste too much time on the opening act. A few more surprises are still in store, and the main event awaits you.”

Colita glared at the speaker, asking, “Whose side is Korac on?!”

Music started playing and signaled the start of the fight. John, Nikki, and Kyle rushed their assigned set of alien soldiers. Andrew barreled into a Russian Icarus, shoved his substantial blade up through its ribcage, and let the soldier drop dead with a grunt.

So began the first battle of Invasion Day.