Nox, King of Cinder, reviewed his General’s estimates in silence. As much silence as one could come by in such a place. Outside the walls of his quarters, the Cult of Night celebrated another load of fresh recruits. None of which were of any interest or concern to Nox. He let the humans carry on as if they weren’t harboring a hundred thousand Icari, fresh from Cinder.

Although, Nox would admit, without these humans none of this would be possible. They saw to the surveillance of the Progeny after the Vacating. They also built these compounds to house the Icarean troops for the invasion. And without them, Nox would never have acquired the blood from Celindria’s descendant to breach the conduit, however limited the window.

Still, work needed doing and how could they get any done when they found every excuse for a celebration—

“Your majesty, would you like me to shut them down?”

Ah… General Korac had detected Nox’s growing agitation and, like the best soldier, he aimed to rectify it. Either that or Korac was equally bothered by the constant ruckus.

Nox shook his head. “No. Let them stay the course as if we don’t exist. Better to keep them in high spirits while we rely on them for a discrete source of food. Speaking of, how do we fare if we ration the warrior caste?”

The fireplace cast an orange glow on Korac’s exotic features—white hair, white eyes, and white skin. He was shorter than Nox, though most Icari were, but only by a few inches. Dressed in pressed slacks and a silk black button-down with the sleeves rolled back, Korac had assimilated a mite too quickly—almost eagerly—to modern Earth fashion. With a keen sharpness in his quiet observations, Korac had always proven useful in diplomacy and combat. Although, he was quieter and much less carefree in recent millennia.

The Vacating had sobered them all.

Korac said, “As the report states, I’ve disseminated our troops in CoN compounds across the world at key strategic locations for the full invasion. With the high number of human volunteers, we shouldn’t need to ration even the warriors for several years, if it should take so long. They’re prepared to mount the assault on your say.”

The report also stated CoN—short for Cult of Night—leadership only agreed to such terms under the condition Nox would grant them nacres after the invasion began. ‘Eternal life’ as they preached it. But Nox wasn’t remiss to note only the leadership would receive the nacres. Not the underlings.

Humans.

Nox stood and went to the front of his desk, leaning back against it. He bit his thumbnail as he considered the question Korac no doubt wished to ask.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

When?

Raking a hand through the length of his hair, Nox asked, “What of Celindria’s descendant?”

Korac smirked with a knowing glint in his eyes. “I had wondered when you would get to that. Coincidentally, the traitor has already broken his exile and engaged the Progeny. As we predicted, he started with Rayne.”

Well, wasn’t that interesting? Nox pressed, “Who was your source?”

With a sweep of his white hair over one shoulder, Korac leaned against the fireplace, folded his arms, and crossed his ankles. “A rogue CoN Enforcer. He went off mission and actually confronted the Progeny—Yes. Yes, I know. They are forbidden to do so. He blamed it on the girl—Celindria’s descendant. He said she was too beautiful to stay away from. I dealt with his punishment, and the Justice assured me it wouldn’t happen again.”

No doubt to keep her claim on a nacre. The Justices—compound leaders—disgusted Nox the most, but they’d proven vital to his operations in the past. Still, there was always something… off about them.

On the subject of Rayne…

Too beautiful to stay away from. Nox humphed at the thought. She was only fourteen. Although the reincarnation of someone like Celindria would certainly possess dangerous gifts, he doubted she could bewitch a grown man into stalking her.

Back to the question of ‘when.’

Nox said, “The girl needs a nacre before we can proceed. Surely, the traitor will see to it. If not, we’ll see that he does. Until then, I want firsthand knowledge of their interactions. If he intends to train them against us, we should counter it with subterfuge. Are you up to the task?”

The General straightened and gave a solemn nod.

The best soldier.

Nox nodded his approval. “Good. See if Colita wants to play a role.” No doubt the Icarean female would appreciate some use of her talents.

“Very good, sire.”

Quick to fulfill his current mission, Korac made to leave until Nox called, “Leave Celindria to me.”

It was slight, but Nox noticed Korac stiffen before he faced his King once more. “You wish to encounter her before she’s ready?”

Korac rarely questioned Nox, so he’d allow it. He said, “I will. Tonight.”

With a bow of his head, Korac conceded. “As your majesty wishes.”

Nox’s General left without another indication of his thoughts. The pale Icarus kept his opinions behind a mask of composure, but his eyes gave away what only Nox could see after a lifetime together. Korac was restless and angry.

They all were.

Millennia they’d spent starving, half their species dying off on the brink of extinction. All under the glaring blaze of Li, their pitiless and hungry star.

Had it driven Nox mad?

Perhaps.

Or perhaps now he finally understood a creature like Celindria. Heartless and steeped in ambition—Yes, sacrifice everything for the righteous cause.

No love.

No mercy.

Only cold genocide would do.

Celindria had delivered upon the Icari unspeakable suffering with the Vacating. Now Nox would exact vengeance from her reincarnation.

And then some.

Nox would not stop until he’d devastated her race and claimed her planet for those more deserving. For eight millennia, the Icari endured the Wrong Side of Eternity. Celindria’s descendant would bleed for as many years to rectify the First Progeny’s crime. There would be no haven for her—No end to the agony.

Salvation in blue eyes.

Truth be told, it was all Nox could see.