From the safety of a hangar in Iona-01, Xelan watched the sun rise. He appreciated the view through a nacre glass panel. The installation of which was Razor’s suggestion, and every morning Xelan wanted to thank him for it.

“When are you expecting Andrew?” Lucas asked from the doorway to Xelan’s office.

Xelan kept his back to his old friend and considered his question. “You know, he’s skipping school and risking truancy for this, right?”

Lucas’ loafers whispered along the slate floor as he stepped further into the room and closed the door. He sounded sincere as he said, “I know. He’s a valiant knight defending his friends and family from a tyrannical King. But The Brethren need convincing of that, not me.”

It was impossible for Xelan to keep the cynical incredulity out of his voice. “They’ve needed convincing for two years?” He turned and faced Lucas.

The shorter, better-dressed Icarus answered with an apologetic shrug.

While they waited for Andrew to arrive, Xelan considered his conversation with Rayne from the night before. She was excelling at her lessons, but perhaps too well. He worried about how she was managing her day-to-day life. Although Xelan impressed upon the Progeny the importance of their birthright, he’d never intended for them to give up on the outside world entirely.

Was that the case with Rayne?

And how could Xelan reverse it?

A Volkswagen Jetta pulled down the drive to the airfield. Fortunately, Andrew’s mother had let him borrow the car for today’s prowess review, likely under the impression the young man was driving it to school.

“He’s here.” Ever the terrible host, Xelan patted Lucas on the back as he returned to the waiting Brethren members in his lobby. Caedes and Frullop, a frowning pair of Icari, looked particularly agitated with the lack of hospitality.

Xelan’s crew operated the installation, and he’d given them strict orders to carry on as usual despite their guests. A member of the crew let Andrew in through the front doors. The young man waved awkwardly, and Xelan could see the tension in his shoulders. Neither of them were happy about this.

“Welcome, Andrius.” Frullop took it upon himself to initiate greetings in Xelan’s territory.

Caedes glanced at Xelan. It was a dare to challenge them.

Politics.

Xelan rolled his eyes and waved for Andrew to follow him. With only a polite nod in Frullop’s direction, Andrew let Xelan lead him into the indoor gym facilities.

“We’ll conduct the test here.”

Caedes stepped up. “Correction. Lucas will conduct the test here.”

Xelan almost laughed out loud, and he tried not to acknowledge the burn on Andrew’s cheeks. If The Brethren thought they were breeding discontent by pitting the young man against Lucas, they were blind and dumb.

Frullop’s smug sneer only confirmed it.

Xelan fought not to grin. “If you wish. Andrew, please demonstrate what Lucas and I have taught you.” After Lucas had introduced the young Progeny to The Brethren, they’d given Xelan special permission to train Andrew and only Andrew as a pilot to train Tameka, Rayne, Kyle, and Sagan in an official capacity. Xelan fortunately kept his unofficial efforts under wraps.

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“Right.” Andrew went to a mat and assumed a grounded stance. It would’ve looked perfect if he wasn’t still blushing as Lucas faced him. The young man said, “Don’t go easy on me.”

Lucas smiled and slipped out of his suit jacket. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Xelan clapped a hand over his mouth to keep from snickering when Lucas started unbuttoning his shirt and Andrew’s mouth dropped open a little. Xelan glanced over at Frullop and Caedes to see if they’d caught on, but they had not. The former was still sneering, and the latter frowned gruffly.

Perfect.

Lucas finished stripping down to his slacks and muttered something about not dressing for the occasion before he squared off with Andrew, who looked ready to faint. Without a nacre to regulate his blood flow, Andrew had flushed brighter than a tomato under his golden complexion. He shook himself out of it and focused the way Xelan had taught him.

Foreplay was over.

Caedes shouted, “Go.”

Andrew punched Lucas, who deftly evaded. One blow. Two.

Lucas caught Andrew’s next right hook and turned so he pinned Andrew’s arm behind his back.

Thinking quickly, the younger man bent and flipped Lucas over him.

The capable Icarus landed on his feet, but not for long. Andrew swept the loafers out from under Lucas. Once he hit the floor, Andrew mimed stabbing him in the chest.

Caedes called, “Point.”

Andrew helped Lucas to his feet, awkwardly muttering, “Sorry.”

The Icarus laughed richly. “You don’t apologize for taking an opponent down.”

Xelan felt bad for how Andrew’s face deepened to a purple shade as he said, “No. I mean, I stole your wallet.”

The entire collection of Icari looked at the wallet Andrew held in his hand. He opened it and said, “Nice driver’s license photo.”

Lucas’ golden eyes sparkled with humor and respect as Andrew returned his wallet. The Icarus mused, “Aren’t you just full of surprises?”

“Yes. He’s a trained thief.”

After Frullop’s ugly proclamation, Xelan took Andrew by the shoulders. The accusation had drained some of his color, and Xelan wouldn’t stand for that kind of ugliness in his installation. “You did great. I’m proud of you. Few Icari could pull off that stunt against a trained warrior.”

Andrew ducked his eyes, still uncertain, but he smiled despite it. “Thanks, Xelan.”

Caedes’ gravelly voice announced, “We’ve seen enough. The Progeny may state his case.”

Xelan patted Andrew’s shoulder and said, “You got this.”

The young man stepped up to the members of The Brethren, represented here by Caedes, Frullop, and Lucas. Andrew said, “My friends still don’t know about all of this, and I’m glad they don’t.”

Caedes narrowed his eyes.

Frullop smirked.

And Lucas raised a brow, intrigued.

Xelan trusted Andrew to speak for the Progeny as he continued, “They shouldn’t know that the people responsible for tying our lines together kept the impending invasion a secret because of their own cowardice. You fear the King of Cinder’s wrath if he returns to Earth and finds an army of Progeny trained at your hands. I’m getting that he’s a force of nature, insane with vengeance, consumed with the need to make our ancestors pay for the Vacating. Obviously, you think if you don’t train us or give us nacres, then maybe he’ll go easy, not only on the Progeny descendants, but on Earth and The Brethren as well. I think you’re wrong.”

As Andrew spoke, Caedes’ expression transformed from one of criticism into one of regard.

Frullop’s smirk twisted into a scowl.

Xelan could tell Lucas was hiding a smile, one of pride, because Xelan was doing the same thing.

They let Andrew finish. “I think if Nox is so consumed with hatred, then he’ll kill anyone not conscripted in his army and burn the world to the ground. All of us. Give us a chance to stop him, or at the very least, to put up some substantial resistance. Without training us—without nacres—Nox will take Rayne and unlock the conduit to Cinder. And then what will you do? Involving us is your best option.”

“Thank you, Andrius.” Frullop sounded so insincere. “We will deliberate your argument and provide an answer within a day or so.”

Caedes agreed with a silent nod.

Lucas got dressed as he assured, “You did well. I’ll deliver our decision, personally. Until then…” He bowed his head and left with the other two members.

As soon as they left the room, all of Andrew’s confidence dissipated. “Xelan, how do you think it went?”

Xelan watched Frullop, Caedes, and Lucas climb into a tinted limo within the hangar before his crew let them out into the sun. Free of their scrutiny, Xelan let out a heavy sigh. He said, “Honestly? I don’t know, but the second Lucas gives us word, I’ll tell you.”

Andrew deflated.

Xelan wouldn’t have it. He said, “None of that. You delivered an excellent demonstration for the Progeny’s sake, but let’s just say I’m glad I broke the rules and trained the five of you, anyway—What are you doing?”

Caught, Andrew tried to hide something behind his back, but his smile was unabashed. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” He held out another wallet. “Frullop looks terrible in his driver’s license photo. Also, it expired in the sixties.”

Xelan laughed.

They were so dead.