Two weeks later, we attended a banquet for the warriors setting out on a campaign the following day. Karter told me of a planet named Thailea that housed the last of the Ancients. In exchange for Tritan aid, the Icari promised to eradicate them. Millions of warriors, the Valkyrie, and dozens of Tritans gathered around the castle for a feast.

Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing...

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Fourteen days, three hours, and seven minutes until maximum destabilization.

I squeezed between adults, seeking the Physician. The countdown in my vision reduced with each touch. I worried over the meaning of "destabilization."

It bothered me to admit it, but I knew if I found mother, the Physician was never far from her side.

"Nox, there you are." Savis held out her arms to me, and I was happy to run into them. She squeezed.

I fought my distress at her weakness and the tremor in her hands. But the countdown increased my anxiety.

Warning: Fourteen days, one hour, and twenty-eight minutes until maximum destabilization.

Xelan, all of Earth-age two, clutched mother's leg and hid his face in her robes. He took his fingers out of his mouth long enough to call, "Nock."

I kissed his black hair, and he rewarded me with a grin made no less adorable for the two missing teeth. Big, near-black eyes sparkled against chubby cheeks.

Warning: Thirteen days, twenty-two hours, and forty minutes until maximum destabilization.

The cost was worth it.

With that in mind, I searched the crowd for the lurking Tritan. I contained a smirk when I caught him watching us from about twelve people away.

Savis called as I left, "Darling, stay with us a while."

"Just a moment, mother." As I pushed my way to the man, I passed several Tritans. Their topic of conversation unnerved me.

An exceptionally tall one said, "Beautiful. The princeling is truly a gorgeous specimen."

Rayne, when a Tritan calls a person beautiful, they aren't just referring to their exterior. No, that's a bonus. They mean your bio-rhythms are perfectly synchronized. Your body functions in perfect harmony and often within the course of the Matrix. Add physical attraction to that, and you are a perfect specimen. A candidate in their reproduction program.

I've only seen them react so intensely to Xelan. And now to you.

A lighter one agreed, "Umbra should be proud."

Another scoffed. "As if that hornet could take credit for those genes. No. Another..." And they trailed off.

Stolen story; please report.

I hurried to my purpose, dying to take my brother and leave this place. The Physician watched me come to him. To impress him, I stepped by and discretely whispered over my shoulder, "Sir."

The man chuckled. "Subtle." He tapped me on the head. "What is it?"

"There is a clock running fast with only a few weeks left."

"That is your price to pay, Nox."

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to remain steady. "What happens when I 'destabilize?'"

"You and everyone around you will die. The sphere around Cinder will fall."

I wrapped my arms around myself and swallowed the urge to cry. "What must I do?"

"Pain."

I spun on him. "What?!"

The man dragged me away to a private alcove. "Pain. Inflict as much as possible and avoid it when you can. Do not touch anyone or allow them to touch you. Tell me you comprehend?"

I sipped small gulps of air as the panic rose. "Mother and brother?"

"No. You wanted the power to stand up to your father. You accepted the cost."

My voice cracked, "But for how long?"

He tilted his head as if finding me slow. "Forever, Nox."

I backed against a wall, heaving in my panic. I scrunched my fingers in my hair.

"You can never touch anyone again without depleting the countdown. And they can never touch you. You will only ever exist a month at a time, surviving off the pain you inflict on your enemies."

Hell. This nightmare was Hell. Wake up. Wake up and hold them. Squeeze them tight and never let them go. "But I love them..."

"And now you can protect them." He gently squeezed the top of my head to emphasize his point.

Warning: Thirteen days, twenty-one hours, and thirty-eight minutes until maximum destabilization.

Every touch brought me closer to ruin. To their ruin. Throwing his hand aside, I ran away. Through the hall. Passed the kitchens. Xelan and I claimed a favorite hiding spot in the pantries. Voices stopped me outside the door.

"Da! Da, no!"

"Beautiful Icarean Prince. Son of the most powerful Tritan to ever live. In my Spire!"

"Da! It hurts!"

"Hold still!"

"Pain. Inflict as much as possible." A hollowed shell of myself, I stepped inside. I knew I'd find my father drinking from my brother. "And now you can protect them."

Umbra gripped Xelan from behind, locking him in a hold. He buried his fangs deep into the toddler's carotid. My brother's shallow breaths told me I was almost too late.

Target engaged.

Combat initiated.

Calculated duration: Three minutes.

The King of Cinder gazed upon me and released the child.

Gray shadow emanated from me and filled the room. "Monster."

"My son."

The fool.

"Son, stop. This is not your brother. It is an abomination--"

If I were trained in my gift, the blow would have decapitated my father. As it stood, Umbra fell to his hands and knees, spitting teeth.

Restabilizing.

Warning: Fourteen days, four hours, and two minutes until maximum destabilization.

So the Physician spoke the truth. Good. I kicked under the bastard's chin. Blood sprayed in an arc. A kick to the gut, and he dry-heaved on the floor. I grabbed him by the head and slammed mine into his. Twice. Thrice. Jars of food and loaves of bread were doused in Icarean "royal" blood.

Warning: Twenty-two days and thirty-two hours until maximum destabilization.

A whimper stopped me from squeezing his eyes out with my thumbs. I turned to find Xelan curled in a corner, crying. His wounds healed, and color returned to his cheeks.

"Xelan... Xelan, are you all right--"

When I reached for him, my brother flinched and hid his face in the stone. I looked down at the blue blood on my hands, arms, up to my elbows...

"Xelan, please. I came to protect you."

"Love Nock. Love Da."

I spun around to find father resting his head on the stone, heaving great gulps of air through the congestion and blood. I pointed at him. "He hurt you."

The toddler uncurled from the wall. "Da hurts. Da loves. Love Da."

I held up my hands. "No more fighting. I promise. Mother awaits us. You want to see mother, do you not?"

He nodded, eagerly.

I smiled. "Take my hand. We can find her together."

Xelan trusting me to take his hand was worth the reduction in the countdown.

We brushed by Umbra on the way out. I stopped and leaned into him, quiet so my brother wouldn't hear. I promised, "The only reason you live is because of him. Fear me. I am a better monster than you, but a monster, nonetheless."

I washed us up before returning Xelan to mother. Her hands shook too much to carry him. The tremor and weakness which overtook her after giving birth to my brother made me wonder if I was monster enough, after all.