With my hands soaked in yellow blood, I dropped the amber-colored ore on Xelan's desk in the observatory. "What you asked for."

Thailea would not yet forget me. Another planet to add to the growing tally. My mood was foul after I found nothing of the Ancients to help my own cause.

My brother peered from the ore to me. With distaste, he asked, "Did you leave anyone alive?"

I turned away and snarled, "I never asked you to appreciate my methods." I spun and pointed a finger at him. "But I expect your esteem for acquiring it. I am your brother--"

"And I am not your excuse for murder--"

"I AM YOUR KING!" The bellow of my own voice made me want to wince. It bounced loudly off the book-lined walls and the atrium ceiling.

Xelan shutdown. Cut me off.

At the frost in his gaze, I waved dismissively and left the room. I was angry with him and angry with myself. Ashamed of my outburst and frustrated that he refused to listen.

Rayne, if you're wondering why I didn't share the details regarding our campaign on Thailea, I don't have them to give. Once through the conduit, my boot sunk in the snowy landscape. The next second, Korac shook me awake with my face planted in the snow. The ore was with us, but I have no recollection of obtaining it. Despite the blood, I've no memory of the battle. Neither did my men. I wanted Xelan to help piece things together, but...

I never intended to wage war on the Mystics. I wanted to barter and reason. I wanted to make my brother proud. Start fresh now that we settled on the Third.

Surely with enough time and with enough allies like Bin, we could herald a campaign against our Tritan masters. Give the Collective to the people. But first, we needed to reverse the Icarean reputation as mercenaries. Then we garnered faith. This would take time and guidance from people like Xelan. I believed in us. How could I have known how soon our time would run out?

Six months passed with my brother absent from his usual stations. Colita, busy with her human fascination, offered little news. A discernible sadness haunted my General. He didn't let it show aside from one monumental detail.

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Korac stopped smiling.

For half a year, I tried to pry one from him using humor, gifts, tricks--anything. Nothing. In fact, the entire city gloomed as if a rain cloud hovered perpetually over it. Xelan had that way about him.

I found myself visiting the observatory more often. I scanned the shelves for books and admired the polished wood furnishings. I often stared through the glass wall, wondering how long before I could fly to other continents on the Third.

Korac found me there one night. "Your majesty, Prince Xelan has returned."

I let the grin show. Finally, I could apologize. But the look on my General's face stripped my levity away. "What is it?"

A human female walked into the room. Dark like the others. But her eyes arrested me. So bright and so blue. Beautiful. Otherwise physically fit, the swollen belly under her cotton shift suited the glow in her complexion. It matched the smile she gave me.

I was speechless.

Korac's lips tightened into a thin line.

The woman scanned the books with rapt attention, as if we were invisible or insignificant. No. Not exactly that. She was utterly comfortable in all her surroundings, despite the presence of others. Fascinating.

"This is Celindria," Xelan indicated to her from the door. Missing his hair, he looked in otherwise good health.

Again, she beamed at us. That smile lingered on me for an extra heartbeat.

I stopped gazing at her long enough to smile reassuringly at my brother. "Welcome home."

Korac didn't acknowledge his lover. Instead, he stared at Celindria as if he considered her a threat.

Interesting.

After another moment, it occurred to me, "Are you with her? Is that your young?"

Korac looked away then.

Xelan laughed in his famous warmth and genuineness.

The woman rolled her eyes in a familial expression of exasperation. "Father, please spare them your teasing."

The two of us stopped breathing. "Father?"

Korac looked between them.

Xelan shot the General a pitying look. "This is the first of my hybrids. Icarus. Human. Celindria is a Progeny."

Korac's body sighed with relief, even if he wouldn't allow himself to relax completely.

I gaped. "Only in six months?"

"Do not neglect to mention my sisters and brothers." There was something wild in Celindria's smile. Her eyes sparkled with knowledge and wit.

"Of course. We created five in total. They withstand the sun, but harness all our strengths. Minus wings as far as I can tell." Xelan plopped in an armchair. "They also interbreed with humans, apparently."

Wicked. That was the word I wanted to describe her smile. She admitted, "I was curious. Now, I know."

Korac and I both looked a little bewildered by that. I cleared my throat to change the subject. "I am happy to see you. I want to talk to you about what happened on Thailea--"

"It can wait." My brother interrupted me out of hand. "I just led five people across the desert without wings. We could use some accommodations. Here or Cinder?"

Celindria grinned. "Cinder."