A month later, I bolted from my bed. Every night I dreamt of Celindria. And I couldn't dream about her without depleting the "leash." I craved her awake or sleep. My blood didn't care about her demeanor.

And she knew. With her fitness restored to her, she breezed through the halls in light cotton shifts. She left the sides deliciously exposed. Tantalizing me.

You appreciate the female form, Rayne. I'm sure you understand.

As I paced, I thought of nothing else but taking her. Before I knew it, I shifted the wall to the tunnel and crossed it in five strides. I expected to find her sleeping, but Celindria stood staring out a window. Emotions shifted across her otherwise stoic face. Too fast to catch a single one.

"I wait for you every night."

Her confession startled me. Recovering, I took a step forward. "I think of you often. But... this can never be."

She turned, and her tears moved me. "I love you. It hurts to stay away from you. Living and working so close... I want to touch you. I want to drink you."

I shut my eyes to her words. So many experiences yet afforded to me. I knew Bin tried, but time went on. I grew lonelier. I thought of only one other option, and I hated it. "There is one avenue open to me."

Celindria stepped up to me. Her reduced height belied the giant force lurking behind her eyes. "Whatever the cost. If our roles were reversed, I would do anything to touch you."

I believed her. The woman held so much conviction.

"Give me a week." I breathed in her exotic scent, unable to place it. A rare flower. "Until then..." I seized her biceps, and her chest heaved from the contact. So much temptation. "Do not stop dressing this way." I leaned in and whispered against her ear, "Keep me distracted as we both know you like to do. A wickedness lives in you, woman. And I will burn for it."

Before I risked us further, I left the room without waiting for her response.

A few days later, I found myself in the Ignis Desert, confronting the Primary with my request.

"She is lovely." He paced around the cavern with his hands behind his back. "I am surprised you waited this long to ask for companion access."

Feeling brave, I confessed, "I feared the price."

The Tritan threw his head back and laughed. He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. "Wise. You may find it too steep."

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I almost growled. Everything I ever wanted... Rayne, my entire life, anything and everything came with a price. A value placed on it. And now this.

"Name it."

He smirked. "Kill Bin. On his homeworld. With this." He held up a vial of glowing white liquid.

I didn't take it. I looked away. I considered Bin my friend of at least a hundred years now. How could I even entertain the notion of assassinating him? All my plans for the Icarean race depended on sustaining alliances with leaders such as he.

"No. You ask too much." I made to leave.

"I wager she smells like jasmines..."

I froze and shut my eyes. That was the flower I couldn't place.

"Heady and exotic. Soft lips, beautiful eyes. Endowed generously for a man's devotion. How long can you say 'no' to her? How long before you destabilize while indulging yourself with her?"

Damn him. Damn me. "Will he suffer?" I couldn't turn around. I couldn't open my eyes. I didn't want to face a world where I considered killing a good friend only to have her.

I heard the triumph in his voice, "No. Painless. In good faith, I will program Celindria into your nacre before you go."

That opened my eyes. So close to obtaining what I desired.

"But do not attend her until you complete the mission. The consequences will extend to your favorite General. Am I clear?"

Don't touch Celindria until I kill Bin or Korac dies. How did I lose so much control over everything? Or did I ever have control of it, at all?

An image blinded me of Celindria breezing through my castle with so much and so little of her naked to me. Her eyes promised mysteries to unlock if only I could touch her.

I clenched my fists. Angry with myself. "Painless." I turned and begged, "He is my friend. Please." Tears spilled down my cheeks, beyond my control.

The Tritan shrugged. "He is an enemy to the Collective. And she is quite the prize. You should know..." He walked up, towering over me. "We will find another way to eliminate him. If you refuse, I will guarantee a painful and public death for him and your General. At least this way, Bin's last day will be spent in the company of a friend with a painless demise."

This spiraled deeper into Hell. Beyond my understanding. "Why?"

"Never before have you refused. The others will not understand the diversion from the typical response. I have no desire to answer for it. Do this. Do as I say, or I will exact consequences to compensate for the unending trouble you cause me."

Nonsense. He spoke utter nonsense with pure venom. Just another reason to liberate the Collective from Tritan tyranny. Blatant displays of power. And for what? Amusement? The Probabilities they went on about?

Sick to my stomach, I asked, "Why on his homeworld?"

"Because it will amuse me to watch you travel through the conduits as if I am not surveying your every move, boy. It is unnecessary for you to know the reason. Kill him."

His impressive height bothered me less than his tone. This didn't matter to him, aside from how much I inconvenienced him with my indecision. "The nacre programming for Celindria?"

He grinned and nodded downward.

The nausea surged as I took his meaning. Once on my knees, I gazed up at him, seething.

He angled his head, implying more.

I hated him. My eyes burned with it. Those weren't tears of shame. Those were tears of rage. I kissed his boot.

"Good boy."

My jaw clenched tight enough to break my teeth.

He knelt before me with that infuriating grin. "Now, steel yourself. This will hurt until you pass out."

I frowned. "What about the tranquilizers?"

He shrugged. "I require recompense for your defiance. Keep clenching your jaw, Nox, and just think of sinking your teeth into her."