Celindria was meant to be my peace. Yet once I returned home, I found myself avoiding her. Lost in my shame, I couldn't face my reward for an atrocity I committed. I spent day and night tending the needs of both the Icari and humans populating our city. Perhaps I could make amends that way.

Korac returned a scroll. "That was the last on the docket. The humans are more bold than ever with their thievery. Shall we implement systematic discipline as a deterrent?"

Colita administered from the fortress. She learned to practice restraint with her crueler measures and showed an interest in human society that I encouraged her to explore. She thought hard before she offered, "I recommend public whipping and confinement, your majesty."

The General's white brows popped high. "I cannot say I disagree, necessarily. But I will dole out the punishment. Not you."

She harrumphed. "Very well."

Once they finished quibbling, I nodded my agreement. "We will need to discuss variants and circumstances before we determine guilt--"

"Your majesty?" Celindria walked into the throne room. Transparent cloth cupped her breasts and flowed from her belt, covering only enough for decency's sake. Ribbons adorned her long braids. Kohl lined her striking blue eyes.

Korac whispered, "Sire..."

I startled out of my staring. "Yes, Celindria?"

"I request an audience. Alone."

My General glared at her with open disdain.

Colita threw her head back and laughed. "Why would he evict us for a mutt?"

I snarled. "That is enough, Colita. Dismissed." I turned to Korac. "General, I will find you at a later hour."

He nodded and escorted Colita by the arm out of the room as she all but spit at me.

Once alone, the first Progeny approached the throne.

"Celindria, let me apologize for my busy schedule--"

She climbed onto me and sat astride me. Placing my hands on her waist, she leaned in to kiss my neck.

Her lips and skin were soft. Her scent was intoxicating. With no response from the "leash," nothing stood between us. Except... "Celindria, stop."

She obeyed. "What troubles you?"

I repaid her usual candor with my own. "The price I paid for you was very high. My conscience weighs on me."

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Celindria searched my eyes. "Was it not worth it?" She lifted my hand and kissed my palm.

I swallowed and shook my head. "I cannot imagine anything that would make what I did worth it."

She brought her face close enough to mine that our lips brushed. "Nox, allow me to convince you. Claim me. I am your reward, and I promise I am worth it."

I'm sure you don't want to read the rest of this encounter. No one saw us for weeks. I had millions of years of loneliness to reconcile, and she guided me through it.

When I finally resurfaced from my duties, I'll admit I was whistling my own tunes. I understood Korac's blissful behavior better in those moments.

The same day, I was happy to learn Andrius brought his family to visit my castle on Cinder. He requested an audience with me, and I wanted the opportunity to ask after Xelan.

"King Nox." He bowed to me.

I stopped him. "I consider you and the Progeny family. Please, have a seat."

"You first, your majesty."

I sat. I remember distinctly not wanting to sit, but I was compelled to sit anyway. Shaking myself, I smiled as he sat across from me. "Your children are truly beautiful. They have your eyes. Do you intend to raise them on Earth or Cinder? I can help you establish on either."

He raised a hand to stop me.

I had every intention of continuing my offers. But I stopped almost involuntarily. I frowned at him.

He smiled and shrugged dismissively at my confusion. "I appreciate your generosity. And I will consider your offer." A weariness wiped the friendly expression away. "However, I came here to discuss my sister, Celindria."

I raised a brow. "Please, go on."

"When she first asked to live here, I assumed she wanted better access to Cinder and its wonders. But now I understand she wanted access to you and all that may entail. I am unsure as to what end."

I leaned back in the seat and steepled my fingers to my lips. Interesting that he suspected our romantic involvement. We weren't public with our relationship.

Andrius thought hard about his next selection of words. "She is not usual."

I nodded. "I agree. I find her quite extraordinary as well." But something in his choice of words gnawed at me.

"When we were first made, everything was very confusing and startling. But not for Celindria. She understood and accepted the circumstances with clarity. And then..." He swallowed as if he found the next difficult to say. "She strangled T.A.O. until the girl disappeared. Until she discovered her ability. She did the same to all of us. This was day two."

I frowned. Disturbed. "Why do you think that is?"

He relaxed somewhat at my acceptance of his allegations. "Celindria knew of our abilities before we did. And she knew peril triggered them. But we were alive only hours. There are other abnormalities."

"I would like to hear them."

"We are unaware of her abilities, but we know she possesses them. Many of them." He stood then and paced the floor. "I have never seen her eyes in Atramentous. She often appears out of shadow. She speaks in nonsense of what can and will be--"

I stiffened. "Does she mention the Probabilities?"

"Yes, occasionally. What are they?"

"A blight on our people. Tritan theology." I stood. I'd heard enough. I held my hand out to him. "Thank you for this information. I am in your gratitude."

He clasped my wrist. "Thank you, your majesty."

That night, Celindria joined me in my chambers. She curled up at my side and traced shapes on my chest. "My brother visited, today."

Arms folded beneath my head, I stared at the ceiling, willing my life to make sense. "Yes." Short non-committal answers.

"I heard he requested an audience with you." She scratched her nails down my stomach.

I reacted as she wanted, and she kissed my hip on her way down. "He requested a farmstead for his family." I lied to her as she tended me.

The stone ceiling offered me no guidance. What misery awaited me at the end of this thread? What was the woman climbing on top of me capable of? And as Celindria took what she wanted, why did I feel as if I'd been outmatched?