{Cinder}

Bones missed King duty with Para. At least he was having fun when naked with her. Lamassau sat across the table from him, fully clothed and collecting the Icarus’ entire snack hoard. Meanwhile… boxers and socks. That was it.

“I secretly hope Tumi visits with you like this. Quite the scandal.” The Tritan’s non-eyebrows bounced with mischief.

Refusing to give up, Bones tossed in his socks. “Call.”

“I don’t need those, honestly. But I’ll take them.” Lam threw down his hand. “Three of a kind. Two’s.”

This was it. His moment. The Icarus proudly showed the winning hand. “Flush in spades. Pay up, cheater.”

The green Tritan touched a hand to his chest dramatically and scoffed, “I never cheat!” An ace—actually, completely, really—fell from the sleeve of his robe.

Bones quirked a brow before gesturing for the other man to fork over the pool. Which he did while grumbling about wanting to see boxers come off.

And that’s when Sagan walked into the pit. “Hey gents, I—Oh. Dammit.” Hands on hips, and the nose scrunched with the frown. “I have to knock now before entering here, too?!”

Well, not since he and Para realized Rayne could hear them getting it on. He and Lam exchanged a look before both bursting out in side-splitting laughter. Until the cheating bastard made a move for the pickle. Bones slapped his hand with a stern, “Hey!”

The axes made a trademark clinking as Sagan approached. He never realized until now how comforting he found the sound. Like things were all right in the world with that noise nearby. She looked a little thin and somewhat tired. But that’s war. Stress and no time for rest. The silver disc on her chest appeared fairly recently. Ugly thing.

Sagan caught him looking, and her face fell.

Bones started, “No, I was just wondering about your necklace—”

“Look!” Lamassau cried out and rudely pointed at the Martyr Complex.

It glowed with a warm light.

“She knows you’re here.” Bones smiled for her, and it brightened when the Seamswalker returned one of her own.

The smell of sand, ocean, and cotton candy chased away the ash. Warmth filled the room like Earth sunlight in summer. Not that Bones ever experienced the full brunt of it. Not that he could without combusting.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Sagan waved to them before Seamswalking to the island. From then on, he and the Tritan tried to ignore the private conversation within hearing range.

“They made Karter an Eminent. Can you believe it, Rayne?”

Hell, Bones couldn’t. He wanted to punch the air and cheer for his race and for Para, but that’d giveaway his accidental eavesdropping. The Tritan didn’t bother covering his shock. It bothered the Icarus. The other man looked horrified rather than excited.

Ask later.

“Jack is doing great. You’d be so proud. And Tameka is doing lovely. I’m so glad she finally told you about Pax. He’s so smart, Rayne. He’s just like his dad.”

Ouch. Bones came in after Xelan passed, but every Icarus knew of the Prince’s great deeds. Only they were considered sins for most of Bones’ life.

“Andrew is much better. Kyle helped orientate him to this reality. Only… well, now Kyle is acting weird. We’re checking on it soon. And do you remember Pehton? She kind of arrested you? But she’s super cool. I promise. Anyway, we’re helping her look for these children that all disappeared off Gait at once. Korac was the only one who wasn’t taken when he was little. It’s all tied together somehow. I was working with Razor to solve it, but…”

A heavy sigh sounded from the island. What sort of weight did the Seamswalker carry on her shoulders? Only two of her kind existed, and one of them exhibited shifty allegiances.

“My last pain experience is tonight, and I think after this I won’t be around him so much. That’s good. I know it’s good. I need to kick this habit and get rid of this port. But I don’t know. There’s something there. Rayne, I wish I could ask you. Was this how you felt about Nox? That maybe deep down there was something worth helping? And then he crossed a line and disappointed you too badly to come back, right? I’m afraid of what the line is for me, and how long before Razor crosses it.”

Lamassau and Bones both avoided looking at each other with matching faces that said, “Not my business.”

“So, I’m cutting myself off tonight before it’s too late. Then I’m meeting Tameka, and I think I’ll come right after to see you again. I miss you—” A sniffle, and the scent of salt carried over to them. “I love you. I can’t wait for you to get out of this coffin. I know you think the world is too delicate for you to touch it without breaking everything, but I know that’s not true. I trust you. I love you, and I trust you. Tomorrow. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

Both men tried to straighten themselves as if they overheard nothing. So by the time Sagan Seamswalked beside them, Bones was dressed and Lamassau was asking how to play Twister. Yea, right. Like the Icarus wanted Tumu to catch them playing that.

“Thanks for everything you’re doing, Bones. Chef.” Sagan hugged them both to Lam’s obvious astonishment.

The green Tritan flushed black as his blood.

It made her giggle, and Bones laugh into his bag of Cheetos.

“Ahem. Thank you, Progeny.”

Sagan shoved her hands in the pockets of her Lyriki coat and twirled like an anxious kid. “Well, I guess I’m off—”

“Won’t you stay for something to eat? We haven’t talked in a while.” Bones tempted her with a precious extinct Cheeto. She was worth sharing with.

As if sensing its significance, Sagan giggled and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. But I gotta head to Gait and then to Enki. Big night. I’ll be back tomorrow to see Rayne, and we can catch up, then?”

Lamassau took the Cheeto and grinned. “It’s a date.” Crunch.

Bastard.

“Tomorrow.”

And then perhaps the most innocent of the Progeny disappeared.