{Earth}

Heads.

“Are you done yet?” Andrew groaned for the third time. He waited, sprawled across an armchair, and mulled over their mission for the millionth iteration. Every scenario he played against the Probabilities. Brief hints on which threads led to which outcomes. He strove to navigate them. To understand the paths and ultimately pave the safest road for their strategy to follow.

The nose bleeds sucked.

“She’s almost ready, just one more spray. There.” Of course Lucas helped her. That “dress” was made with more straps than bondage gear and covered even less.

Sagan laughed nervously from the bathroom. “I’m glad Tameka did my makeup and hair before I left her place or I would’ve hogged your bathroom for two more hours. I’m ready. What do you think?”

“Thank fuck,” Andrew sighed and looked away from the infinity he imagined on the ceiling. To… Wow. “I think I’m mad you look so beautiful. Rayne did the same damned thing. What is with you two dressing up for the monsters?”

The Seamswalker glided in on actual glass slippers made in Pil. Little silver, glittery straps wrapped around her dainty ankles. Lucas sprayed silver glitter along her bare legs, hardened with toned muscle. Glitter on her arms and exposed chest. The dress belonged on a figure skater. Diamond studded straps laced across her neck, shoulders, and—ahem. The silver silk clung to her figure like a lover, deepening into a violet micro skirt that matched her eyes. Elegant. Ethereal. He approved. He disapproved of her jewelry. A cluster of diamonds spelled out General across her throat. Announcing her title and his. Loud. Assertive. Claimed.

Lucas followed her out with an expression of pride mixed with nausea. He even winced as he took in the entire ensemble. “He has a point. I wish you’d let me conceal or bedazzle that thing.” With an elegant gesture, he indicated the nacre port cover over her sternum.

The beam she gave them matched the wattage of the necklace. “I’ll take both your reactions as a compliment.” She even fluffed her hair, adorned by the same diamonds Korac wore on Volcano Day.

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“What will he think about it? You dancing with Razor in that?” Andrew despised the idea of a fight, but someone needed to play older brother here. He stood and took her hands in his. The silver nail polish even matched her Icarean lover’s eyes. “Hell, what will Razor think? The moment he sees you, he’ll know the statement you’re making here.”

Again with the sassy smile. “Let me worry about that.”

“At least borrow one of my coats.” Lucas headed for the closet, but Sagan touched his arm.

Tails. Throwback time.

Out of the bag she toted around for bigger things, she retrieved a black leather duster. Far too big for her. At least it wouldn’t drag the floor with her on those four-inch stilettos. The scent of frost and spruce filled the air. “I’ve got it covered. Thanks.”

Andrew blew out the air in his cheeks on a whistle. “Be safe.”

After the star of the show doled out hugs and kisses, she left without her axes for a mission more dangerous than she realized.

In her absence, Andrew frowned. He turned to Lucas and asked, “How did you find an exact match of Korac’s coat from Invasion Day?”

“It’s a gift,” the golden-eyed Icarus said with a graceful, dismissive wave. Within a second, his eyes hardened and shone with intensity. “Are we prepared to do this?”

“It’s time we responded. Kyle identified the locations. We scouted them out. We act tonight.”

Lucas walked out of the zeppelin first, dressed in another Armani suit. Andrew wore Iona security gear. All black. Shocker.

T.a.o. and Kyle waited for them at the burning fields. Andrew spared a thought for Silence. He wished she could join them, but the virus testing was more important. Pablo hoped to create a vaccine, more of a firewall, to block the nacre disabler. Let them keep at their work.

A war waited on the horizon of those black flames. The Shadow needed every weapon imaginable in their arsenal. Unlike the last war, they weren’t Xelan’s kids doing the best with what they had anymore. The Two Worlds depended on them. Hell, maybe all twelve considering the enormity of the threat they faced.

He clutched his chain. How would Rayne—

“Hey, man. You good?” Kyle fell back on his green crutch.

The smell of it antagonized Andrew’s nerves rather than settled them. “Yea. How are you, T.a.o.? Are you ready for this?” The little woman would perform most of the work.

Known for her madness, the First Wave Progeny’s single curt nod worried Andrew. But it would satisfy for now.

Lucas pressed a hand to Andrew’s back. Comforting. Reassuring.

Yea.

Only able to trust himself, Andrew flipped the coin again.

Heads. Exactly what he wanted to see.

“We start with Lukemore.”