{Reipon}

Pax snuggled into Tameka, who snuggled into Xelan. Although purring for her, the Prince of Cinder couldn’t sleep. And not because of toddler snores.

He looked through the nacre glass ceiling of their room, the highest in the villa. Stars sparkled beyond that amber, unbreakable shield. A waterfall splashed beside him, reminding him of home. But the stronghold was compromised now, wasn’t it?

He harbored all these memories of events he never witnessed. They helped fill in most of the gaps. But so much still made little sense.

Xelan gently eased out of the bed so as not to wake his little family. As he watched, they drew even, easy breaths. Sweet enough to pull on his heart. He missed so much with them and swore to never miss another moment.

Except the next few.

He left the room on a whisper to search their sitting room for a book. An important volume. One he wasn’t sure he wanted to read until Tameka and Korac insisted so passionately earlier that day. He withdrew Nox’s Verse from the white pillowcase and sat in the nearest chair-shaped object.

“I’m not the monster you think I am. I am much worse.”

Xelan rubbed the knot in his skull. His heart pressed there, pleading with him to go no further.

From earlier, he recalled Tameka’s bright green eyes flashing with earnest. And Korac’s white eyes sparked with injustice.

It took Xelan three hours to read it. He set it aside from him many times to frown over his brother’s version of events. The man in this book expressed compassion and patience while the younger brother came across as demanding and ungrateful at times.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Maybe Xelan was. How could he know? Nox never actually communicated any of this. Not to him, and apparently not to Korac—

The Prince clenched his fist until his palms bruised at the notion he owed the General an apology.

Then there was Rayne…

She redacted so much that it left Xelan spiraling as he tried to infer the missing pieces. In what he thought was a dream, he trained Rayne to control the properties of the Weapon. Only one other being in the galaxy was as familiar with that technology as Xelan.

He smiled.

Rayne accomplished everything she set out to do, and so much more. Her kindness knew no bounds. But neither did her martyrdom.

Xelan frowned.

They said she’d reach out to him in his dreams, but how could she if he got no sleep.

With renewed purpose, Xelan set aside Nox’s Verse and returned to the bedroom. Tameka was awake, watching Pax breathe. She gifted Xelan with the most beautiful smile, full of love and peace.

Yes. This is what they deserved.

He climbed into the bed—

A knock sounded outside their suite. “Be. Right. Back,” he mouthed. He hated the instant worry on her face.

Iuo stood outside the door, and the swelling around his eyes said Tameka was right to worry.

Some time later they stood in the ruins of the pit at the bottom of Nox’s Castle. No Martyr Complex. No Rayne. Only the lake suspended in permafrost buried under black stone. With John…

This was full scale war against the most deadly entity in the Vast Collective. After the events of last night, it became a crusade. And Imminent was about to learn why Xelan was the most dangerous warrior in the galaxy. It was time for him to pick up where he left off.

He kept his back to the group of frightened and angry soldiers. Their tears fueled him. Their anger gave him courage. Quietly, Xelan declared, “We need a Primary. A Gargantuan Tritan. Not Enki’s Officer of the Third. It’s time to pick a side, Tumu.”

No doubt the Tritan saluted. “I’m with the Progeny and their Shadow. Remorse is no longer my people.”

Good. Because there was only course left to them, and Xelan tired of murky allegiances.

No more holding back this tide. With Tameka at his side, the Prince of Cinder faced his Shadow.

“We start with Gait’s children.”