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Singing.

Rayne awoke to the sound of singing. Not a chorus of angels, either. Queen’s Somebody to Love. It was so unexpected it pushed away the last remnants of exhaustion and drove her to sit up. The boardwalk. Surrounded by beach under siege by the dry storm. A heavy gust danced with her hair. And his.

Nox sat with his boots over the side of the boardwalk. In his hands, he worked at the rope made of shining nacre filament. And he was singing.

Rayne blinked.

“I woke not long before you. To my surprise. How am I still here?” The gigantic Icarus paused in his efforts to gaze at the lightning striking on the beach. So near to them, the multiple branches of silver light reached out as if to touch them. The flashes illuminated his face. Ozone permeated the air.

In that rich baritone, Nox asked softly, “Do you sense it, Rayne? Is that why you’re upset?” He gave her the full weight of his gaze.

Unable to take it, she looked away. “They fortified my nacre. I am forever a Weapon.”

Thunder cracked over them, sharing in her mood.

“Could you prevent it?” He sounded as if he knew the answer, but Nox wanted to hear it from Rayne.

The King of Earth and Cinder chafed her arms against the humid chill. Or maybe to hug herself because she didn’t want to answer.

“Rayne.”

She closed her eyes. Elden, how did Nox do that? Say her name with so much gravity. Unable to hide any longer, she bargained, “When Silence infected me, I didn’t have much choice. My nacre was rejecting yours and integrating it into mine. Consuming you.”

Even with her back to him, Rayne heard Nox stand and take a step toward her. Soberly, he pressed, “How did you stop it? What other options did you forgo in doing so?”

They both knew.

Rayne opened her eyes and faced him. “I integrated enough of my interface to force the nanites to recognize you as part of me.” She let the second question linger between them, afraid to answer. Afraid of how much her loneliness cost her. Afraid of how easily he understood.

Nox glanced her over. She knew he clocked her posture and recognized the display of self-comfort. Mercifully, he let her off the hook. “Are there any side-effects to this integration?”

“No idea. I was kind of in a pinch.” Grateful for his charity, Rayne smiled pitifully at him. A strand of her hair kept falling loose in the wind. She automatically tucked it away again.

Abruptly, Nox sat back on his knees, shortening himself almost to her eye level. This was a lot. His black gaze was so intense, this close. And so grave. Sobered by his next words. “Don’t risk yourself for me again. You’re far too vital to both our races. We can’t lose you. And with so many people who care about you, you are never as alone as you think you are.”

There was anger in his tone, but not with Rayne. More with the results of her decision. And with Silence for condemning her—them—to this.

The strand fell loose again. Nox swept it behind her ear. No lingering from him. No flinching from her. But lightning struck close with the contact. Her breath left her. Without another word, he stood and retrieved the rope.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Never as alone as you think you are. “Nox—”

Silence’s words sliced through the moment. “You fool!”

Abresson’s voice shriveled with his balls. “He was no one.”

Celindria never spoke truer words. “No one is ‘no one’ to the Shadow. That boy’s death will significantly impact our plans.”

Rayne’s heart stopped. Terrified, she looked at Nox.

He gazed through the clouds as if he saw through the Martyr Complex. The Icarus seethed at his nemesis’ regal tone. His fists clenched. He wanted them around Celindria’s throat.

So did Rayne after learning they killed one of hers. Who was it?

“It’s their reprisal for killing Three Two Four. We understand so little of Enki millions of years after winning it. And what of all the business he piloted for us? We stand on the verge of ruin without the last Aegis.”

Nox narrowed his gaze. “That’s the Primary.”

Outside. Outside of her. No way were they in the pit without guards.

“Maybe it wasn’t wise to wipe out their entire race, Remorse. Now the Shadow possess the Atheneum. The Exalted’s court and Razor held within.”

Lucas.

Rayne fell to her knees. “What the fuck happened while I was unconscious? Oh, Elden. Andrew must be broken.”

Nox stood at her side. It was the closest he’d come to offering her a hand, knowing she’d refuse to take it. It was both scary and funny that this man she executed knew her better than anyone.

Smith remarked, “Rayne was our retaliation for Three Two Four.”

Silence drew closer. “This girl hurt my family. Murdered my grandson and risked the identity of my people.”

Nox’s eyes doubled in size.

Rayne found it hard to breathe with all this information, and without knowing who they killed.

“And she drove the other one mad with concern for her. To where he easily sacrificed his own safety for hers.” Celindria. The fucking psychopath.

It took every ounce of Rayne’s restraint not to rise from the Martyr Complex and murder them all. She’d likely die trying.

So they waited.

Abresson schmoozed, “Here, here. Fortunately, Smith and Lucas provided us with accurate specifications for the Martyr Complex’s design. Our machine is compatible. With Karter on the Tribunal, we can rule this a fair relocation of the remaining forty-eight years in Rayne’s sentence.”

Smith asked a terrifying question, “What about Pax?”

“Don’t you worry,” Celindria assured. “We’ll collect my brother when it’s time.”

Rayne clenched her fists and teeth, ready to let everything go.

Remorse explained, “I already addressed the Seamswalker. We have three of their people and Rayne. The Educator’s death won’t affect the gambit enough to unbalance this advantage.”

They killed John.

Funny, eager to help, whiny, sweet John.

Rayne screamed, and the construct flickered. Sobs heaved from her lungs. She wasn’t awake to save him. She wasn’t there for them. How could she leave them—

Nox sat beside her. Silent. Solid. Not exactly stable. But something to draw strength from. Strength to hold back. Strength not to kill everyone and everything surrounding her, including herself.

“John.”

“Listen.”

Honestly, in that moment, Nox’s voice was a balm on Rayne’s broken heart. Enough to let her quiet herself and do as he said.

Not a sound came from the chamber. An eerie silence filled the space. Until…

Abresson’s voice trembled. “How can she affect the weather here?”

Remorse assured, “She can’t.”

Lucas sounded like he was smiling. “All you Tritans do is underestimate your enemies. Her majesty is leagues beyond your understanding.”

“Rayne, if you can hear me, I voted to leave you alone—Ow.” Smith cursed.

Silence ordered, “No less than two guards on her at all times. We need to gather the rest for a situation brief. Remorse, you’re with me. From hereon, you’re my second skin. And if you slip away even for a second, I’ll be wearing you. Are we perfectly clear?”

“Yes, Surra, Mother of my People.”

“Let’s go.”

The room fell silent. Rayne had hoped that when Imminent took her to their inner sanctum, they’d underestimate her. Like Remorse. But Silence—Nox and Xelan’s matriarch—was far more capable than the Tritans.

Bruised and tired, Rayne asked, “Where do you think we are?”

“Enki. Somewhere in the Pantheon.”

“The Pantheon.”

“That’s where I’d secure the greatest Weapon in the Vast Collective.”

Rayne stared out at the storm with that strand in her eyes. The first drop pelted her arm. Followed by a sound, like a thousand soldiers marched across the ocean from the west. When the deluge found them, Rayne was ready for the sky to pour its tears for her. They would all weep before this was over.

Take out the source.

Stop the cascade.

Finally.

It would end.