{Reipon}
“That’s right, Jack. Keep your distance—”
“Kyle, what’re you on about?”
Andrew’s nosy intrusion startled Kyle from his perch at the bar where he watched Rayne’s little brother lure Kyle’s little sister in with the trademark Callahan charm. Grumbling, he dismissed the other Progeny. “I’m looking out for Ross.”
The other man humphed. “Well, I’m sure she appreciates you invading her agency and privacy.”
Disgusted, Kyle turned all the way around to give Andrew the full force of his irritation. “It’s not like that, man. I don’t want her to think that because we’re in the predicament we’re in that she has to settle—”
“For the only hot teenage boy who happens to be the strongest person in the house and shares Rayne’s more endearing qualities? Oh, my, do save her from disaster.” Andrew slapped the back of his hand to his hairline and feigned a faint. “Whatever will she do?”
“Fuck. Off. Holt. Nobody asked you.”
Andrew pointed out the door like a chump. “And she didn’t ask you.”
Rolling his eyes, Kyle turned back to his drink. “It’s implied with the job description. This is how big brothers act.” That should’ve been enough to put Andrew in his place, but apparently—
“I think your other sister needs your attention more than the grown woman outside enjoying a grown man’s company.”
Oh. That was so not the place to go. “You’ve never come closer to me wrecking your entire understanding of the here and now, dude.”
Andrew’s teal eyes flashed at the threat. “Bring it, Roberts. I’ll have you bent over kissing your own ass—”
“Lady and Gentlemen! We invite you to the newest update on the Vast Collective’s Most Wanted!”
Thank Elden for Bones’ good timing and the perfect diffusion of his terribly amused voice.
Korac walked by the door of the lounge in time to catch the announcement, with Sagan at his side. Excitedly, she bounced. “Oh, goodie! I wonder what they raised us to this time?” The blond Progeny jumped over the back of a sofa and laid out on the cushions. Korac leaned on the couch with an endearing expression for his girl. It was a display of affection that Kyle had grown accustomed to after moving into the house. The couple were sickeningly sweet to one another all over the place.
And Elden, could Kyle be more of a jealous sourpuss?
He turned back to Andrew and, despite every combative fiber of his being, muttered, “Sorry, man. I wouldn’t really rearrange your memories.”
Andrew squeezed his shoulder. “Good. I really didn’t wanna see you kiss your own ass.”
Ross strolled in with the perfectly upstanding and fine young man that Jack Callahan grew into over the last three years. But that didn’t mean Kyle had to like the notion of those two together. Maybe this was therapy-worthy.
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Devis and Twenty-One watched from their armchairs with drinks ready to cheer. Iuo and Bones took to the center of the room. The three-dimensional projection illuminated from the Lamian Prince’s palm.
First up, Andrew.
Bones read the bounty aloud. “A whopping ten million credits for ‘Conscience, the Will Twister.’”
Andrew grimaced. “‘Will Twister?’ Sounds like a male stripper’s name.”
Kyle burst into laughter.
Iuo shouted, “Not so fast, ‘Story Taker, Memory Raper.’”
Andrew snickered as Kyle frowned and searched the laughing faces in the room. Grumpy, he quipped, “Who came up with these names? Xelan?”
“The Tritan in him demands ridiculous monikers,” Devis explained while ribbing Twenty-One, who frowned.
“I like those names.”
Kyle dismissed the hefty Icarean soldier with a wave and waited for his bounty.
Bones proceeded once they hushed, “Kyle, you’re worth another ten million credits. Not bad. Not bad.”
Iuo blinked his black and blue eyes. “This has become such a strange custom. Next is…”
Tameka appeared in the three-dimensional projection.
“Fifty million credits!” Bones whistled while the others cheered. He promised, “Fury a.k.a. ‘Powerhouse!’ If it gets much higher, I’m turning you in myself!”
Korac huffed. “Good luck.”
Sagan beamed at him for bragging about her sister.
“Oh, Pehton. Timely of you to show because I believe you’re next.” Bones waved for the orange-feathered Lyrik to wander further into the room.
Korac offered to get Sagan and her a drink. “Please!” “Orange juice for me.”
The former Executive Warden appeared in Iuo’s palm as predicted. “Twenty-five million credits. Very impressive, ‘Rogue Warden.’” Bones hammed this up entirely too much, but it dragged a smile out of Pehton, who Kyle knew needed it after losing a soldier today.
In fact, that’s what all of this was about: trying to find some levity in this shit. Kyle understood and indulged in the good humor.
“Seamswalker, you’re next.” Bones grinned at the blond peaking over his shoulder.
“C’mon. What am I worth?”
Pulling her against his side, Korac assured, “More than they could ever offer.”
Sagan kissed him. So much kissing. It was gross. Pehton’s orange juice sloshed as she took a step back from it—
Iuo gasped, and Bones gaped before announcing, “A whopping seventy-five million credits for the destruction of Gait.”
Ross clapped, and Jack whooped.
Sagan high-fived Twenty-One and Devis. “That’s right! I’m the best—”
“Not even close…”
The hushed tone turned them all to Bones. He wasn’t smiling anymore and the blue blood drained from his complexion. Iuo swallowed and took the spotlight from the spooked Icarus. “The Tribunal is offering six hundred million credits for Korac, ‘Silver General of the Icarean Armies.’”
Quiet.
Only their breathing filled the room.
People were desperate in the Vast Collective, many of them born to slavery in all but name. Six hundred million credits could buy a moon on Yu. Or a palatial villa on Reipon, much like this one.
Tumu’s image projected next followed by Rayne’s. Everyone stared at the new bounties with lost, wide eyes and shaking hands.
Kyle wet his lips before breaking the quiet. “Bones, what are they offering for them?”
He shook his head, too stunned to answer.
Iuo replied, “Tumu, Escaped Officer, and Rayne, War King—”
Xelan’s image appeared at the last.
“—Traitor Prince of Cinder. No credit amount given. Instead, it says, ‘Hazard risk level black. If provided any news as to their location, compensation will exceed the responsible party’s family line three-fold. Approach with caution. If apprehended and returned to Enki alive, compensation will exceed the responsible party’s family line five-fold. Do so at your own risk.’”
Enki offered freedom from generational poverty for a woman trapped inside their Dyson’s Sphere by Celindria, Remorse, and Silence—
Don’t think about her.
—Rayne didn’t even destroy the promenade on Pil.
“This is fucked,” Kyle offered to no one asking for it.
Iuo’s next words left a chill in the room. “Our goal was to unite the Vast Collective against Imminent, but now Imminent has united the Vast Collective against us.”