Rayne’s human friend was interesting. Although, all Shadow must be interesting. At the vacant grin in Matt’s eyes, she nodded, assenting to his hunting conditions.
And there was no hunt more momentous than this one. To face Celindria’s agents with Rayne at Nox’s side and a circle of trained warriors at his back—What more could Nox ask for?
Of course, he knew the answer. Xelan and Korac, reunited and banded together for the sake of their people once more.
Nox’s brothers…
Soon.
At the very notion, Nox grinned and unsheathed his daggers. Violence was the only thing Imminent in this place tonight.
With Night Killer firm in hand, Rayne called, “Celindria, show yourself and let these people go!” Warmth and strength radiated from Nox’s lover, and his chest swelled with it.
The drone, named Puk, bounced while saying, “I can’t believe I’m fighting alongside the actual War King.”
With her dark blue eyes on the enemy, Lucy warned, “Watch out for the lightning.”
Matt nudged her in commiseration. “And the magnesium field is a doozy.”
Yito wondered aloud, “Will we be in the sequel, then?”
Puk jumped on this idea. “Ooo, yeah! I’ll bet Iuo lets me play myself since I have acting experience.”
Lucy teased, “Porn doesn’t count.”
The young girl with untamed hair and wildness in her honey-colored eyes snickered.
These were the soldiers who thwarted Imminent, secured an Aegis Dyson’s Sphere, and established an empire. Nox peered down at Rayne with a quirked brow, and she beamed. These were her people.
Meanwhile, Celindria’s agents stared until the tension swallowed all the fun remarks and left behind a bunch of anxious fighters, itching to make the first move.
Finally, the goth Lamian Prince on the right said, “I lost something precious today.”
The Mon3 drone straight ahead added, “And it cannot be retrieved nor repaired.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Over the speakers came, “I am owed what is mine.”
“And nothing will stop me from taking it.”
A hundred voices delivered the message in unison, ringing through the tomb.
Beside Nox, Rayne shivered as they both realized what Celindria wanted. Rayne lifted her eyes to him, and he loved her for what they said. She would fight to keep Nox out of Celindria’s clutches. He was no damsel in distress, but Rayne could act as his knight in shining armor anytime.
Rayne twirled Night Killer before planting it on the floor hard enough to form a crater. The sound thundered throughout the tomb. Staking her claim, she challenged, “Come and take him from me.”
Nox smirked and shook his head incredulously.
At his back, Puk vibrated with energy, murmuring, “Here we go…”
This wasn’t an action movie where enemies came in polite waves, one-by-one. All of Celindria’s agents attacked at once in a furious blur of kicks and punches.
Nox blocked the first blow to his chest with his arms crossed and kneed a female Luk in the face. She gasped, “Come with me,” before falling over with a bloody nose. Next came a Pil Dwarf in a mechsuit.
Rayne swatted her first comer with a deft blow to the head from Night Killer, rendering the female Caprent unconscious.
Matt sent his first opponent flying with one fantastic roundhouse kick, prompting Rayne to shout, “Non-lethal blows. We need to keep these people alive to reclaim their bodies.”
Yito cried, “Seriously?!”
Puk chuffed. “Good fucking luck there.”
Nox threw the Dwarf into the Icarus and Lamia behind him, clearing the way for Rayne to cartwheel kick a drone. When she fell back into Nox, he held her so she could dropkick the next opponent, a human Rayne tribute.
All around Celindria dug in a line here or there such as “Listen to me,” “Let me explain,” and “We can build the empire you wanted together.”
It sent a chill down Nox’s spine with each plea. How deluded was the First Progeny if she believed he would even entertain forgiving her after everything she’d subjected him and Cinder to? Let alone end his relationship with Rayne for Celindria?! It would betray all of Nox’s rehabilitation and any hope for a future with his brothers.
No chance.
Enough was enough.
Nox shouted, “Celindria, tell me what’s the point of this?”
Her agents paused and stared at him. One by one, they said, “We are the Eternal Bind.”
“Together we will rule Paradise.”
“And you will be all you were meant to be.”
“With me.”
The last they said all together.
Rayne glanced at Nox, and he shook his head, confounded.
Unwell.
Celindria needed Xelan’s care and a long incarceration. It was better than she deserved for all the evils she’d brought into this world, but thanks to Rayne, Nox could see execution wasn’t always the way. Celindria possessed a brilliant mind, and with the right rehabilitation, she could contribute her efforts to better Iona Pax and compensate for some of her wrongs.
In this vein, Nox said, “Lay down your arms, Celindria, and come with me. We can go to Xelan together and serve our time.”
The nearest female Icarus, a Valkyrie, asked, “You want me at your side?” There was an edge of hopefulness to the question which unnerved Nox.
Despite that, he holstered his daggers and reached for the Valkyrie. “Come out of hiding and join me.”
In Nox’s peripheral vision, Matt, Lucy, Puk, and Yito stood poised on the brink of combat, glancing between Nox and the Valkyrie. Rayne was watching him with something close to pride on her face.
This would make the right solution.
Nox felt it.
“Come with me, Celindria.”