In the two plus years in which Nox had lived within Rayne’s consciousness, never once did he let himself imagine inhabiting his own body again. And never once did he imagine leaving her side. When Rayne proposed separate, dual missions, he’d swallowed the aversion to letting her go. Now…

Reipon boasted green oceans and four moons in the night sky. Nox easily lifted twice more than the other dock hands and carried the cargo over to a Prince’s ship. Or yacht, luxury cruiser—Whatever. The royal Lamia’s harem of women from all around Iona Pax giggled and waved at Nox while he worked undercover for his last contact. Millions of years of practice ignoring advances made it easy for Nox to lower his eyes and stay focused on the task. One deck below and two right turns brought him aft with the engines. There, a Lamia in coveralls with a utility belt waited.

“It is you,” Celindria’s contact said, drawing out the ‘S’ sound.

Nox ignored the recognition, not willing to argue. The last two contacts had made him before the bruising started as well, but Nox was generous enough to leave them breathing. Imminent filth. He couldn’t keep the disdain from his voice as he said, “Tell me everything. Or don’t. I came here for information, and if you give me what I want, I’ll leave your jaw intact.”

The Lamia jeered, “The angel will be so pleased to know you’re alive—”

Thrown up against the wall, face smashed into the Lukemore plaster—Celindria’s contact would need to bill her for his two front fangs.

Nox growled against the back of the Lamian engineer’s head, “Why is Celindria recruiting? And why are these people so indebted to her that they can’t refuse her?”

“Debt?” The Lamia choked the word out through purple blood and drywall dust. He drawled more on his ‘S’s as he said, “It’s why they exist. Celindria won’t care if you kill me, but you already know how casually she murders.”

Frustrated, Nox let Celindria’s contact go and stepped back.

Cartilage popped and adjusted as the minion hissed, “Join Celindria. No one will survive her procession through the empire. You could be Emperor to her Empress. Why fight it?”

Nox scoffed. “You fool. Have you not read the Verses? She’s wronged me and the ones under my ward unforgivably.”

“One need not forgive to accept their fate. Unless…” The sneer which spread across the engineer’s face sickened Nox as the contact insisted, “I could understand preferring Rayne to Celindria, but she’s dead. Is she not?”

Nox remained silent.

As if his quiet confirmed the truth, a grin split the Lamia’s face in a poisoned crescent. He said, “What a magical lay the War King must’ve been. You bedded her once for the entire Vast Collective to see, and now you’re some redeeming saint. I wonder if fucking her righteousness would absolve me of my sins?”

Nox spent the next hour detaching the Lamia’s scales, one by one, until he tore out the bastard’s nacre. Intelligence derived under duress wasn’t trustworthy, but none of this was forthright.

Volition.

Nox had wrenched that much from the contact. Celindria was dallying once more in volition—

“We invite the entire Iona Pax to attend.”

Sagan.

The Lamia’s severed hand opened a seal to his engineering quarters. Nox entered, listening to the wedding announcement and public invitation.

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“Join us for the reception on the Palatial Grounds in Ishkur. Celebrate the union of Earth and Cinder—the formation of Iona Pax with us.”

Perfect.

After a well-concealed body disposal, Nox grabbed more cargo and hauled it off the ship under the guise of his ‘job.’ Once on the dock, he stopped to admire the ocean, dripping in moonlight. Often when things went quiet, mostly in the easiness of the night, his thoughts turned to Rayne. How was she doing alone in her head with all those memories and emotions he’d experienced with her? In their extreme intensity. Was the quiet strength she’d developed to endure them enough to get her through each night?

Rayne should afford herself more breaks. Enjoy what warmed her, what she found beautiful. What made her laugh. Nox wanted this for her. More than anyone he had ever known, Rayne deserved peace.

Once more on the docks, Nox stared out at the ocean, where waves yawned and stretched beneath their sleeping silver lovers.

It was time to return to Rayne. This spell apart was good for them, an exercise in independence, but in his bones he knew. Nox was sure of the perfect occasion for the rendezvous.

“All of Iona Pax knows why we gather today.”

That was Iuo’s voice coming over the speakers throughout the Palatial Grounds as Nox wended through the crowd. Yes. He was wearing a cloak with the hood pulled dramatically over his head. Some part of him knew Korac would find this hilarious. Even Rayne would snicker, but it was out of necessity. Nox’s features were too recognizable.

The King Elect of Reipon continued, “Welcome to the union of General Sagan Sterling and General Korac of Cinder. In a beautiful blending of two races with a tempestuous history, this couple honors their unioned traditions to celebrate the establishment of our unified galaxy. The strife may not completely end with this ceremony, but hope will convey beyond it. A beacon we’ll trust to follow on our journey to Eternity. So, no pressure, you two.”

Over the speakers, Nox made out giggling. Definitely Sagan. Korac’s laughter followed, and Nox smiled at the familiar sound.

Those among the Shadow made bets on how long this union would last. Some voices were familiar, while others were new.

Nox smirked at how each of them grossly underestimated Korac’s obsession with his Progeny partner as Nox picked his way through the crowd. Most female attendees were Rayne tributes, but Nox had spent his life with her. They couldn’t confuse his senses. He sought the beach and summer vacation. The gentle glow to her skin, and the fullness of her hair. Their heart beat was slowed for her, at peace, as was Nox even in his search for Rayne.

At the absurd gambling amounts, Sagan laughed until Korac said, “One million credits.”

The audio went silent in the wake of his proclamation to the persistence of their relationship.

Nox couldn’t stop himself from grinning with a chuckle.

Iuo started again. “Ahem. Yes. In front of those who stand witness, exchange your vows of union. From these words forth, you are wedded and belonging to each other.”

Korac’s smirk was in his voice. “Sagan Sterling, state your terms.”

Elation in her words, Sagan said, “All of it to you.”

After a pause blazing with joy, Korac offered, “Take from me what you need.”

Sagan’s voice trembled. “Give to me what you want.”

Together, they finished, “Until Eternity takes me, I’m yours.”

Korac was unioned, and Nox had been alive to see it. His chest swelled, and he hoped to one day congratulate his former General in person—

There.

Nox recognized Rayne, in hooded coat with her back to him. Even so, he knew without a doubt it was her. The cut of her shoulders fit the smell of Earth ice cream. Rayne watched on as the Shadow filed into the wedding reception and took up the dance floor.

She looked lonely, and that was an affront Nox wouldn’t abide. “Why don’t you go to them?”

A rush flooded through their shared pulse, flushing Nox with a thrill. This was unexpected. What did this reaction mean?

Under her hood, Rayne faked composure with a sideways glance in his direction. She said, “It might be hard to explain you.”

Nox smirked, asking, “Can you imagine the gift it would be?”

Rayne shifted uncomfortably before saying, “It’s better this way. Look at them—Thriving. They don’t even know their enemy is alive, let alone at this event.”

Nox’s hood shifted as he looked down at her. “You believe Celindria is here?”

“I know.” Rayne sounded beyond certain. “But it’s far too public to attack and not really her style.”

The very notion of their enemy so close to his nephew and best friend left Nox nauseated and enraged all at once.

Rayne changed the subject, gazing out at the reception. “I’ve never known a couple so perfect for each other.”

“Quite.”

Straightening her shoulders and raising her chin, Rayne asked, “Are you ready to get back to work?”

With sarcasm thick in his voice, Nox declared, “To defend the Concerted Empire anonymously against its greatest threat? Why, yes. I’m always ready.”

“Let’s go.”