FIFTEEN

Scorch

Life was peculiar at times.

With Sagan at his side, Korac ate breakfast across the table from Nox and Rayne. The War King had snuggled up to the former King of Cinder, while keeping her close with an arm around her waist. Their glances were loving and sad.

Life, Korac found, was far more often cruel.

He would give a good deal for a return to the playfulness of yesterday—Minus the bizarre foursome vibes. Instead, they sat here in silence like it was Nox’s last meal. The way the former King of Cinder’s gaze slipped to Rayne as if he was memorizing her features belied his otherwise peaceful resignation. And Rayne…

‘Devastated’ wasn’t a strong enough word for her crestfallen demeanor. The most powerful warrior in the galaxy slouched like a kicked puppy, stealing glimpses of Nox when he wasn’t looking.

Korac had overheard her profession of love in the night, but he knew Nox had slept through it by his breathing. Razor and Iuo were right. This love story was worthy of a dramatic franchise.

“I’ll bring Xelan here myself,” Korac volunteered.

The three at the table looked up from their despondent meal, blinking. So he continued. “It’s best to bring him to you. Let him see evidence of your peaceful cohabitation, of Nox’s ability to reform like a civilized member of society. Or whatever.”

Sagan beamed at Korac, which always made his chest swell. She said, “That’s a wonderful idea, and without the other shadow around, we can gently immerse you into the group.” She nodded toward Nox.

He said, “I appreciate you both risking yourselves by vouching for me.” Despite the optimism in his words, the former King of Cinder’s black eyes were flat.

Realism was a bitch.

A grateful smile tugged at Rayne’s lips. “This could work, but…” Korac watched the smile fade on her face as she said, “I want to be the one to tell Xelan about you.” She reached over and took Nox’s hand, meeting his eyes. “About us.”

When Nox kissed Rayne’s forehead, the gag reflex Korac swore he’d trained away kicked in. After making a disgusted sound, he said, “Please. Stop. I can’t take much more.”

Sagan leaned on him, grinning into his face. “Aren’t they so cute?” She exaggerated the syllables in the word, making them worse.

Begrudging, Korac admitted the sight of Nox and Rayne gazing at each other with affection sparkling in their eyes was best-case scenario. But not even Sagan’s endearing sweetness could make Korac say it aloud.

After the last two nights of sharing a bed with three other people, Korac wanted a night in his bed in his chalet with his two favorite girls. However, he couldn’t rest, knowing he didn’t do everything he could for the sickening couple in front of him. He said, “We’re heading out now.”

Rayne and Nox quit gazing at each other and focused less happy expressions on Korac.

Sagan frowned—near pouting. But these things were best handled quickly. The human idiom of ‘ripping off the Band-aid.’

For some levity, Korac pointed a stern finger at the couple. “Start nothing while we’re gone. We’ll be back in ten minutes or less and the last thing your case needs is for Xelan to walk in on you… mating.”

He relished the way the color drained from Nox, while Rayne flushed the same crimson of Korac’s favorite silk kimono.

Sagan shoved him so hard he almost fell off the barstool. “Stop it.” To Nox and Rayne, Sagan said, “He’s not wrong, though. We’ll be back soon.”

Korac did not restrain himself from enjoying the view of his wife’s ass when she bent over the island to take Rayne’s hand. Amid the consoling gesture, Rayne’s eyes flicked to his, and a communion flashed there. He appreciated the view enough for the both of them.

Without batting an eye or flexing a muscle, Sagan opened a conduit behind her. She and Korac gave a final wave before stepping through. For the life of him, Korac would never forget the expression on Nox’s face.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Pure.

Dread.

Korac could count on one hand how many times he’d seen fear in those black eyes. It gnawed at him that a meeting with Xelan—the baby brother—would evoke such anxiety in an Icarus Korac knew had defeated dragons bare-handed. This was wrong on so many levels.

But by Elden, Korac would make it right.

They Seamswalked into Tameka and Xelan’s kitchen.

Intrigued by the destination, Korac raised a brow at his wife.

Unabashed, Sagan smiled. “What? I’ve lived forty-eight hours on eggs. I’m starving.” Then she proceeded to raid the imperial fridge.

“Uncle Korac!”

Pax came tearing through the living space like a redheaded tornado before jumping into Korac’s waiting arms. “Umph! Kid, you’re getting too big for these kinds of hugs.”

“Hee! I exercise every day to be as big as you, dad, and Uncle Nox.”

The couple exchanged a look.

As Pax beamed, Sagan ruffled his hair with one hand and took a bite out of a sandwich suited for Matt with the other. She said, “Speaking of your dad, do you know where he is?”

“Xelan’s helping with Miy and Twenty-One’s training on the ship.”

Tameka.

Pax wriggled to get down. When Korac let him go, he ran and tugged on Tameka’s double-breasted top. “Mommy, can I go to space?”

Sagan glowed in the proximity of the boy’s cuteness, but Korac was trying to curb his envy. How did Xelan’s mate pull off yellow and Tartan print so well?

“Maybe with the next ship, baby. I still want you close to me.” Tameka squeezed her son with a warm sound, but her eyes were full of suspicion for Korac. “I thought you went on a retreat?”

With a mouth full of food, Sagan made noises to communicate.

To Korac’s astonishment, Tameka responded, “Yeah. I’ll go with you. Jeez, I think I need to start paying Lamassau for watching Pax.”

“Uncle Lam is teaching me to breathe fire.”

Korac’s eyes went wide. “I demand a demonstration.” He held out both hands. “Give me ten for being the coolest kid I know.”

Only after Pax slapped them did Korac notice the adoring look in the females’ eyes. He ducked his gaze, saying, “We’d best get on with it.”

With her yellow pants breezing around her legs, Tameka headed out of the room with Pax, saying, “I’ll ask Lam, and then we can go.”

“She wears it so well, doesn’t she?” Sagan asked, with a knowing smile for her husband. The sandwich was long gone except…

Korac wiped a bit of mustard off her mouth. “Have I mentioned that I love how well you know me?”

Sagan smiled, but it was sad. “I know how scared you are about this conversation.” Before he took it away, she captured his hand and cupped it against her face. “But I also know how important it is for you to hide. I just wanted you to know I see it, and I love you more for it.”

“Until Eternity takes me…” Korac kissed her, but there wasn’t time for much. He broke away to say, “I need to call Pehton.”

Sagan dared to poke his nose. “Go ahead. I need to drink all of Wingmaster’s orange juice to wash down the sandwich.”

Korac chuckled as he walked into the living room and selected Pehton’s frequency in his palm device.

Like always, the Lyriki Warden answered on the first ring. “Oh, how like you to call now at all times.” Her feathers were in disarray and…

“My ferocious Pehton, where are your clothes?” Korac smirked as she tightened the sheet around her.

Her obvious frustration crooked his lips further as Pehton warned, “Careful, Korac. You’re starting to sound like Razor.”

“Good evening, General.” Caedes sounded more amused than put-out.

Korac had to admit he was starting to like the bald Icarus. To him, Korac nodded. “Soldier.” To Pehton, he said, “You were right. I was keeping a secret from you, but if it makes you feel any better, I also kept it from Sagan.”

Pehton’s mouth gaped opened. Shut. Then she scowled, “Of course it doesn’t make it better. Have more respect for your mate. Now… Tell me everything.”

Without looking beyond Pehton, Korac knew Caedes was still in the room with her. Korac said, “I will, but we need to discuss it in private—”

“If it’s about Nox and Rayne, I already know.” Caedes was frank as fuck, and it was another quality Korac liked about him.

And of course Caedes knew. Korac confirmed, “The races…”

Caedes stood and stretched in the background, saying, “Mhmm.”

Pehton frowned, properly perplexed. “Someone better tell me what’s going on and what two deceased Kings have to do with it.”

“Nox is alive.” Korac dropped it in her lap.

The widening of Pehton’s garnet eyes always appealed to the sadist in Korac.

Sagan wandered over with an empty carton of orange juice as Korac continued. “Rayne is also alive. They’ve been living in sin together in one of Xelan’s safe houses on Thailea and now I have to take Xelan there and break it to him gently. I could use your council.”

His wife’s gentle hand on his shoulder helped ease some of Korac’s anxieties as Pehton chewed on the new information.

“Well… Obviously, transparency is vital. We’ve learned that much from your Verses, and I assume you’re hoping Xelan doesn’t kill Nox on sight?”

Korac swallowed and gave a single nod.

Pehton shook her head in a discouraging gesture before saying, “I mean, the good news of Rayne returning to the Shadow is almost the perfect counter to Nox being alive—Which how—No, never mind. I expect a full report when you catch a breather. Until then, try to spin this as positively as possible. Nostalgia. Rayne. Perhaps a key to Celindria and… Oh!” Her face fell, and she groaned, “Oh…”

When Pehton’s eyes tripled in size, Korac knew she’d reached the same conclusion about Nox and Rayne that he had. He glanced at Sagan, who frowned a little. His wife was brilliant enough to puzzle it out on her own, but perhaps she didn’t want to. Because this would not bode well for the Kings of Cinder.

Korac said, “I believe you’ve arrived at the correct conclusion.”

“What?” Sagan prompted them.

Pehton gestured for Korac to be the bearer of bad news, and it fucking sucked. He wiped a hand down his face and sighed. “We think Nox and Rayne are the Eternal Bind.”

Sagan’s shock lasted half a second before dismay drained her tanned complexion. “No… Oh, no. Rayne…”

And out of all the things to say right at that moment, Caedes’ “humph” about summed it up.