Xelan wanted to grin.

The thought of losing his older brother and former lover on the same day had chilled Xelan to the bone and nearly stopped his heart. When Rayne and Korac returned from the Seam in one piece, relief had washed over Xelan. Then Rayne resuscitated Nox and told him how she felt—Fulfilled the reason Xelan had dragged half the Shadow into the Oblivion Cathedral. He wanted to bask and cheer, but…

Celindria.

As Lucas convened with Silence and Tumu, Xelan kissed Tameka’s temple, ruffled Pax’s hair, and left them to approach the Aegis. The last Aegis, with Razor gone. That notion sparked some ideas, but they would have to wait.

Xelan asked, “Lucas—One?”

The man whom Xelan still considered a close friend smiled as if he felt the same. Lucas asked, “Yes? Oh. Of course.” After seeing the question in Xelan’s eyes, Lucas gripped him by the shoulders, saying, “Celindria’s fine. She chose happiness. Before she left, she asked me to give you this.” He rifled through his pockets before presenting a memory capsule.

Xelan took it and peered at it in his palm. For reasons he couldn’t explain—

No.

He knew why he was on the verge of tears. On Celindria’s way out of this world, she’d remembered to leave something for Xelan. A tiny hand slipped into his, and Xelan squeezed it. He asked his son, “Do you want to watch it together?”

Pax shook his head. “No, daddy. I know what it says. Sissy already told me goodbye.”

“Miss the heart and mind. No other like hers. But happiness will have sister now.” T.a.o. never waited for permission to hug. She simply threw her arms around Xelan’s neck and hung on.

Andrius and Devis waited off to the side. Xelan opened his arms to them, and they took the invitation. Although sorrow haunted Devis’ eyes, there was a flicker of relief, and Xelan hoped Devis found the strength to move on.

Andrius said, “We’re free, and so is she. This is more than I’d prayed for.”

Free.

Yes. That’s how this felt.

When they pulled away, Xelan found himself the center of everyone’s attention. Expectant faces of people he loved waited…

No time like the present.

Shaken, Xelan swallowed the capsule. It took him to the desert, and he recognized this was an expanse between the stronghold and the fortress. Between Xelan and Nox.

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“I was always in between.”

Xelan turned to find Celindria, dressed in white as always, but now her hair matched. Like Rayne’s. He wanted to interact with the recording, but it was only an interface.

Celindria’s image faced off to the side and gazed out at the desert. “Love and power. I was stuck in between because I couldn’t feel the former and my intelligence made the latter easy to come by.” A bitter smile spread across her lips. “I was jealous of you, father. Effortlessly, you found both. In all the Probabilities, you were loved, and you held the privilege of Princedom—No, I know that’s not fair. You were convincing and charismatic. Even those who didn’t know you as a Prince aligned with your objectives all for a glimpse of your trademark grin.”

On her profile, the bitter smile fell into a softness unlike Xelan had ever seen from Celindria. She said, “I was never easy to like or easy to love. For that, I am sorry. Yes. Here, in the end, I’m asking for your forgiveness.”

Abruptly, Celindria turned and faced Xelan. The vulnerability in her eyes as they filled with tears focused on him as if Celindria could see Xelan in the recording. “When the Probabilities were still, and I was alone in my empire—If the stars were aligned and the wind was right—I loved you. And I’m sorry I never said it. I’m sorry I ran from your help and made you chase me through a wake of destruction. I’m sorry for the mess I left you to clean up.”

More than anything, Xelan wished he could hold Celindria and tell her it would be all right—

Celindria ran across the sand and into Xelan’s arms.

Impossible.

Against Xelan’s shoulder, Celindria said, “One gave us this, and he gave me a choice.”

Xelan squeezed the daughter who’d never let him hold her before this moment and wept.

“I’ll do better this time. I promise. Whatever it takes, I’ll make you proud, father.” Celindria separated them and peered into Xelan’s eyes as she vowed, “I won’t waste the Shadow’s gift.”

Xelan kissed Celindria’s forehead. As they closed their eyes, he assured, “I know you won’t. I’m proud of you. And I love you more than you know.”

“Goodbye.”

When Xelan next opened his eyes, he was back in the shifting ravine of the Oblivion Cathedral. The scent of desert sand lingered in the air. Xelan wiped a hand down his face, removing the stinging salt of his tears. Tameka tucked herself against Xelan’s side and pressed her face to his chest. He needed the hug.

Over Tameka’s fiery curls, Xelan glimpsed Lucas, who bowed with his head.

Pragmatic and right, as always, Tameka said, “We have work to do.”

At her command, Xelan ordered, “Sagan, get us back to the rest. We have a mess to clean up, people!”

“You heard Wingmaster. Let’s get these people home,” Tameka echoed.

Xelan kissed her before he turned and found Rayne lifting Nox on her shoulder. Korac left Sagan’s side to slip under Nox and help. While Rayne was tall for a woman from her region, Nox’s enormous build made it awkward. For a moment, Xelan relived the fear of losing Nox.

Was it only for Rayne’s sake? Or was there more…

Surprising himself, Xelan squeezed Tameka before making his way over to the trio. “Here, let me help.”

The two Icarean males froze and stared at Xelan with wide eyes. Even Korac didn’t hide his shock.

But Rayne beamed, and it made the offer worth it. “Thank you.” She stepped aside and let Xelan shoulder his older brother.

They made eye contact for a moment, and the gratitude in Nox’s stare touched Xelan. There was hope for this future of theirs. The one Rayne chose despite the hardship ahead.

And seeing as Celindria chose happiness, perhaps Xelan was wise for embracing his sentimentality after all—

A groan interrupted the warm moment, and the Icarean brothers turn to find Kyle pinching the bridge of his nose. While Silence smoothed a circle over his back, Kyle said, “Now we’ll never hear the end of this from Iuo. There will be sequels—Prequels! What have you done?”

Xelan grinned.