Before the cameras on the Overseers following Nox, Korac, and Xelan went out, a terrible clamor thundered through the cave. Rock and dust exploded on the horizon, and everything went so still Rayne could hear a ringing in her ears. At the boys’ request, the girls had stayed with the Shadow in the stands. Tameka, Sagan, and Rayne waited in the first row to run into the winner’s circle. Only now…

Nox.

Rayne’s pulse was erratic, and she wasn’t sure if it was her or Nox’s panic.

“Mommy, what happened to daddy?”

Tameka put an arm around Pax while staring toward the caves. “Don’t worry, baby. Mommy’s will him.”

Without being asked, Sagan opened a conduit to the mountain, and the girls opened their wings.

Please let them be okay.

Rayne glanced up at the screen as Iuo appeared on it to say, “Ladies and gentlemen and those who refer to themselves differently, we’re experiencing some technical difficulties. Rest assured, we’ll be back online shortly.” She looked over at the Lamian King Elect in the stands and gave him a single nod.

Coming to the rescue from the second row, Tumu assured, “We’ll watch Pax and Echo.”

Lamassau had already sat Pax down and breathed a little fire to distract him.

Tameka nodded at the Primary. “Thank you.”

Right as the girls turned to fly in, Pablo called, “Wait!” He and Lynn rushed down the stairs with their chunky, healthy newborn strapped to his mother’s chest. The doctor held up a kit. “Always come prepared.” He kissed Lynn before stepping through the conduit with Tameka, Sagan, and Rayne.

Ahead of the other girls, Rayne soared over the mountain—No longer a mountain. More like a landslide. What were once solid walls had crumbled away and poured onto the beach below.

“Nox! Xelan?!” As Rayne shouted, the other girls echoed her from all around the formation.

An Overseer flew by, circling the ruin. They didn’t need the conduit to hear the gasps and cries from the audience. Rayne could hear it across the distant field.

Pablo called from the ground, “Try not to worry!”

He was right. All three Icari were highly upgraded and beyond resourceful. Their nacres would heal whatever damaged they’d sustained, and they were strong enough to climb out.

So where were they?

Right as Rayne thought it, her heartbeat steadied. Calm.

“Looking for us?”

Rayne spun, seeking the direction of Korac’s voice.

Sagan let out a delighted cry toward the field between the mountain and the coliseum. Nox and Korac stood in the tallest cranberry grass, waving.

Where was Xelan—

Oh.

The Co-Emperor wore a goofy grin as he waved from his older brother’s back.

“Xelan!” Tameka cried as she flew toward the competitors halfway to the winner circle.

Sagan opened a conduit in Tameka’s flight path, and all three girls went through it to appear beside their Icarean lovers. Another conduit opened for Pablo, who stepped through a second after. Given the amount of blood on the competitor’s clothes, Rayne figured Pablo was needed.

Tameka got there first. “Are you all right? Why aren’t you walking?”

Xelan held onto Nox’s back with one hand and staved her with the other. “I’m fine. Sorta. My leg is broken, but it’s healing—Tameka.”

She’d cupped both hands to her face. Rayne placed a hand on Tameka’s shoulder to assure her, while Sagan jumped into Korac’s arms.

“Ow. Ow. So worth it. Ow.” Korac hugged her and kissed her hair, but something was wrong with his shoulder.

Rayne tried to keep her composure, but she couldn’t help scanning them over. Her heart raced with anxiety, and when she met Nox’s eyes, it was apparent he knew it. There was so much reassurance and love in them. She asked, “Are you hurt?”

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“Only a little.”

Sagan clung to Korac, asking, “What happened with the cave-in?”

Pablo held a hand out to the girls. “Give them some room.” He went up to Nox. “Do I have permission to check you over?”

Nox nodded, and Pablo went to work.

Korac insisted, “The race isn’t over yet.”

Xelan barked out a laugh.

Pablo blinked at him.

Still gazing at Rayne, Nox smiled incredulously. It was infectious, and she didn’t fight it.

Incredulous, Tameka folded her arms. “Are you serious?”

Sagan hopped off her husband and nudged Tameka. “We still don’t have a winner yet.”

So Pablo could check Xelan out, Nox set his younger brother down on the cushion of the grass. And, to distract Tameka, Xelan explained, “We directed the turrets to fire on one another and accidentally caused a cave-in.”

Rayne closed her eyes.

“And the living legend here…” Korac jabbed a thumb in Nox’s direction. “Held up the ceiling. At least long enough for us to get out.”

Rayne opened her eyes when Xelan sighed. “But a stalactite snapped my femur in two.” He paused to stare up at Nox before saying, “Between Korac digging us out, and Nox carrying me, we made it.”

While they told the tale, Pablo scanned Xelan’s leg with a portable x-ray. He looked up at Tameka and beamed. “It’s all knitted back together, cleanly. Man, that’s one impressive hard tissue repair system, Wingmaster.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

Tameka touched Nox’s forearm, and he glanced away from Rayne to look down at the other woman. Heartfelt, Tameka stared into Nox’s eyes as she said, “Thank you.”

Nox nodded, but there was something significant in his eyes. Rayne felt it in their heart.

“And you, General?” Pablo went over to Korac and scanned his shoulder blade.

The Icarus said, “It’s a broken collarbone. I think. It’s almost healed.” Korac smirked and patted his back pocket where Sagan’s bra was stowed. “I still have my good luck charm.”

Sagan laughed, Tameka shook her head with a grin, and Rayne winked at Nox. He held up the ribbon wrapped around his hand.

Pablo said, “You’re all good to continue the race.”

Xelan was still laying on the grass.

Rayne peered at him and giggled. “Why are you still down there?”

He grinned. “I always wanted this for my Cinder.” With beautiful glee, Xelan fanned his arms and legs, making a grass angel.

Korac held out his hand. “Let’s finish this, your imperial majesty.”

Xelan let himself be pulled up with a wink. “I appreciate that you’re in a hurry to lose.” He nodded at Tameka, Sagan, and Rayne. “Ladies.”

Tameka leveled her finger at Xelan. “By all means, but you owe me for this scare, mister.”

He winked at her.

It was cute.

Rayne mouthed, “See you soon,” to Nox as she went through Sagan’s conduit into the ring. The girls waited outside the winner’s circle while Pablo went back to his wife and kid.

Over the projection, Iuo said, “Isn’t this exciting? The competition will commence with an old-fashioned foot race. There are no three Icari faster than these. The crowd is hushed with suspense as former King Nox, the Imperial General, and our Co-Emperor set their mark.”

Rayne watched on the screen as Nox mouthed, “Ready.”

Xelan. “Set.”

Korac. “Go.”

They took off at unbelievable speeds, and Rayne smiled while her heart pounded in her chest.

Gravity dampeners.

There was no way Rayne could love Nox more, as the oldest Icarus had restricted his abilities to enjoy this time with his brothers. She glanced back at the children cheering along the first row. The shy boy, Jet, jumped and punched the air as the three Icari entered the ring.

Only a heartbeat away, and the winner would enter the circle.

Rayne turned back to the action and watched Nox hold back so Xelan could cross the line—

No wait.

Rayne’s smile broadened as Xelan restrained himself at the last second, and Korac entered the winner’s circle first. It was untraceable—No one could see their speed like Rayne could. Both Icari held back so their General could sweep Sagan into his arms and spin her high above him against Li, setting on Cinder’s horizon. The purple of her dress matched the melting colors in the clear sky.

They could barely hear Iuo over the roar of the audience. “Imperial General Korac is our winner! And what a race to end all races. The training course will require some construction before we can plan to reopen, but don’t go too far. ‘Rayne’s Verse: Nox’s Release’ will premiere on this screen and thousands more throughout Iona Pax. Watch it here alongside the Shadow in thirty minutes.”

As Nox and Xelan approached the circle, Rayne let them see in her eyes that she knew the truth. And she loved them for it. Before Tameka could get to him, Rayne hugged Xelan first. She muttered against his shoulder, “You’re so awesome, Wingmaster.”

Xelan kissed the black roots of Rayne’s hair and set her down right at Nox’s feet.

It was a blessing if Rayne would ever get one from Xelan, and there was a tear in her eye as she mouthed, “Thank. You.”

Xelan nodded before turning and kneeling at Tameka’s feet. She wrapped her arms around him, and he squeezed her waist.

“Daddy!”

Tumu and Lamassau led Pax into the ring.

But Rayne couldn’t pay attention to it. Not with Nox so close behind her.

“Rayne.”

Her name from Nox’s lips always reached into the core of her. Rayne peered all the way up at the Icarus she wished she was alone with and gave him her most radiant smile. “I love you.” For saving Xelan in a cave-in. For letting Korac win. And for that smile on his face.

Sunset on the coliseum might as well be sunset on the beach with the tide coming in and people settling down for fireworks. The familiar scent of Rayne’s content permeated the ring, and she watched Nox breathe deep of it before he cupped her chin and kissed her.

The crowd cheered, and Rayne was becoming accustomed to it.

Iuo’s voice interrupted the sweetness of the moment. “C’mon, everyone. The movie’s about to begin.”

Xelan said, “Fine. But we’re only capitulating because we ruined your last premiere.”

Iuo grinned. “I wouldn’t call that ruined. More like advanced marketing.”

Tumu chuckled.

They filed into a parade back to the stands. As the girls and the Icari found their seats, Rayne and Nox sat with the kids. Jack waved from where he and Ross had entertained the children with a replica of Iron Hope—Xelan’s train—and Rayne beamed for her brother.

Jack was coming around.

Out of the children from the orphanage, Nox and Rayne had spent the most time with the redheaded girl, Mifa, and the shy boy, Jet. As the couple took their seats, Jet and Mifa came over and piled up some pillows around their feet. They used one of Nox’s legs as a pillar to their fort and snuggled up for the film. Rayne smiled at Nox as he watched the children with wonder.

Not now, but one day…

It was enough to make Rayne grin like Xelan.