Korac, Sagan, and Pehton deposited their experiences to Razor’s rehab program. Caedes, like the upstanding soldier he was, supported teeny through the entire procedure.

And what a worthy cause.

It seemed Razor was prepared to commit, and now the ghost of the smaller Aegis set apart on Ishkur’s bridge would stop haunting Korac. These thoughts filled his head as they dropped Pehton off at her place.

“Thanks for breaking it to me in person, boss.” She nudged him playfully.

Korac smirked. “Thanks for answering the door in a towel, teeny.”

Sagan swatted Korac, and it only pleased him further. It wouldn’t be a night out with Pehton and Caedes if Sagan only smacked Korac once.

Further in the apartment, Caedes laughed richly in good humor.

Pehton rolled her eyes, saying, “See you tomorrow, you sexy pain in my ass,” and closed the door in Korac’s face.

Sagan’s cheerful grin was worth every swat. She pulled him close and kissed him, flexing her awesome skills by simultaneously opening a conduit to Karter’s place.

It was time to retrieve Echo.

Karter, rainbow mohawk down for a change, greeted them with a finger to her lips. She whispered, “The baby’s sleeping.”

Chris looked up from a three-dimensional schematic and waved. Bones, across from Chris, did the same. From the kitchen, Para offered drinks by gesturing with two glasses of fruit juice.

Korac appreciated this little family of theirs. His. This was his family.

The playpen for Echo consumed a third of the living space, and the white-feathered, white-eyed, black-complected Lyriki infant languished in it. So many plushy toys; so little time.

Karter opened her arms, and Korac went into them—Familiar, powerful arms he’d sparred against many times in his life while never knowing she was his mother. Ones which had pulled him out of mischief and tended many wounds. Karter smelled like home.

Sagan let them have this time together, wandering over to see what Chris, Bones, and Para were up to. The structure in the projected image seemed familiar, but Korac wanted to focus on family and not work.

For once.

Elden, he and Xelan made for quite the pair of preoccupied fathers. And both were obsessed with their partners.

Funny how that had worked out.

Karter whispered, “Echo was a good girl. She ate all her strained vegetables.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Korac chuffed. “Of course, she was, and of course, she did.” His daughter was an angel. A model infant for other babies to follow—Mateo Suarez-Renee and whatever ridiculous name Xelan would give their daughter.

With an incredulous shake of her head, Karter led Korac to the little barrier of firm squishy material containing Echo’s explorations. Yesterday, she tried for the first time to stand on her feet.

Korac did not cry.

Tiny diamond eyes greeted them. Echo was already awake. She opened her pitch-black lips revealing a little black tongue in a wide smile as soon as she spotted Korac.

“Hey, baby girl.” He scooped Echo up to her whistling delight. “Yeah, that’s daddy’s deadly warrior.”

Korac was half-aware of everyone in the room watching him. Even Sagan. It seemed anyone who’d heard Korac’s Verse paid special notice to his paternal habits, and he’d learned to embrace it. Although Korac had spent his life composing himself for defense, he’d sworn on the day he and Sagan adopted Echo, Korac would never hide from their daughter.

And what a beautiful gift Echo was.

After seeing Triss and Razor earlier, Korac couldn’t help but notice the tiny Aegis-Lyrik had her mother’s mouth and her father’s bone structure. But there was a trace of Korac in there through all the genetic magic. Echo had his nose. It was far superior to Razor and Triss’ features, and it softened Echo’s face, suiting her tininess.

Korac nuzzled their noses together, and Echo squeal-whistled with joy.

Oh, yes. Hearts would be broken.

A long, long, long time from now.

Sagan came over with the carrier strapped around her. Korac enjoyed brushing Sagan’s breasts ‘accidentally’ as they positioned Echo into it. Sagan glared at him playfully, earning a kiss.

It was wonderful, sweet, and perfect. But…

Korac’s curiosity would not wait a moment longer. He nodded toward the design. “What is everyone inspecting over here?”

With Echo cradled to her front, Sagan turned and gestured at the image. “I think you’ll like it.”

Karter went over to Chris, who pulled her against his side before pointing at the schematics. “It’s a school for the Shadow kids. We’re naming it after John.”

It was an impressive installation set in an idyllic area of Cinder II. Between the Palatial Grounds and the physical entrance to Ishkur’s bridge. And Korac wasn’t one hundred percent sure but…

“Is that P.E. area a replica of Xelan’s training grounds for the Progeny on Earth?” Sagan beat Korac to the question.

Bones grinned, and Para said, “We’ve made a few trips to the area and sketched it out. It’s perfect for beginners.”

Karter beamed. “It’s a surprise.”

Echo whistled, and Korac smoothed her feathers as he answered his daughter. “I think Xelan will like it, too.”

Chris’ chest swelled before he said, “We hope so, but don’t tell him.”

Korac eyed Sagan. “You don’t have to worry about me keeping the secret.”

Sagan mimed zipping her lips and throwing the zipper away.

With a humorous shine to his eyes, Bones said, “I’ll send you over our security plans. You can run them by Caedes and Pehton, if you like.”

Para, Bones, Chris, and Karter glowed with accomplishment and happiness.

It choked Korac until he squeezed out, “Thank you.” For thinking of the future and for working so hard to guarantee it.

Karter hugged Korac and roped Sagan in, too. “You two have a fun night. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Korac gave the only appropriate response. “Yes, mother.”

Para climbed into the hug, followed by Bones, and then Chris.

Huggy Shadow shit, but Korac wouldn’t trade this moment for anything in the world.

Echo whistled in agreement.

Five minutes later, Korac, Sagan, and Echo waved goodbye as they stepped through a conduit, returning to the gorge. The party was dying off into smaller groups as everyone cozied up to the idea of going home. It was only made possible by Sagan and T.a.o.’s abilities.

Pax and Tameka had fallen asleep on a blanket together. Xelan was watching them with more peace in his expression than Korac could ever remember seeing. Nox was dancing with Rayne in the water. That Nox and Xelan were breathing the same air, filled Korac with gratitude, and he was determined to make it last forever.

Especially if it meant winning more races against the two sentimental fools.