{Enki | New Cinder}

“I’ll never let you go again.”

Rayne and Xelan said the same words at the same time. They both meant them. For the first time in years, she felt at home, at peace.

Nobody hugged like Xelan.

Rayne could hold him and wipe snotty tears on his fancy coat like this forever, and it still wouldn’t be long enough—

Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing…

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Twenty hours and forty-eight minutes until maximum destabilization.

“Rayne.”

The gentleness of Nox’s voice made her leave the moment with Xelan and stare up at the man in her consciousness. In that same tone, he reminded her, “We expended your fuse in excess on me, and now…”

Right.

This beautiful reunion with Xelan was draining Rayne’s reserves, but couldn’t she hang on a little while longer?

Xelan’s knees gave out, and Rayne went down with him, not letting go as she promised. They hugged on the ground, soaking in this moment amid their evident exhaustion—

“Ow.”

Well, that was an odd thing for Xelan to say.

“Ow. Ow.” Chuckling, he pulled them apart and nudged what was prodding him. “What’s this?”

Rayne beamed—all her smiles would beam for him from hereon. “It’s my staff. I named it Night Killer.”

Emotions rippled through the midnight pools of Xelan’s eyes. He reached out to either side of her face and pressed his forehead to hers. Softly, he said the words Rayne had most wanted to hear. “I’m so proud of you, Rayne Echo Callahan.”

Her breath left on a shaky exhale, half-choked on a sob. Nikki, her parents, John—Billions of people had died in this war. And those words from Xelan were all Rayne needed to hear to know that what she had to do next was worth it.

Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing…

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Fifteen hours and thirty-two minutes until maximum destabilization.

To Nox’s credit, while Xelan praised Rayne for killing his brother, said brother remained silent, respecting the moment. However, the latest update spurred him. “Time is running out, your majesty.”

It was the ‘your majesty’ which brought Rayne back to the reality of things. Inside her head, she gave him a solemn nod. They had work to do. To Xelan, she asked, “How much do you know?”

Her Icarean guardian winced. Elden, after these last few years and experiencing the Verses, Rayne could read Xelan better. He always seemed so cool and confident, certain of their abilities. But now Rayne saw the strain of fear in his eyes. She wanted to hug it away.

Xelan said, “More than you’d think. More than you’d want me to know. Rayne, I have to be honest with you.”

Rayne pulled away and gently pulled his hands down from her face. She needed to separate, even though it broke her heart. She stood and held her hand out to him. “So tell me.”

He took the offered hand and stared at where he held it in his palm. Rayne’s hand was so little compared to his, his slender fingers longer than her palms. Xelan looked ready to confess something when he met her eyes. “I designed—”

“Holy shit!”

Rayne took her eyes off Xelan and looked way up the mountain.

Andrew gaped at her from atop the cliff. She’d sworn he muttered, “So we’re in this one.” Louder, he called behind him, “Guys! Guys, you won’t believe this!”

Rayne laughed, happier than she’d been in a while. She looked back at Xelan and frowned in confusion. He looked so grave and even lost color to his complexion.

Inside her head, Nox quietly explained, “What my brother wanted to say cannot be said in front of the others.”

“Oh.” That made sense. Rayne reached out and took Xelan’s other hand, wincing at the twenty minutes it cost her. “There will be another chance to tell me. First, let’s see them, and then I want to meet your son.”

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Nox warmed beside her. It was the only word for it. He hadn’t spent a second in Pax’s presence, but he already thought fondly of his nephew. It endeared him to Rayne.

Xelan squeezed her hands and let them go. Staring at her, but not speaking to her, he answered a question. “This is Wingmaster. Roger. I located Rayne. Over.”

She giggled. “Still using that call sign? And technically, I found you.”

As if suddenly remembering their setting, Xelan glanced at the field of bodies.

Inside her head, Rayne caught her breath and hugged herself. She sensed Nox assessing her response and took comfort in the lack of judgment in the gesture. He’d never make her feel wrong about the carnage, but that one look from Xelan burned her.

The Prince of Cinder shook himself from the sight and held something out in his hand. It was an earpiece. Rayne couldn’t contain the smile as she plugged it into her ear.

For three years, Nox was her only company. He was reassuring in a way her friends could never be, but he wasn’t family. A cacophony of cheers greeted her.

“Give my sister a hug for me—Better yet, bring Rayne here so I can do it myself.”

Jack sounded more grateful where Kyle sounded partially concerned in his surprise. “Is it really Rayne? You really found her? Is she okay?”

“Tell her we’ll renew our vows so she can be a bridesmaid this time.” Lynn could count on it.

Para’s nervous apology made Rayne snicker. “Your majesty, if you can hear this, Bones and I are real sorry if you were aware of everything that went on in the pit. We had no idea.”

“Everyone quiet down.” How could Rayne mistake the charisma in that order and the elegance in its cadence? Even Xelan smirked as Korac continued. “All they really want to know is whose Verse was better? Mine or Nox’s.”

Nox actually snorted beside Rayne, and she about dropped into a fit of giggles right there in front of both brothers. When she stopped laughing, tears fell from her lashes. Each one in joy.

Family.

The former King of Cinder patiently allowed her to absorb every second, and in this moment, Rayne loved him for it.

The channels held a collective breath and at Xelan’s nod, Rayne said into the comms device, “This is War King. Enki has less than fifteen hours left. Who’s ready to bring down Imminent? Over.”

Wow.

Both Rayne and Xelan pulled their earpieces out to keep the cheers from busting their eardrums. Sure their nacres would heal it, but who wants to deal with that?

Above them, Sagan shouted and jumped up and down with the green Tritan, who must be Lamassau. Pehton and Andrew stared in confident resolution. Bones saluted with a fist to his chest.

Rayne couldn’t stop smiling, and when she said the next aloud, she smiled at Nox in her head. “And Korac?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

The way Korac said it made Rayne feel safe, and she appreciated that quality in someone intending to wed her girlfriend. Rayne continued grinning at Nox as she said into the earpiece, “Sorry, the first is always better than the sequel.”

Xelan barked a hearty laugh. “Oh, that ego is fragile. Be careful with him. C’mon. Let’s get you up to see the others. Then we’ll need your help to rescue Tameka.”

“Tameka? What happened?” Rayne opened her wings when he did.

Xelan held up both hands to stave her concern. “Celindria pushed her onto a continent plagued by a malfunctioning terraforming machine, but don’t worry. I have every faith that with your help, we can save her.”

Nox shifted beside Rayne and, without a word, reminded her of their mission. But how could she ever forget with the bodies surrounding them? Something must be done about the Rayne and Nox Weapons. With her diminishing countdown, Rayne was the only one with the potential to destroy Enki.

Softly, Rayne said to Nox, “What if they could think of another way?”

“By all means, try. I won’t stand in the way of this reunion, Rayne.” Nox manifested a three-dimensional projection of Enki and its continents. He populated them with the Weapons. “I’ll calculate alternatives while you—” Say goodbye. “—galvanize your troops.”

A sadness filled Rayne. She should tell Xelan about Nox. Right now. When she had first recognized the man emerging from the cave as her guardian, Nox retreated. Originally, Rayne had assumed it was out of respect and kindness to give her a moment she desperately needed. That might still be the case, but now she wondered if Nox feared Xelan’s judgment, and that tightened Rayne’s heart.

“I still plan to tell them about you.”

Nox didn’t look away from the model as he said, “Do what you will, but your way is right. Maintain your connections to those you love. It’s the only way to avoid becoming like I am—was. Like I was.”

Later.

Rayne would coax Nox into the big reveal when she was better equipped to make him comfortable with it. Later.

In the meantime, the channels on the earpiece were blowing up with love from her family. It saddened Rayne how much it overwhelmed her. So many voices, so many words.

Xelan’s voice was more soft and grounding. “Are you ready, Callahan?”

Damn, Rayne missed him. “Do you think you can keep up?”

“Pfft. Easy.” He grinned that full signature smile, and Rayne nearly cried again. “Ready?”

“Set.”

“Go.”

They raced up the cliff in seconds. The others wouldn’t likely see them fly at all. In fact, when they alighted at the top, Rayne wasn’t sure which one touched the peak first. They grinned at each other.

Sagan interrupted the moment with a cry. Rayne snapped to her as the girl cupped a hand over her mouth, tears falling from her eyes. Shaky, she breathed, “Rayne…”

Without another moment wasted, Rayne ran to her and squeezed Sagan in her arms. She couldn’t give completely into the moment or risk crushing her girl. Instead, she settled for the healthy beat of Sagan’s heart against Rayne’s chest. Confirmation of her safety and love—

Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing…

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Thirteen hours and fifty-three minutes until maximum destabilization.

Elden damn the Tritans!

Rayne wanted one moment without the constant reminder of the Weapon.

“Elden, I missed you.” Sagan brought Rayne back to the moment. “I have so much to share with you, and you’ll be here to meet my daughter.”

Daughter.

Wow.

Even Nox spun around from the Enki model to stare out of the view with his brows raised. They had both learned about the oncoming adoption of Triss and Razor’s kid, but wow. It was already time.

And Rayne didn’t want to miss it. She squeezed tighter and made contented sounds. “I’m so happy for you two.”

Sagan gave a little laugh, which shook them both. “You can’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I never knew if you fully approved.”

Rayne pulled away enough for them to face each other. “Of course. So long as Korac knows he’s second to me.”

Everyone—including Nox—laughed, reminding Rayne of their audience.

Andrew stood the closest, his eyes filled with admiration. “You got enough left in you for my hug?” His expression was full of knowing.

Rayne swallowed and slid a fleeting glance at Nox inside her mind.

Permission.

Rayne was seeking his permission. For someone to tell her it was okay to be selfish for the span of another hug. It would be the last one, she promised. Please…

In the corner of Rayne’s eye, Nox nodded.

She had a feeling he could never tell her no.