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The Vast Collective Series Books #9-13
Levee 11.3 Your Faith, My Courage, And Their Weapons

Levee 11.3 Your Faith, My Courage, And Their Weapons

{Enki | New Cinder}

Bones hated everything about this. Ross’ scent smelled of fear and inexperience. Both he and Para could sense it as Icari. Neither one of them liked the notion of watching that inexperience transform into experience through trauma. Ross and the King Regent recently cozying up to each other made the horror all the more awful. So, Bones asked, “Do you think I can pry them apart without getting us severely punished?”

As Bones asked the question, he realized the answer.

Tameka shook her head with her mouth in a tight, grim line.

Andrius confirmed it verbally. “It’s ill-advised.”

Devis gave him a pitying smile. “But we all share the sentiment.”

Para whispered into Karter’s ear. “Wake up and show these boys how it’s done.”

Jack stared unblinking at the sight. After a few years of getting to know these people, Bones understood Jack’s relationship with Chris. Family. Like an older brother or a young dad, even. It must kill Jack to see his close friend pin his girlfriend in that position right in front of him.

Celindria fucking sucked.

And what about Tameka? All strong and powerful, but forced to cool her heels here with the rest of them while her son slept only a few feet away.

At least they got Karter back, but until Xelan and Pablo could cut into her motor cortex, she wasn’t waking up. They couldn’t even get T.a.o. to take her away because they still needed this plan to go through, and Celindria would punish them for escaping a few people.

That’s how Bones took it all, anyway.

What he wouldn’t give for a nice date with Para, splitting a slice of Colton’s cheesecake while all their friends goofed around the house they could no longer live in because Imminent could kiss Bones’ ass—

“Please don’t kill him, Fury.”

Jack said all that without moving a muscle from his view of Ross and Chris.

The young woman apparently agreed. “Please. Don’t. I’ll be okay.” Ross’ voice was a little reedy, but she still sounded quite certain.

Yeah, everyone was pretty sure Xelan had told Tameka to kill the soldier if it came down to it. As an Icarus—a male—who had dedicated his life to protecting his race, Bones understood Xelan. Because that’s what Chris would likely prefer. No one wanted to live through involuntarily raping your almost-son’s love interest. Too much post trauma for everyone.

Unfortunately, it was all up to Tameka, and she looked heavy with that knowledge.

Instead of acknowledging it, she said, “It won’t come to that.” Tameka increased the volume a bit, probably hoping Celindria would hear through Chris. “We’ll get through this, Shadow. Ross, do you hear me? We’ll make it through this.”

It was true. They all felt a little more safe after Xelan’s promise to rescue them if things steered too far off course. Bones only hoped they wouldn’t need it.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Elden, he’d give anything to undo this. To somehow force himself to stay awake when the draining started back at the mansion. To protect Pax—

Para’s warm hand slid into his, and she caught his gaze. “You’re right, Fury. We’ll make it through this.” She said the words to Tameka, but the reassuring smile on her face was all for Bones.

His heart swelled—

The door to Celindria’s room opened, and the First Progeny herself walked through it. What? Confounded, the Shadow exchanged confused glances. She exited originally through the tunnel, not the bedroom. How did she…?

Para mouthed to Tameka, “Another. Door?”

With wide eyes, Tameka shook her head.

How the fuck did Celindria get in there?

Never mind that. Why was Celindria in there? Bones didn’t like her near Pax. Especially with Pax in some kind of helpless coma—

Abruptly, Chris shifted until one hand gripped the front of Ross’ jumpsuit and then he froze again.

Bones could hear Ross’ heart pounding from over here. Para squeezed closer to the bars, between him and Jack, who lost all color to his complexion.

Tameka wasn’t having it. “What are you doing, Celindria?”

The First Progeny rifled through some shelves and graced them with a response. “My father raised you to be so invasive. Or perhaps dense. Because surely you know why Chris has Ross. Now keep to yourself or risk her virginity.”

Ross’ whimper wrenched inside Bones’ heart. All of their hearts by the looks on their faces.

Jack didn’t just regain color. He turned bright red with rage. Abruptly, he sat up and gripped the bars near where Ross’ arms rested. There, he brushed them with his fingers, reassuringly. It seemed to help because her heart rate lessened.

Smart kid.

Bones pat him on the back while Celindria wasn’t looking.

Tameka went to work. “What is Ishkur, and why do you need me for it?”

Celindria laughed, and the sound rang as genuine. “You learn lessons the hard way, yes, girl? And my father is listening. You know, I know, of course.”

Tameka took offense to the juvenile mention. “I’m a full-grown adult—”

Celindria dismissed her with a wave over her shoulder. “You’re simply evidence of my father’s midlife crisis. The mistress younger than his own children.”

Ouch. That stung Bones from over here. He couldn’t imagine how Xelan felt overhearing it.

Tameka’s eyes twitched with it. “Who are you to criticize love—”

Again, Devis and Andrius did the thing where they gripped Tameka and shook their heads. A fierce warning. So many topics were off limits with Celindria as if she were some sensitive porcelain doll. The eggshells around her could fill the Blight Canyon in the Ignis Desert.

Chris ripped the front of Ross’ jumpsuit open down to the waistline. She screamed at the abruptness of it.

Jack gritted his teeth and pressed his forehead to Ross’ now bare back through the bars. “It’s okay. I’m here.” He repeated the litany as if they both could use the comfort.

Bones liked him.

Tameka cried, “Celindria, take my volition. I’m ready to give it.”

The First Progeny whirled with a spin of her skirts. Celindria didn’t miss a beat. “Repeat the words I say. ‘Under my own will, I forfeit my volition. Perfectly and consensually until she returns me unto myself.’”

“After you separate Chris from Ross. We’ll all give you our volition to keep her safe.” Tameka walked a fine line here, giving away all their wills at once.

But Bones trusted her.

Chris lowered Ross’ legs back to the floor, and Bones pitied her unsteady gait. She’d been stuck that way for over an hour. Nacres could only help so much. Next, the big human backed away and to the other side of the room, toward the mirror.

The cell door unlocked, and Ross hurried inside into Jack’s arms. She buried her face in his chest while he rubbed circles on her back. The poor girl needed a new jumpsuit. This one exposed her bra and stomach all the way to other pieces of lingerie.

Bones wanted to hurt Celindria. Also aching with the desire to inflict some pain, Para clenched her jaw so hard he overheard it.

“You come out first, Tameka,” Celindria called.

Tameka slipped out the gate and walked with a straight back to Celindria. Chris had already trained a nacre-disabling gun on her. Her ability to multi-task was terrifying.

Bones kept his eyes on the room and on their leader, walking her way to their destruction.

Without preamble, Tameka stopped in front of Celindria and said, “Under my own will, I forfeit my volition. Perfectly and consensually until she returns me unto myself.”

Everyone in the room, including Celindria, held their breath.