{Enki}

Chris knew T.a.o. wasn’t on her way to retrieve Karter. In fact, T.a.o. hadn’t returned from her last mission at all. He knew this because Celindria muttered a single utterance about four hours ago.

She’d said, “Damn.”

Afterward, Celindria parked Chris in a room and vacated his conscience. Stood with his back against a wall, Chris couldn’t move his hands or feet, but could use his own eyes again.

It was a dark room with a big bulky thing he eventually recognized as a bed. He only figured that out because tiny snores filled the room from it. Toddler snores.

Pax.

Alive and well, praise Elden, but what in the hell did Imminent plan to do with Xelan and Tameka’s son?

Chris overheard them mention initiation and a lot of confusing conversation about things being different “this time.” Whatever that meant.

If this stint at guard duty granted him a few more hours without Celindria’s molestation, Chris gratefully accepted the scenario. It afforded him time to consider their chances of escape and/or survival. Thanks to Silence, the Shadow recovered Para, but some of the ancient intelligence living behind Celindria’s eyes implied a potentially sinister pitfall to the rescue.

Despite any of Celindria’s schemes, Chris prayed the Shadow saved Karter next. Primary Rem spent more and more time with her, and when both bodies were present, the old Tritan regarded Karter with curiosity of the sexual variety. He even asked Celindria to check the Valkyrie’s fertility cycle—

Look at that. Chris controlled enough of his bodily functions to cringe.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

But what was all the drama before Celindria left Chris here? Something about Silence no longer guarding Rayne. Remorse took Abresson and hoofed it out of Celindria’s lab.

What beautiful mercy that’d be if the Sleeping King awakened and destroyed these fuckers—

Light entered from a crack in the door.

“Celindria, please let Pax go back to his father!” Andrius’ cries carried into the bedroom from deep within the adjacent lab.

Celindria’s voice was closer to the door. “His father shouldn’t exist. He should be grateful for this much time with his son. Pax is home now.” She closed the door on any further protest.

With her regal carriage and sweeping skirts, the First Progeny glided majestically into the room, accompanied by a soft glow which emanated from an orb in her hand. Chris tried to open his mouth and tell her to stay away from Pax, but no volition, no words. Unhindered, Celindria sat on the edge of the bed and tenderly brushed Pax’s red curls from his closed eyes. Those long red lashes softly curled on his tawny freckled cheeks, extra squishable with baby fat.

With everything in him, Chris strained to intervene. Still, nothing.

With eyes as bright a blue as her descendant’s, Celindria gazed at the sleeping child, contemplative. As Chris looked on in his helpless state, a terrifying darkness shifted in her eyes. Something tried to press its way out. It raised goosebumps on his neck and tensed every responsive muscle in his body.

Attack!

Stop Celindria from—

From what?

When Celindria leaned forward to kiss Pax’s cheek, an echo or a shadow of herself—multiples of her—followed. It was as if every one of her existences folded the blanket back over Pax and covered him once more in a prismatic effect.

Her eyes flashed to Chris, and he resisted the urge to squirm under their haunting scrutiny. As if indulging in his discomfort, Celindria formed inside his conscience.

“Mother wants me to relegate you to guard duty, but I find you a hard temptation to resist.”

Chris let himself shudder this time before quipping, “Do you always do as ‘Mother’ says?”

To call the smirk that formed on her generous lips wicked was a tremendous understatement. Evil learned everything it knew from this vile monster. Shadow clung to her malignancy, spurred by the dark room.

The phantom of Celindria vanished from this plane and exited the room as gracefully as she’d entered without another look or taunt for Chris. Which suited him just fine as every second with her exhausted any ounce of sanity left in him.

Xelan.

Tameka.

Rayne.

Please. Hurry.