{Enki | Tumu’s Sanctum}

Flushed with victory, Tameka walked hand-in-hand with Sagan back into their makeshift infirmary. She announced to all their people amid preparations, “All clear.”

Mid-conversation with Pablo beside Triss’ bed, Xelan stopped talking and beamed at them. “Good work! I never doubted you.”

Sagan squeezed Tameka’s hand before meeting her lover halfway and melting into Korac’s arms. A smile spread across Tameka’s lips, despite the heaviness of everything. As the Icarus handed over Sagan’s axe, they looked good together sharing the mated weapons.

Inspired and in need of her chain dart, Tameka crossed the room until she stood so close to Xelan she needed to crane her neck to meet his eyes. “Admit it. You worried a little.”

“Only this much.” He held up his pinched fingers before placing a kiss on her forehead, reseating Tameka’s weapon on her belt.

Warm and sweet, she soaked it up. There was no telling how long until the next time she saw him, but staring into those eyes, Tameka knew without a doubt, this wasn’t goodbye. “Look for my signal.”

Andrew lingered at the corner of Tameka’s eye, distracting enough to make her look over. He gave a solemn nod. It was time.

Xelan’s warm finger crooked under Tameka’s chin and brought her back to him. “Take from me what you need.”

The sincerity in Xelan’s eyes, the utter confidence—It was so much Tameka had to swallow her emotions before saying, “Give to me what you want.” Hot tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes.

Xelan pulled Tameka into a tight embrace and whispered in her ear, “Until Eternity takes me.”

“I’m yours.”

Drawing all the strength from him without actually affecting his nacre, Tameka pulled them apart and touched her fist to her chest. She let it fall to her side before stepping away and calling, “My team, with me.” Her people—Jack, Ross, Bones, Devis, T.a.o., and Para—crushed in around her, checking their earpieces.

Xelan circled a finger in the air, and the second team rounded up. Their group—Iuo, Pehton, Tumu, Lamassau, Andrew, Kyle, Korac, Sagan, and eleven more Lyriks—performed the same checks.

The two leaders met gazes and nodded.

Tameka called, “Seamswalkers.”

On her command, two conduits opened. Sagan’s went to the Monarch 3 shrine, and T.a.o.’s led to the continent of New Cinder. The two women peered at one another over the manifestations. Physical contact wasn’t required to enter the younger Seamswalker’s conduit as she’d far surpassed her ancestor, but T.a.o. had lived a longer life practicing the ability. Both were assets which Tameka was happy to see on the Shadow’s side.

The small waif of a woman reached out her hand.

This was it—

“For Pax.”

Tameka whirled to see half the room staring at Caedes.

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The normally silent Icarus led the rally and nodded at Tameka.

“For Cinder.” The second voice was unmistakable. Korac met Tameka’s gaze with the intensity of a few million years steeped in vendetta.

Para called next, “For the people we love.”

“For the ones we lost.” Tameka couldn’t even see Pehton, but recognized her voice.

John.

Oleen.

Nikki.

All they’d endured thickened the moment until it hurt to breathe. Tameka’s heart ached with the sharp clarity of it. This wasn’t a moment for the Shadow alone. She touched her chain dart and proclaimed, “For the Vast Collective!”

The group grunted and followed their Seamswalkers to their destinations.

Elden, keep them safe.

After a glimpse of the Seam, Tameka stepped into a black cave, one hand clasped in T.a.o.’s and the other in Ross’. Kyle’s younger sister pulled Jack through. Then Bones, Para, and Devis followed.

As they filed out, Tameka took a better look at their surroundings. Black, basalt rock like Nox’s castle. Not completely dark, a faint glow emanated from the… Wow, was that red water? It was beautiful. Tameka knelt at a nearby pool to admire the phosphorous light emitting in the clean smelling springs. Flowers were nearby, their wild scent filled the cavern.

Tameka turned to find her team smiling, equally taken in by the scenery, but there wasn’t time to sightsee Cinder before Li’s expansion. Quietly, so her voice didn’t carry on the rock, she asked, “T.a.o., is it this way?” Tameka pointed, following the water.

Those amethyst Atramentous eyes met Tameka’s and blinked. “Been here before?”

Devis gently touched his sister’s bicep. “It’s a logical assumption.” To Tameka, he said, “And yes. There will be a land bridge over a waterfall, and beyond that is her laboratory. Are you confident in this?”

Across the way, Bones raised a brow as if acknowledging what they were all thinking. He kept his hands near his sword at the ready.

Jack answered, “I am.”

Para’s hands hovered over her psi daggers. “That’s good enough for me.”

“We’re with you, Fury.” Ross, too young to be out here risking her life, adjusted the strap on her nacre disabling rifle.

Was this what it was like for Xelan to lead Tameka’s Progeny into Enki the first time? How could she forget how eagerly they’d followed him into such a chaotic end? But… things had a way of working out…

Tameka gave the hand signal, and they followed her in careful formation through the tunnel. As Devis had described earlier, she inched her way to a fork which opened into an enormous chamber. The viscous red water fell from a crevice in the ceiling so gently that it made little noise splashing into the pool below. Orange flowers ivied the walls in a fresh fragrance so unexpected in what was otherwise a dank cave. No, that wasn’t accurate. The cave pulsed with life, and Tameka couldn’t wait to bring Xelan here.

The bridge led to only one exit. Narrow. They would need to single-file through it. On Tameka’s signal, they followed her across the expanse without hiccups. Once through the tunnel, they encountered another fork.

When she glanced back, Devis mouthed, “Right.”

After a few turns, the scent changed. Not alive here, but cold and sterile. Tameka stopped and signaled for the others to line the walls behind her. She glanced at T.a.o., who’d paled from her usual deep, almost blue complexion. Tameka wished they could’ve left her behind, but a second Seamswalker was too valuable—

No.

That wasn’t fair thinking, and that line of thought stole credit away from the smallest Progeny. T.a.o. volunteered to save her brother and free the others. Brave and confident in their chances.

Tameka gave her a reassuring smile. Devis took T.a.o.’s hand and nodded at Tameka with gratitude in his eyes. Para and Bones signaled they were ready on her mark. Jack watched as Ross concentrated. When the girl opened her eyes, the hazel Atramentous shifted her corneas to a golden brown with a green slit for a pupil. She held up three fingers.

Right.

The chain dart’s pommel fit Tameka’s hand in a familiar, comforting grip. Cautiously, she peered around the corner. It was as she suspected. Stainless steel and glass surfaces furnished the lab, covered with instruments Tameka didn’t recognize. Along the south wall, bars formed a cage with a figure trapped inside. The human-sized lump lay across a cot, sleeping. Or seeming to. That must be Andrius. Aside from him, the lab appeared empty, with only one door on the far side.

Tameka took a deep breath and sought the other nacres.

There.

On the other side of a door. Tameka considered draining them, but doing so without visual confirmation risked Karter, Pax, and Chris. No, she had to do this the hard way.

Letting her breath out on a nervous shudder, Tameka ran into the lions’ den and prayed their jaws claimed her alone for their next meal.