{Enki | Tumu’s Sanctum}

“I found it. Pablo, I found what’s wrong with the nacres.” Lynn gaped at her own discovery on the terminal’s projected screen.

Pablo hopped from his station over to hers, and Caedes crossed the room after checking their weapons. He kept a nacre knife on his hip. Bethany sat with Triss while Miy and Twenty-One continued their “break.”

Lynn’s husband read with his chin resting in his hand before snapping his fingers. “There. Wow.”

Caedes peered over their shoulders. “What is it?”

Still halfway astonished, Lynn pointed at the line of code on the screen. “Right here. See that?”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” The Icarus looked between the two of them. “I’ll let them know.” He pressed into his earpiece. “Wingmaster. This is Caedes. Over.”

Lynn was fine with not being the bearer of this bad news.

Pablo took her hand and squeezed it. Softly, he assured, “It’ll be all right.”

“Go ahead, Master Graveller.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Caedes cursed.

Lynn stifled a snicker.

Pablo, laughing, said into his earpiece, “We found the fault in the Earth nacres. There’s a tiny trigger that makes them more susceptible to volition control. Something so small the Tritans wouldn’t know to look for it. Imminent was careful.”

Tumu came on the line. “Was it in the code?”

“That’s right. In the Operating system.”

Xelan said, “Good work. Any other concerns?”

Lynn wanted to answer this time. “We should be all set. We’ll keep searching in case there’s more. Good luck out there. Over and Out.”

Caedes gave her a nod with his eyes full of respect.

Pablo kissed her forehead. “You. Are. Amazing.”

“I know.” Lynn nudged him teasingly.

They all looked when Miy and Twenty-One returned through the threshold. Lynn had to keep from shaking her head. They didn’t even bother checking a mirror before this walk of shame into a life or death situation they were all in. At least the Lyrik was glowing, and the big Icarus walked with some swagger. Jeez. They both stopped by the weapons cache and loaded up on knives and nacre disabling pistols.

Pablo went to check Triss and her supply of Aegis blood. Lynn watched him move in that combat suit and wondered if she preferred him in scrubs or this. She was so distracted with his ass that she missed some of what he said.

“…And I hope Matt and Lucy are making out okay. Their mission was more rigorous than ours.”

Lynn rubbed the back of her neck, stiff from staring at nacre data. Would she rather be out there fighting or here doing this with her husband? Pablo smiled at her from across the room as if he’d shared the same thought. While those full lips beamed at her, Lynn knew the answer. Definitely here with him. With a sigh, she said, “Now there’s nothing to do but wait—”

Bethany looked up, her honey brown eyes wide with…

Terror.

Lynn cried, “Code Red!”

Someone was coming.