I loosened my collar for this next bit. "In December of 2006, Rayne came to me about her dreams with Nox. To solve them, I stepped out of my lane to summon The Brethren. While I trusted you, Lucas, I knew there was no way Nox could invade her dreams on this scale from another planet. The nanites didn't resonate that strongly in her blood. Not without a nacre. Do you remember what you said to me?"

"'Oops.'"

Kyle barked out a laugh. "Oh, oops. 'I guess that one bad guy and his armies crossed a planetary border, after all. My bad.'"

I rewarded the shit-talking with a grin before saying, "But as punishment for breaking my exile on official channels, someone in this room locked me down in my own Iona."

I didn't look at the person responsible. I'd let him stand and identify himself if he deemed it necessary.

Honest and brave, Caedes raised his glass of Yun liquor. He said, "It was me. But only after the entire Brethren voted unanimously on it." He slid a glare in Lucas' direction.

The clandestine not-sure-if-he's-an-Icarus bowed with his head. "True. But your address was quite convincing. Not to mention, if I hadn't held you back, your imperial majesty, Nox would've murdered you in front of your Progeny. Left you broken in a burning building while all the world still needed you."

A hush fell over the study.

How could Lucas always know so much? More than the entire Brethren and CoN and—

"Colita."

Korac said her name like it was a dirty word.

Of course.

Lucas begrudgingly stood and straightened his suit to answer yet another round of questioning. He said, "Yes. She was always a reliable informant. I knew when you arrived and how you organized within the CoN compounds across the world. Colita also ranted about Nox's fascination with Rayne in her dreams. How he didn't even feed from Colita anymore. Then she told me of your plan to test the Progeny with false victories—I knew they were in no danger. So what was the harm in postponing your ultimate confrontation a little while longer?"

First, there was silence. No pun intended.

Then...

"You could've told us so I could warn my sisters! Ross could've taken Bethany to safety!"

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"Imminent murdered my parents while I was skipping class and Rayne was at school! We could've saved them!"

"I think an Icarus killed my dad. It's funny. I never went to check."

"We watched all of our classmates die! Lynn's parents were murdered. Thanks to Bones, I learned mi madre survived—But no thanks to you at all!"

"I killed the band teacher..."

"Rayne's arm was decimated, and I was nearly drowned in a toilet."

"I thought I'd killed you..."

The last voice stopped them all as Sagan cupped Korac's jaw in her hand. She repeated, "You made me think I'd killed you, and I mourned you. It was only hours until you and Nox left the school together, but I didn't like the way the world felt without you in it."

Echo whistled and cooed beside them with a mighty kick in her footie jammies.

Lucas stared at them with a shocking intensity. Their love was proof of the outcome. Still gazing, he asked, "Would you undo it, Sagan? The day of Invasion for all those reasons you cited. Would you change it all?"

Sagan met Lucas' golden eyes first. Unashamed, she shook her head.

Korac kissed her palm and said, "No."

Pax climbed up on the couch, over the arm, and onto the back. The little boy accidentally kicked Jack in the head, who took it with a gracious smile, while Pax laid across the back like a cat and held out his hands to Tameka. "Mom! Can I go to the treehouse tomorrow?"

The palatial grounds sported more than a few playgrounds for children, but the tree village was Pax's favorite.

It wouldn't exist without Invasion Day.

Pax wouldn't exist.

Tameka gave him two high fives. "You got it, kiddo."

Finally, Jack answered for all of them. "It's too hard a question to answer as individuals. You can say our lives are wonderful now, and you'd be right. But it didn't come without a price. Since three billion of those lives weren't ours to represent, we can't say if we'd change it or not." He took Ross' hand and squeezed it, saying, "But I am happy. I just wish..." He shot me a glance, obviously referencing you, Rayne.

Would you change it?

Your eyes are sad again, near tears, as you say, "My last thought when I died... I wanted a hug from my mom. That I would trade everything for one hug from her."

It's enough to send tears to choke me.

There are no substitutes for those hugs. Not even mine.

A pretty, sad smile spreads across your lips, and you hold out your arms. "I'll take one though."

It's a good squeezer of a hug, and I feel a frailness in your arms.

Are you all right where you are? Tell me the truth.

"Soon, we'll all be okay."

Martyr.

Our laughter harmonizes until we stop hugging, and you say, "It's time to close your Verse. Tell them the truth, but tell them it's under control so I can have more time."

I will do what I can for you.