ame witho

rbank, knees brought close to my chest, and looked at the water. I couldn't sleep. Not after everything that had happe

idn't want to

anted to feel

me, with a ration pack

nched you in your dreams,

t be the first time"

tched me, his eyes softer t

mories. But not mine. I think

"You're reme

lullaby, I don't know the words to." I l

fro

dded. "Dark hair. Bright eyes

idn't

you, r

his gaze.

ed in my chest. "Why

You deserve to remember them on your o

"You were my

. "And I

fted. The ri

. "They erased you from the world, Calla. Do you know what that feels l

id

y. "Why did my mother c

And because she knew, even back then,

"What if I don'

re and gravity. "The

t, the distance b

or stolen. It was deliberate. Like I was claiming

, and the wo

melted into him like I'd always been meant to fit that space. He tasted li

ves away, he maintained a f

ing coordinates. We think there's a relay station

then

. And decide who w

t belie

d, the comm unit on Ka

oyed him. Damon's private assassin unit. The Voids

breath. "He's moving f

ymore," Lira added.

ssage

me, jaw tight.

t racing. "The

already knew some

n't playing g

sending

ts didn'

kil

***************

Like

k much after t

holding their breath. Kael moved ahead, every sense on alert, and I fol

ending

y were enhanced, like me-except without

remembered the peop

reamed of bein

e bones across the earth, tilted toward a sun that no longer warmed them

n hour," he said. "But

beside him, dra

I fel

ge in

lence h

hand went to the sidearm

la

pped out fro

es so black they seemed to drink the light. A mask covered their

I felt them l

lted their head

m their voice li

stantly, gun raised. "Yo

er is very disappointed. But not sur

calm. Too smooth. It wasn't male or fem

d. "Why not send

tep closer. "Because th

mach f

d. "Then w

down the center, fol

asp

boy. No-a copy. Too perfect. Unblemishe

ke me," I

ps curled. "N

r his breath. "S

to him. "And you

head. "To

ta. Third-gen extraction from the original DNA pool. Created from you

orld

ed. "That's no

ael said soft

d, twisted into a weapon

ill not harm you. Your father wa

ot a m

et," h

rd. "You'll have t

"I was wishing you w

d fast-

weapon. Sparks flew. I saw blood flash as Kael took a cut to his side, but didn'

only thi

se rifle from Kae

to

h f

, expressionless.

e," I

pped f

fi

er. Hissed...not in pain, b

said. "You're not th

anished-into

is hand pressed to his blee

're

is teeth. "N

where Thet

," I murmured. "A

met m

He's a message.

ded s

ge re