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He exchanged glances with his fellow Riders.

They had a private conversation that went on for some time.

After a beat, Killen leaned in. ‘May I please speak?’

The meta warriors turned to the younger man.

Riv raised a hand in invitation. ‘You may, son.’

‘My mother and I will leave Devansi. But only after we unravel the mystery of the Ka’SHärd and it untangles us from our blindness.’

Élisa shot her son a stunned look. ‘Killen, are you saying we don’t need to go to Katáne to get the lodestones removed?’

‘Naam. We won’t need them removed if the very thing causing the blindness is dealt with and our health restored.’

Élisa bucked in shock. ‘When were you going to tell me?’

Her son returned a small smile. ‘I’m telling you now.’

She gave Riv an incredulous look, and he responded by pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her silver hair.

‘I’m so confused right now,’ she moaned, wrapping her hands tightly around her man.

‘It shall be revealed soon,’ Killen promised.

Then he and Zane’s gazes met, and an unseen power pulsed between them.

Zane’s eyes widened. ‘You’re more than you seem.’

Killen inclined his head. ‘So are you.’

The two men assessed each other, their energies clashing in contemplation.

‘When this is all said and done, I think a shared beer is required,’ Zane drawled.

‘I’ll shout you the first round,’ Killen rasped. ‘For now, I believe we’ve business with the Ka’SHärd.’

Zane raised a brow. ‘Naam,we do. But first, we need to calm its storms. I think you and I could manage that together.’

Élisa started, lowering her voice. ‘Can someone please explain?’

Zane turned to Riv’s woman. ‘The Ka’SHärd is part of an entity we Riders encountered before.’

He gave her a rundown of recent events on the opposite end of Pegasi with the Eden Shard.

‘We believe the Devansi Shard is in some sort of distress,’ Zane added. ‘It’s unbalancing the gravitational balance on this planet and most likely the source of your blindness. If we were to calm it somehow, perhaps it can provide the healing you two need.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s a powerful, unstable, celestial entity. What if it doesn’t play nice? It hasn’t so far.’

Riv touched her arm. ‘My love, we won’t know until we get to it.’

Zane nodded. ‘Whatever we decide, we need to make it quick.’

Riv’s eyes narrowed.‘Why?’

Xion jerked his chin at Élisa. ‘Her people are on their way here. In an extensive fleet. So we need to get going with our harebrained plan and get the hell out of here before they arrive.’

As Élisa cried out in panic, Riv slid his arms around her. ‘Hush now. We’ll get away before they get here.’