Page 129 of Between Imminent Fates

When Celeste had checked on Zeke last night, she’d found him playing tag with the twins. He’d been moving slowly, and at first, she’d thought it was to ensure they could catch him. It was only after watching for a few minutes that she realized he simply didn’t have the energy to move faster.

Looking at Zeke now, it was nearly impossible to reconcile who he had been before with the man he currently was. It was like looking at two sides of a coin. All of his strength had leached away in his mate’s absence.

“We’re already shouldering much of the load,” Remmus added. “If any of us were to go into energy drought or recoil, it could shift the balance and compromise what remains of our network.”

It was a bad situation. Celeste and Derikles were working as fast as they could, but without studying Isaiah’s handiwork, few people could help.

“And the shift?” Nero probed. “How far along have you gotten?”

“It’s time consuming. The shift itself won’t be difficult, but it does require careful strategy and a meticulous foundation. Zeke can’t help, he’s barely treading water right now even with the added energy.” Derikles shook his head. “It will be several more days before we’re ready to attempt it.”

“The problem is that we’re overlaying the bonds of not only one, but two clans,” Celeste added. “Nina’s network is faltering badly without her at the helm, and Zeke’s is deteriorating because of his energy drought. It’s time consuming, and if we don’t get it right, everything we’ve worked for might fail.”

The sound of approaching footsteps came swiftly. Only seconds later, Drake appeared in the door. “Zeke called his lieutenants together. We must go quickly.”

Fear welled deeply with Celeste.

They swiftly traveled to Zeke and Nina’s home. Derikles walked beside her, gripping her hand, as they entered their sovereign’s home.

Zeke was sitting on a couch, his head in his hands. His eyes were closed, and the way Kaien hovered near him was enough to alert everyone that the man wasn’t doing well. If Celeste had a headache from the energy deprivation, she couldn’t imagine what it was doing to their sovereign. His clothes were far looser on him than they’d been even two weeks ago, and the greying pallor of his skin was concerning.

“Zeke?” came Hemin’s gentle prompt.

Slowly lifting his head, he studied those of them who’d gathered. His tired smile was mirrored by everyone in the room, but it faded after a few moments.

“Forgive me for my failure,” he started, “but the time is coming when I can no longer hold out. Despite how quickly the nations have come around us, and the generosity of their healers and Amps, I fear I have only hours left.”

Kaien flinched beside him.

None of them could be at a loss to what it meant. If Zeke passed, Nina would follow. Compromised as she was, the broken mating bond would result in an even more severe psychic shock.

“Celeste, Derikles, how are your efforts faring?” he asked.

Knowing that she would be struggling with the prospect of losing both sovereigns in one swoop, Derikles took the initiative. “We’re building the bridge between you and Tzuriel, and Nina and Kaien. We’ve had help from the other lieutenants, but it’s a slow process.”

“If I had to guess,” Celeste added, “we’re approximately eighty percent of the way there.”

Zeke hesitated, frowning at the floor before he squared his shoulders. “And if I were to succumb before those bonds were fully built, would the sovereignty transition regardless, or would the clan dissolve?”

Though the question was valid, she had hoped it would never need to be asked. “If we rough in the rest of the network with Tzuriel and Kaien at the helm, I’m fairly certain it would transition to them rather than dissolve.”

“How long will that take?”

Derikles and Celeste exchanged a look. “It would take at least several more hours for a workable model, and a day or two more for a fully functioning network.”

Zeke’s nod was slow, but gradually, his face softened with relief. “I can hold out for several more hours. I can do that for our clan.”

He gave them another weak smile, but in it, she saw the vulnerability of the man sitting before her. Someone who was prepared to give everything he had for a clan he loved and a woman he cherished.

It suddenly became clear. If his life ended, he’d find Nina again on the other side. His only goal now was to ensure that their clans were supported before his passing.

“We will work quickly, Zeke,” she promised him. “And soon, you will have rest.”

Chapter Twenty

Zeke

Zeke would miss thesound of his children’s laughter the most. Their joy was a gift he cherished at every opportunity. Whether it was due to a fun game, their father’s silly antics, or a mischievous plot, he loved every part of it.

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