36. Clay
Chapter 36
Clay
“Fiona will be okay. She just needs to rest. And you need rest, too. I’m surprised you’re even standing after the amount of energy Skye drained from you,” Doc says as she enters the room. She checks Fiona’s monitors, which beep a steady rhythm, and gives me a pointed look.
“I’m fine,” I say, my gaze going back to Fiona’s perfect face. I’ve been by her side for the past few hours. She won’t wake until sometime tomorrow or the next day, but it’s given me time to think.
Doc purses her lips, but doesn’t push. If this was a normal visit, she’d be shutting down my relentless flirting, which I did to piss off Specter, who refuses to admit he has the hots for her. Everything has changed in such a short time. I feel like I’ve aged a decade.
“How’s Raven?”
She sighs. “He’s healthy as an ox and refusing to wake up, so I told Skye to let him enjoy his nap. He doesn’t sleep as it is.”
She sighs, leaning against the steel table nearby.
“If whoever was controlling Paul did something to his mind, I can’t do anything.”
“Can’t Liv or Charlie go in and talk to him?”
“Charlie is MIA, and Liv can’t seem to get through.”
I heave a sigh, and she hugs her sides. “Nobody has heard from Specter,” she whispers.
I squeeze my fists. “We’ll get him back. I promise.”
My brother-in-law’s father, Henry, appears in the doorway. “Are you ready to meet your nephew?” he asks. I hesitate, and Doc motions for me to go with him.
“Go. I’ll stay with her.”
I squeeze her shoulder. “Don’t forget to rest yourself. As awesome as you are, you’re not a super soldier.”
She gives me a flat look and shrugs off my hand. She and Specter are a perfect match.
“How is Fiona?” Henry asks as we make our way to John and Sylvie’s room.
“She’ll be okay. I just…don’t know where we go from here.”
“You’ll figure it out. Liv said you have that red aura thing that means you’re soulmates.”
I shake my head with a sigh. Fucking universe . Of course we are.
“You don’t seem too happy about that.”
“It’s complicated.”
“It always is. That’s how you know it's right,” he says with a grin, and I return it.
I pause in the doorway. Sylvie watches from the bed as John sways with their newborn in his arms. The kid is huge, but John makes him look small.
I hug my sister first. “You’re a mom,” I say.
She grins, and it turns into a yawn. She looks me over with a frown. “What’s wrong?” She raises an eyebrow, reminding me of our mom.
I scrub a hand down my face. “What did they tell you?”
“Nothing. I went into labor yesterday and John didn’t want to stress me out, so he promised to tell me if anything bad happened.”
I glance at John, who winces. He’s going to get the tongue lashing of his life, but I won’t be the one to ruin my sister’s happy mood. “You were right. I met a nice woman.”
She gasps and claps her hands together.
“She’s here. In the bunker.” I hesitate and she frowns.
“Spit it out.”
“She used to be in the church, but they abused her and kicked her out. She’s on our side, but it will take time to convince everyone else.”
She reaches for my hand. “You would never bring someone here that you weren’t sure about. We trust you.”
She narrows her gaze for a minute and smiles again. “You’re in love with her.”
I shrug. “So what?”
She laughs. “Don’t be an ass. Why didn’t you bring her here? I want to meet her.”
I glance at John, and he sighs. “There were some… complications. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow after you’ve rested,” he says.
“John. I love you. But you’re being irrational. I just took a nap.”
John gives his full attention to his newborn as he whimpers.
“What did you guys name him?”
“Mason Paul Sutton.”
I swallow my emotion but my eyes water.
“Paul is one of many reasons I’m standing here today,” John says.
“Don’t spoil it. We want to tell Paul ourselves,” Sylvie says and my face falls.
Her eyes go wide with concern. “Alright, somebody better talk. What the hell happened?”
John readjusts his grip on his son and hands him to me. “Let’s let Clay have his moment with Mason.”
I hesitate, not sure how to handle something so precious and fragile. “Support his head,” John says, guiding me through it with all the confidence in the world. He settles in my arms with a soft coo, and I’m utterly in love with the little human. My energy wraps around him, and his infant patterns radiate safety and contentment.
“He’s perfect.” I wipe away my tears and Sylvie sniffles.
“He is, isn’t he?” she says.
“Fuck, he’s cute,” I mumble.
“Language,” Sylvie chastises and I chuckle.
“Hey there, little Mason. I’m your super fun Uncle Clay. I’ll teach you all the curse words behind your mom’s back.”
Sylvie rolls her eyes and John chuckles.
“Whenever you get sick of your parents, you can come hang out with me, okay? I’m always gonna be here for you. You’ve been born into the best family on the entire planet.”
“He really has,” Henry says, his eyes watery as he watches his grandson.
“I’m gonna hand you to your grandpa because he’s pretty cool, too. I promise I won’t tell anyone I’m your favorite. We’ll keep that between us pals.”
Henry chuckles as he takes him from me, holding him like he’s been doing it his entire life. Liv and Garrett appear with their respective significant others in the doorway and melt over their nephew.
“Why the hell hasn’t Raven shown up yet? And why is everyone so gloomy?” Sylvie asks.
“Guys, would you mind taking Mason in the hall for a moment?” John asks, his voice rough.
Everyone shoots sympathy in his direction before we leave the room. Jordy’s brother Alex approaches with Mark as the door slides shut.
“Jim Maddox just called. He said Dylan missed his check-in and Emilia hasn’t seen him in almost twenty-four hours.”
“Can Nova find him?” I ask.
Alex shakes his head. “His last location ping was a mile from Insidatrex HQ.”
“I told him to stay with us. Stubborn ass,” Liv grumbles. Worry radiates through her patterns.
“What do you want us to do?” Mark asks Luke, who's become our unspoken leader with Specter captured and his dad still unconscious.
We're interrupted by Sylvie’s cries through the door as John breaks the news to her.
“Have Nova analyze his comings and goings. Let's get a clear picture of what happened,” Luke says.
Sylvie sobs again and I let her patterns roll around me. She doesn’t need me anymore. Mason makes a funny sound from Henry’s arms and we smile despite the sadness floating around us like a fog.
I’m itching to return to Fiona, so I step away as Luke, Mark, and Alex head back to Raven’s office.
Charlie rounds the corner as I reach the threshold, holding my favorite brand of orange soda. We both glance into the room where Doc has fallen asleep in my vacated chair.
“Are you seriously apologizing for slicing me open and killing my best friend with an orange soda?” I ask.
He smiles and presents the can. I swipe it, cracking it open with a smile. “It’s like you know me.” I take a guzzle and sigh.
“How is she?” he asks, motioning with his head towards Fiona.
“Wiped out, but okay.”
“And you?” He glances at my side where he sliced me open.
“Already healed.”
“I’m sorry, but I had to. I…” he trails off and I grip his shoulder. Charlie has the unfortunate burden of being able to see the future. There are an infinite number of possibilities based on whatever actions people take. Focusing on one is pointless because it could lead to a million other possibilities. He describes it as a cat chasing a laser dot. He’ll never be able to catch it, so he doesn't try. But occasionally, the universe throws him a bone.
“You don’t have to tell me anything.”
“We’re getting closer to our end goal. Every day, the future becomes more solid. If I let you kill Paul, there was a ninety percent chance it would have led to your death.”
“I’m glad you intervened. I would have hated to miss out on time with Fiona.”
He smiles, but there’s still exhaustion in his eyes. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about the future.”
I shrug, watching her peaceful face. “She keeps the nightmares away. She makes the future seem possible,” I whisper.
“You deserve some peace. I’m glad she can be that for you,” he says.
I finish the soda, and he sighs. “I spoke to Paul, right before…”
I swallow hard, fighting back my warring emotions.
“He says that if you ruin things with Fiona, he’ll haunt your ass until the day you die.”
I huff a laugh even as the tears threaten.
“And he wants you to play Celine at his funeral. He doesn’t want everyone to be sad.”
I frown. “How does he know about Celine?”
Charlie chuckles. “We all know about your obsession with Celine. You’re not very good at hiding it.”
I rub the back of my neck and heave a sigh. “It already sucks without him.”
“It always will, but we did the right thing. He said he loves you, and to thank you for being his best friend and brother.”
The tears fall and I suck in a gasp as the emotion fights its way out. Charlie pulls me in for a tight embrace and lets me fall apart for a few minutes while I soak his shirt. Once I settle down, he meets my gaze with a smile.
I wipe my face with the hem of my shirt. “You don’t get enough credit for how much you keep us functioning. Thank you for dealing with our bullshit.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “It’s not bullshit.”
“Who do you talk to about your bullshit?”
He chuckles. “Nova, believe it or not. She’s insightful for a computer.”
“You can talk to us, too. Let us help you with your burdens.”
He searches my face. “You’re a good man, Clayton. The stuff that bastard said about you not being a hero isn’t true. You’re the bravest hero of the bunch.”
“Stop flirting with me. I’m taken.”
He rolls his eyes and we both laugh. We part with another hug, but I call out to him before he rounds the corner.
“You’ve always said there was a price for intervening with the future. What was the price for saving me?”
He stares at me for a moment. “The universe demands balance,” he says before he strides away. Someone is going to die so that I can live. Me and my big fucking mouth. I shouldn’t have asked.
Fiona murmurs in her sleep, and I curl up next to her on the small medical bed. I wrap my body around hers and let my energy soak into her, fusing our patterns together so that even in sleep, she knows she’s not alone.
I’m jostled awake and pull lightning into my hands.
Fiona takes my face in her hands. “Hey, lightning boy. You’re safe.”
I relax, and the light dims as I release the energy into the ground. “Firebolt.”
She smiles and I sit up, rubbing at the crick in my neck. We’re alone in the room and the monitors are off.
“Doctor Lane said I’m in the clear. I was going to let you sleep, but my leg fell asleep.”
I shift my weight, and she stretches her leg and shakes it.
“Are you feeling okay?”
She nods. “I’m sorry I hacked into Nova. I didn’t know Charlie was going to hurt you or I never—”
“You did the right thing. I’m fine.”
She lets out a relieved sigh. “Paul is gone?” she asks, and I nod.
“I’m so sorry, Clay.”
I take her hand. “He wouldn’t want us to wallow in misery over his passing, but I kinda want to.”
“You have every right to.”
“I’m an uncle,” I say.
“I heard. Congratulations.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Sylvie was pregnant.”
Her radiant smile almost makes my heart stop.
“You never have to explain yourself. What we have is anything but conventional.”
I huff a laugh. “That’s an understatement.”
Her smile slips.
“So. You’re really Candace’s niece?” I ask.
She winces. “I was hoping you forgot about that.”
I chuckle, and she shifts so she can face me. “Her real name was Maria Edgewater. She abandoned her husband and daughter when Rosalee was only eleven. Nobody has heard from her since. She was married to my father’s brother, so we aren’t blood related. That probably doesn’t matter, but I wanted to throw it out there in case it makes you hate me less.”
“I don’t hate you, Flowers.”
“It’s a lot. Even for me. I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I’m disgusted. And poor Rosalee doen’t know what a monster her mom was.”
“It’s probably best she never finds out.”
She sighs. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“I usually am.”
She smirks and looks to the side as her patterns shift into uncertainty. “Is this the part where you tell me it can never work between us? Because if so, I’d rather we get it over with.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
She searches my face as I grin at her.
“Darn. I was so close.”
I chuckle. “It won’t be easy, but I’m willing to put in the work to get us to a healthy spot.”
“Does that mean we…I mean do you still…”
I shut her up with a kiss and she melts into me. “I still. I always,” I whisper.
“Still have a hard time saying it?”
I tuck her hair behind her ear. “I love you, Fiona Edgewater.”
“I love you, too, Clayton Fox. Damnit.”
I grin, kissing her again. My mind is quiet for the first time in a while, but one thought persists oddly in Paul’s voice. Marry her, you idiot.
I fix the lapel of Paul’s plaid jacket and tie the laces of his right boot. Crossing my arms, I stare at his peaceful face and marvel at his size for the last time. He’s too big for the incinerator, and we can’t send smoke signals to the enemy, so Liv and Charlie have the gloomy task of cremating my best friend.
Super soldiers don’t get to be buried. There’s too much magic sitting in his veins that Infinitum would love to get their hands on. It’s adding insult to injury, if you ask me.
At least we get to bring him outside. He always loved looking at the stars. My eyes water and I cover him with the sheet.
I join Fiona, who steps away from Sylvie and takes my hand, resting her head against my arm as she sniffles. Fiona and Sylvie met this morning and my sister told me how much our parents would have loved her. I never thought I could feel such euphoric joy and immense sadness on the same day.
Liv sniffles, and a few of my friends shed tears. Mason is bundled against Sylvie, and John stands at her back, wrapping his arms around both of them. Everyone’s patterns are similar, edged with grief and sorrow.
I take a deep breath, pull Lexi in front of me, and strum the opening notes of My Heart Will Go On. I honor my best friend’s ridiculous request and open my mouth, singing for my family for the first time. Fiona, Liv, and Vera join their voices to mine. They’re off key, but they smile through their tears. And I’m sure somewhere Paul is smiling too.
The song ends, and Liv and Charlie raise their hands. Blinding white light fills the space for a few seconds, until only a pile of ash remains where Paul’s body was.
Several minutes pass before Charlie breaks the quiet. “In his last moments, his only concern was for us. Paul was more than a friend. He was our family. There are dozens more men like Paul who need our help.”
“His sacrifice won’t be in vain,” John says and Sylvie hugs little Mason to her chest.
Determination replaces the sad gazes of my family as the sun sinks below the horizon. “The final battle is coming,” Garrett says.
“We’ll be ready,” I say, squeezing Fiona to my side.
Axel raises his flask to Paul’s ashes. “For Paul.”
“For Grant,” Charlie says.
“For our parents,” Sylvie says, meeting my gaze.
“For our mom,” Luke says, and Skye squeezes his hand.
“For Barbara,” Liv says and Luke kisses her temple.
“For Susanna,” I say, honoring Paul’s sister like I promised.
“For humanity,” Raven rasps, and all eyes turn to him as he approaches.
Skye rushes to his side, and he hugs her tight before he kneels next to Paul's ashes. He drags his fingers through the pile. “Rest easy. You’ve earned it,” he says.
He stands, brushing his hands off before he faces us. “Edgar tried to kill Eli. He’s given us the coordinates to Edgar’s hideout. We have work to do.”
And with that, the team follows him to the bunker while Charlie and I gather Paul’s ashes into a small box. Fiona places the lid on top once we’re finished and Charlie squeezes my shoulder as he carries Paul back into the bunker.
I take Fiona’s hand and pause once we’re inside and we find Raven waiting for us alone.
“Fiona. Welcome to the team.” He extends his hand to her, and she shakes it. Fear flows off of her, but she does her best to keep it together.
“Please don’t be afraid of me,” he says, and she relaxes a fraction.
He glances at me as she tucks herself into my side. A small smile plays on his lips, but he doesn’t comment. Instead, his face ripples until James Reilly stands before us.
Fiona gasps. “Oh my God. You’re…You.”
He smiles.
“You didn’t die. But they tried to kill you?”
He nods.
“Holy cow. Of course you’d fake your own death. It’s so smart. How did you do it? Did you use AI? Was it Nova? Will you show me how she–”
I nudge her and she clamps her mouth shut.
James chuckles. “I promise to tell you everything you want to know when there’s time. It’s been a while since I've had such an eager pupil.” He glances at me with a knowing smirk.
She puts her hand over her heart like she’s saying the pledge of allegiance, and in a serious tone says, “I vow to protect your secrets. I’m honored to be on your team.”
He smiles and nods. “And I vow to protect you.”
I bite back my laughter as her excitement builds. “I’m a huge fan of your work,” she blurts, unable to keep the fan girl at bay despite our crazy circumstances.
Her face turns red, but her energy calms when he puts his hand on her shoulder. “I hope you’re ready. I could use your skills in this fight.”
She nods like a bobble head. “I’ll help anyway I can.”
His face morphs back into Raven’s and he nods at me. “You’ve done well, Clay. I’m proud of you.”
My throat tightens, and he strides away.
“Oh my God, that just happened,” Fiona says, her eyes wide. My sentiments exactly.
“Geez. Keep your nerd boner in your pants.”
She smacks my arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I was so unprepared for that.”
I shrug. “It wasn’t my secret to tell.”
“Did I sound like an idiot? Oh God, he probably thinks I’m a lunatic.”
I laugh and squeeze her to my chest as I plant a kiss on her head. “You’re family now. He loves you. We all do. Even Lexi. Oh, wait. I should probably ask if you’re okay being in a throuple?”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
I slide my guitar in front of me. “This is Lexi. She’s always been there for me. I won’t give her up.”
“All that therapy and you have an emotional attachment to a guitar?”
I shrug. “We’re a package deal. Take it or leave it.”
To my surprise, she rests her hand on the body and addresses her directly. “Hi, Lexi. Thank you for being there for Clay when he needed you most, but your services are no longer required. He’s my man, and I won’t share him with anyone, but you’re more than welcome to hang around and perform your duty as the best guitar ever. I promise to keep him safe and I will always be there for him when he needs me.”
I stare at her, at a loss for words, as she smiles at me.
“Did you just claim me?”
She laughs. “I sure as hell did.”
I slide Lexi behind me and scoop her up. “I’m gonna marry you, Flowers. Someday. When this is all over.”
“Did you just propose to me?”
I grin. “Maybe. Yes. No. All I know is the darkness isn’t so bad when you’re in it with me. I’m in this. For better or worse. Through thick and thin. I’m yours forev–” She slaps her finger over my mouth.
“I know.” Her sassy smirk does me in and she yelps as I yank her into a kiss, tangling my hands in her soft hair and breathing her into me as I seal our unspoken promise.
I might not deserve her, but I sure as hell will spend every day fighting for her, for us, until we can finally be at peace.
All we have to do is rescue Specter and Dylan and save the world.
Now that is my idea of a fun Friday night.