“So, it worked. My father’s assistants were asked more about the assassination than about the weapons we used,” Si said, smiling slightly.

  Lukai was content.

  The idea to exaggerate in the materials steered the Unio families’ minds in another direction. They liked drama more than they cared about security.

  “What a society,” Lukai sighed, thinking about this.

  No one commented on what Si had said. Luna sat in silence. Her Taj was blurry, and his face was indecipherable.

  They met at Luna’s house, in the library. She had prepared tea, even snacks. She treated them more warmly than a few days ago.

  “Before we start discussing the trap and our next steps, I have something to share,” Lukai started.

  He decided it was time.

  “I am Domini’s son,” he said.

  There was a long silence.

  Lukai didn’t intend to elaborate on it. What he said was enough to grasp the consequences. What he wanted to do was to watch their reactions.

  Luna was genuinely startled. Taj was moderately surprised; he looked as if he didn’t know, but he also was not very surprised.

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  Si, though. He was not at all shocked. His smile widened.

  “My mother then was right,” he said, and laughed. “Lukai, my mother said that the resemblance between you and Arct is too big to be a coincidence. I appreciate you saying it by yourself.”

  Lukai noticed long ago that Shadows Lady, Si’s mother, was a smart woman. He didn’t like her when he was young because his father paid more attention to her than to Lukai’s mother. However, Si’s mother was too smart to act improperly.

  “Why didn’t you mention it before?” he asked, intrigued.

  They had been cooperating for years; for how long did Si know?

  “I prefer when people tell important things willingly and by themselves,” Si said.

  Lukai could say, the answer sounded simple, but it wasn’t.

  “This opens new paths, no? The two of you, it is probable you will rule quite soon. Could you share your vision?” blurry Taj asked.

  He was very direct, but Lukai preferred it this way.

  “The way Unio policy divides people within and allies from the outside is for complete change. The families are corrupt; previously established unification is falling apart. I want the elimination of divisions, and here I mean the artificial divisions between energy users,” Lukai said it in one go.

  It sounded simple, but it wasn’t.

  “Lukai overseeing Unio and the OFF will have more work than I,” Si said. “I would like to finish divisions as well; they are harmful. Push the scientific development further; provide peaceful lives for all of us.”

  It was certain this meeting was not to discuss the political programs of both him and Si. It was to outline the visions, as Taj said, show the direction, and align in the basics.

  The important question was how to take over the power in a way that the families would obey.

  The weapon was one, and this had been achieved.

  Si had said earlier in the morning that Taj would be of help here. Lukai wasn’t aware of what he could mean by that. It was not a good feeling. Lukai knew that if he wanted to rule, he should know his next steps in advance. Yet—

  Then Si asked a very surprising question.