This story is a companion prequel and contains spoilers for Path of the King.
If you haven’t read the main series yet, I strongly recommend starting there first:
Come back to Memories after—this one hits harder with context.
SPOILER WARNING - Click Here
Angel City - Isaac’s Apartment - 9 days before Earth’s destruction
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Isaac’s eyes open. The alarm is sharp enough to feel personal.
He turns his head, squints at the clock, and smacks it off without mercy. His hand falls back onto the pillow and he stretches, rolling onto his side—
—and a warm arm slides around his waist.
Kate.
“Mmm… what… time is it?”
Isaac smiles with his eyes closed, voice still sleepy.
“Time to get up… six.”
Kate freezes for half a second, then sits up fast, staring at the screen.
“Oh my God… I need to make a call.”
She laughs under her breath like she can’t believe it, leans down to kiss him—quick, soft—and then gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom, bare and unbothered.
Isaac watches her go, still smiling. He rubs his face with one hand and exhales.
(Some time later)
The kitchen is alive with small sounds—oil snapping, plates clinking, the coffee machine finishing its last angry gurgle.
Isaac places two plates on the table: eggs, bacon, simple and done right. He pours coffee, sets the mugs down.
Kate is on the phone, wearing Isaac’s shirt. It hangs on her like she stole it in a hurry.
“Yes, sir… we should close that contract today.”
She listens, hums, then takes a sip without breaking focus.
Isaac crouches and fills Mia’s bowl.
The cat appears instantly, weaving around his ankle, rubbing against his leg, purring like she’s trying to trip him on purpose.
Isaac shakes his head, amused.
“Good girl…”
He sits down and starts eating while Kate continues the call, calm and businesslike—then glances at him between sentences like she’s still half in bed.
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Angel City - Kate’s House
Some time later
Isaac pulls up and parks in front of Kate’s house. The engine ticks softly after he shuts it off.
Kate turns toward him, smiling like she’s replaying the night in her head.
“That was an incredible night, my love… I loved every moment.”
Isaac smiles back, the kind that doesn’t need effort.
“Me too. I really did.”
Kate leans in, kisses him lightly—then bites his lower lip and pulls away just enough to look at him.
“See you later.”
“Yeah… see you.”
Isaac waits as she steps out. She walks to the door, looks back, and waves before going inside.
Only then does Isaac pull away and drive off.
Playsxtudios - Isaac’s Desk
Isaac types without looking away from the screen. The cursor moves, stops, moves again—clean and precise, like he’s trying to outrun the clock.
A staff member approaches and lingers at the edge of his desk.
“Isaac…”
Isaac pauses and turns his head.
“Emily is calling you to her office… now.”
Isaac’s fingers stay on the keyboard for a second longer, then relax. He frowns, confused, and exhales.
“Alright… thanks.”
He stands up, pushes his chair in, and walks down the hallway.
Emily’s Office
Isaac knocks… then steps in.
“Come in, Isaac… sit.”
Emily is reading something at her desk. She doesn’t look at him right away.
Isaac sits across from her.
The bandages on her face are fresh. The swelling is still there, especially around one cheekbone.
Isaac keeps his voice steady.
“Is there a problem?”
“Actually… no.”
Isaac waits.
“Then what is it?”
Emily turns a page slowly, like she’s choosing how much of herself she’s going to show. Then she leans back and finally looks at him.
“I called you here to give you advice,” she says. “About Dexter… and his invitation at L’amor.”
Isaac’s eyes narrow a little.
“What do you mean?”
“Nobody knows what goes on in that man’s head.” Emily’s tone is controlled, but the warning underneath it is sharp. “My advice is simple: be careful.”
Isaac doesn’t say anything. He just listens.
“I know you want to reach your goals,” Emily continues. “You’re smart. Strong. Determined.” Her eyes don’t leave his. “But be careful who you choose to stand next to. You saw what happened to me.”
Emily touches the bruised side of her face, not gently—more like checking that it’s still real.
Isaac watches the motion.
“I have a question,” he says.
Emily’s expression doesn’t change.
“Why did you let yourself go through that?”
Silence hangs for a moment.
Emily exhales, slow, and her gaze drops to the desk like the answer is sitting there and she refuses to pick it up.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says. “Go.”
Emily lowers her head, already turning back to whatever she was reading.
Isaac stays seated for a beat, studying her—then stands up and walks out.
Isaac’s Desk
Isaac comes back to his desk still thinking. He sits down slower than usual, eyes on the monitor but not really seeing it.
Joe walks in and stops beside him, reading his face.
“Isaac… yo. What’s with that look, man?”
They greet each other.
“Yo,” Isaac says. “Nothing… just Emily. She called me in.”
Joe makes himself comfortable like he owns the place. He drops into the chair across from Isaac, then casually props his feet up on the edge of the desk.
In his hand, a paper cup. Tea. He takes a slow sip while watching Isaac like he’s waiting for the real story.
“Seriously?” Joe says. “That had to be… important.”
“It wasn’t,” Isaac answers. “Not really.”
Joe raises an eyebrow.
“‘Not really’ means it was.”
Isaac glances at him, unimpressed.
“She just… warned me. About Dexter.”
Joe’s expression shifts a little at the name. He lowers the cup.
“Dexter?” he repeats. “Okay. That’s not nothing.”
Isaac shrugs like he doesn’t want to give it power. “She told me to be careful. That’s it.”
Joe taps the cup against his lip, thinking.
“Emily doesn’t call people into her office for ‘that’s it,’” he says. “And she definitely doesn’t warn people for fun.”
Isaac doesn’t answer. His eyes drift back to the screen, cursor blinking like it’s mocking him.
Joe watches him for another second, then exhales and leans back.
“Alright. Fine.” He waves it off like a joke. “If Dexter invites me anywhere, I’m bringing holy water.”
Isaac huffs a quiet laugh—short, then gone.
Joe points at him with the cup. “There. That’s better. You were starting to look like you were about to bite somebody.”
Isaac shakes his head.
Then he looks at Joe, more serious.
“Since you’re here… I need to tell you something,” Isaac says. “About your girlfriend. Alex.”
Joe’s face brightens instantly, like Isaac just said her name on purpose.
“Incredible, right?” Joe grins. “And you know what? I was actually thinking about telling you something too.” He leans forward a little, excited. “I think I’m gonna propose, man. Haha.”
Isaac freezes.
“Wait—Joe. Don’t do that.”
Joe squints, suspicious now, but still smiling.
“Why?” he says. “What’s your problem?”
Isaac exhales, slow. His gaze drops for a second, like he’s choosing how to say it without making it worse.
“Because something happened at the restaurant yesterday…”
Joe stops smiling.
He looks at Isaac, suddenly paying attention for real.