Crais(12)

“If you meant that comment in an even slightly suggestive way I will castrate you where you stand.” I hadn’t realized I’d moved closer to him and was practically growling in his face.

He leaned down, until our faces were inches apart. “It’s not my fault your mind automatically jumps to sex whenever you’re around me.” He tone was low, but everyone in the room had advanced hearing.

I sucked in a breath, afraid that there was some truth to his words. I could deny it all I wanted, but I was half First Worlder, born under the moon of the Empress, and I did have a tie to Lucas. It was just nothing compared to my Walker side and my bond with Brace.

“I had to have a daughter, of course I did. That way I could spend my entire life killing off horny males,” Josian muttered to himself.

Lucas laughed. “Don’t worry about Abby. She can take care of herself. And I would never go where I wasn’t invited.”

“It would be the last thing that you ever did.” This comment came from Grantham, who was slouched against the wall.

I wasn’t surprised that he was still here. He and the rest of his clan had been staying close until the Brace issue was resolved.

Lallielle walked into the room then, interrupting the sure-to-be testosterone-fuelled argument. After giving me a brief hug, she stepped into her husband’s arms. They were never apart for long.

“Frannie?” she said, pulling back from his gentle ‘hello’ kiss.

His expression sobered. “I’m sorry, Lalli, I searched as far as I could, but she’s not anywhere in Angelisian and her soothsayer protections are keeping her location shielded, although she’s definitely alive.”

Angelisian is the beachside town on First World where our stunning architectural home is located.

In my opinion Francesca was crazy, although a truly gifted soothsayer. She’d started this entire world-jumping mission with her insane visions, and then had decided to just up and disappear. And although Josian could sense she was alive, her actual location was murky. This was some type of inbuilt protection for those gifted in the art of foretelling the future.

Lallielle nodded once, dropping her head to rest on Josian’s broad chest. I knew she was worried, but this wasn’t the first time Francesca had decided to abscond for her own reasons. Whatever she ‘saw’ would dictate her actions, and since ‘no one should know their own future’ she didn’t always tell us what this was.

“Okay, Dad, enough with the chat. Let’s get this shield sorted.”

We only had a few more hours until dawn and I needed to be solid on my shielding, otherwise I’d put everyone’s lives in jeopardy. I was late to the world of Walkers and mostly had no idea of my powers, so I needed Josian’s expertise.



A few hours later I stared along the Walker doorway I’d just opened. At the other end all I could see was red.

Crais.

It looked the way I’d always imagined the burning gates of hell would look. You know, if I believed in that sort of thing.

“Why are we using a doorway, Abbs? I thought you’d just trace us.” Lucy stood next to me, gazing into the vortex.

“I’ve never traced with three people. I figured it was better to be safe.”

I’d have preferred to trace. It worked in a similar way to a doorway but was much quicker and didn’t leave an open rift behind. But I’d never risk my friends.

Talina stood on the other side of Lucy. We were all dressed in the same clothing, the most heat resistant material Josian could find on First World. White and reflective, the jumpsuit-style outfits covered us entirely except for our faces, although a hood curved over the back of our heads. And we even had thick white boots.

I started to bounce a little, tapping my right foot in time. “I’m kind of freaking out. What if I use all my energy shielding us and we don’t find the underground and then I have no energy left to open a doorway or trace us back here?” I said to Lucy, finally noticing how stunning she looked, all in white, with her blond curls and big blue eyes.

Lucy shrugged. “I guess we’re going to be a big old bonfire, minus the marshmallows.”

I rolled my eyes at her lack of concern. “Your comic timing sucks, as usual. And your faith in me is to the point of ridiculous.”

Lucy was the most vulnerable person on this adventure and yet she never let worry cloud her mind. Despite the fact she still suffered from Samuel’s betrayal, and often woke crying from dreams that she wouldn’t talk about, she remained in good humor. I envied her that.

“Alright, ladies, now don’t all crowd me at once. I know that you’ve probably never seen so much covered sexiness.” Lucas walked into the main room dressed in his white outfit.