“Both.” She smiled. “The man can stand in double sunlight, has red skin and can still look like some type of Greek god doing it.”
I threw her a smirk. “You might want to tone down the love fest. Fury will rip your head off and then barbeque the rest of you for dinner.”
Lucy shrugged. “Might be worth it.”
I knew Lucy was over-compensating after Samuel. She clearly wanted to appear carefree and her usual boy-crazy self, but I could see the pain deep inside her blue eyes. They no longer shone with the same sparkle. She was forcing the lightness to return, but she wasn’t there yet.
“Well, speak of the devil.” Lucy nodded toward the edge of the ocean.
Fury and Dune had just stepped into view.
I could see the awestruck expression on their faces. I felt a moment of joy to see their unbridled excitement.
Fury stepped into the water, and without hesitation splashed out into the aqua-streaked waves. Dune was right behind her, neither caring that their Crais leafy attire was soaked through. Fury shrieked as Dune scooped her up and threw her further out into the ocean. She emerged, water streaming off her, and dived onto him. When they both resurfaced, their lips met in a kiss.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a chuckle. “I think Dune might be a lost case, Lucy-loo.” I hadn’t called her that in years, but it somehow fell from my lips again.
The pair were still lip-locked; it hadn’t progressed past that sweet initial kiss stage, nothing like their episode in the caves. Dune had one hand buried in her hair and the other on her cheek. Fury was clutching his biceps, pulling him closer.
“Kind of tame make-out session. Where’s all the groping?” Lucy said in a half-whisper.
“I don’t think they can hear us from here?” I mock-whispered back to her.
“I never underestimate your freaky Walker abilities. Who knows what you guys can and can’t do?”
“Word.”
We were silent for a moment. I was lost in thoughts of missing loves, and stupid tempting offers. And Lucy was –
“I miss him, Abbs.” The words burst from her. “What the hell is wrong with me? He’s a bad person. Dammit.” She hung her head. “I’m that girl – you know the one – who’s attracted to the bad boy, the one who destroys lives and treats her like crap. I always hated that girl in the books and movies.”
“The fact you always screamed ‘grow a backbone’ did give me an indication of your feeling toward those women.” I laughed. “And there’s no way you’re that girl. You just happen to have a big heart which you gave Samuel a piece of. There was no reason to suspect he didn’t deserve you, and he’s going to get what’s coming to him.”
She shrugged. “You make a good point. I was always going to be a small package with too much awesome for someone as stodgy as Samuel.”
“Exactly, my friend.”
I turned back to the ocean; damn, those two were still going at it.
The door to my room opened and Josian stepped through. We moved closer.
What had happened now?
“Just letting you know we’ll be heading to the mountains in about an hour. Your mother wants everyone to have a good lunch first.”
I smiled in relief. There was no new bad news yet. “Of course she does; the quintessential mother.”
“Lalli is the most awesome person I’ve ever met. We’re lucky to have her.” Lucy, who’d never known her own mother, had really bonded with Lallielle.
“Great minds are all thinking alike today,” Josian said as he waved us toward the door.
“Great,” Lucy scoffed. “Don’t undersell us, Josian. We’re freaking brilliant.”
Lunch was quiet, despite the fact everyone was present.
Fury and Dune had been forced to wear First-World clothes; they’d had no replacement for their Crais attire. Lallielle had helped both of them find something that fit, but neither looked impressed nor comfortable. I’d just finished eating a bowl of fruit, and was wiping a few juice dribbles off my chin, when Fury turned to Josian.
“I was speaking to Talina and she told me that I have marks like Abigail’s, but they only appear under a certain light.” She took a breath. “I’d like to see my Walker marks now.”
Oh, yeah. I’d never gotten around to explaining all that to her, and strangely she’d never asked why I wore marks.
“Your marks won’t be the same as Aribella’s.” Josian pushed his chair back and rose. “But I’ve been waiting for you to ask. I’d like to know your clan. I find it disconcerting to get no reading on half-Walkers, especially your clan or power.”