Lucy’s face fell at Lallielle’s distress. I reached out and gripped her hand.
“So what do we do for the month until this reunion ?” I said, wondering if I’d have enough time to go to the next planet.
“I don’t want you leave First World for a while,” Josian said. “I need you here to help me with the setup. It’s going to take quite a lot of maneuvering to make sure we don’t end up with clan wars.”
Did I look confused? I certainly felt confused.
“The clans are very competitive. To prevent daily battles we must set up separate territories for each.” Brace smiled. “Then we have just one central gathering point that acts as neutral ground.”
I groaned. “You Neanderthals are going to spend most of the time in a peeing contest, aren’t you?”
Josian roared with laughter. “I’ll have you know, Aribella, we were around long before the Neanderthals.”
“Even better,” I muttered.
“Shit.” Lucy jumped to her feet.
Everyone stared at her as she paced.
“Josian is correct: Abby, Fury and Talina are important. Without your presence no one is going to take this seriously. You have to be included in all parts of the entire gathering.” She looked a little stunned. “And I have to say that if even a tenth of the things I’m seeing are true then ... Walker’s are ... they’re damn crazy,” she finished before sitting back down and holding her head in tented fingers.
I wondered what she’d seen.
“It’s true.” Brace raised his eyebrows. “Everyone is going to be a little stupid trying to meet these mythical half-Walkers.”
“Speaking of mythical pains-in-the-butt, where’s Fury?” Lucy asked, without lifting her face. “Shouldn’t she be here?”
I’d forgotten about the prickly Crais half-Walker. No wonder it was so peaceful in the room.
“She went for a walk, something about needing to clear her head,” Lallielle told us.
“And if she comes back with a personality transplant then double score for us,” I said.
Lucy snorted, lifting her hand in the air for a high-five.
“I wouldn’t dream too big, super Abby. While I have returned as less of a dragoona, don’t expect me to start passing out hugs.”
Fury’s voice filled the room. She’d just walked into the entrance. Dune wasn’t in his usual place, attached to her hand.
“Looks like you lost an appendage,” I noted.
She actually gave me a half-smile. It looked forced but was a vast improvement on her normal scowl.
“Dune is waiting for me outside. We’re going swimming.”
Lucy lifted her head then. “Who are you and what have you done with Fury?”
Fury shrugged. “Let’s just say I saw a different side of super Abby and her faithful side-kick Lucy yesterday. We have more in common than I thought and I ...” She paused to consider her words. “I guess I’ve decided to be less difficult. It sounds as if we have quite a battle ahead of us and if I know anything it’s the strength of a united front.”
I exchanged a quick glance with Lucy. Her expression of surprise must be mirroring my own. Personally I would believe Fury’s shift in personality when I had a little more evidence of its permanence.
“Great to hear,” Josian boomed, smiling broadly. “Grantham will be here in a few days. We are going to discuss the Walker convention. He’s excited to meet the half from his clan.”
Fury nodded once. “I’ll see you back here tonight then.” She left the room.
“I wonder what the hell she saw in my dream power.” I shook my head.
“Clearly something more life-changing than the time Sarah Morrison pantsed you in front of everyone,” Lucy piped up.
I groaned. Oh, no. She hadn’t seen that, had she? “Damn. Why is it always the moments I want to forget?”
“What’s pantsed?” Brace and Lucas asked together.
I lunged to cover Lucy’s mouth, but I wasn’t fast enough.
“Sarah yanked Abby’s shorts down to her knees,” she spluttered out around her laughter.
I hung my head. “And it happened to be a no-clean-underwear day.”
“Yep, she was bare-assed for the entire world to see.”
I could remember the mortification like it was yesterday.
A swift grin crossed Lucas’s face. I held up a hand, halting him before he made his comment.
“Moving on from that lovely memory ...” I said, my words trailing off as two strangers entered the room.
A man and woman, more gorgeous than any two people had the right to be, stood framed in the massive doorway. They looked similar. The man had shoulder-length platinum-blond hair which was pulled back in a clasp held at the nape of his neck. The woman had the same unnatural-colored hair. It fell to her waist in a thick straight sheet. They were tall, both well over six feet, and as they stared around the room, I noticed the unusual color of their eyes. They were such a light icy blue it was almost white.