How did they already know about the event?
Her manner of speaking had the immediate effect of dismissing everyone in the room besides Brace. Clearly she was not interested in what the rest of us had been doing. Colton, on the other hand, seemed very approachable, flashing around his blinding white smile as he answered my unspoken question.
“Yeah, word got around to us that there was a Walker gathering being organized. Mags and I decided to take it on our own initiative and find the loyal Abernaths. We did our best to verify everyone on the list, but something tells me one or two of Que’s spies made it through.”
Josian acknowledged this with a swift nod. “It was inevitable. A gathering on this scale could never be kept a secret.”
“I don’t know how you think this is not going to be a massive disaster,” Magenta said, tossing back her perfect hair. “The last time we met, on Earth, we destroyed that city.”
“You met on Earth?” I blurted. “But your powers are limited there.”
She spoke slowly, as if I were a moron. “Even with limited powers Walker fighting created what you now refer to as the Grand Canyon. Imagine the damage they could do on First World.”
I exchanged a glance with Lucy. She looked both amused and horrified.
“What’s so funny?” I had to ask.
“Just the way she speaks to you, like you’re a child.” She was laughing as she said this loud enough for the room to hear.
Magenta shifted her hard gaze to Lucy, her eyes widening slightly at the lack of respect she saw there.
I shook my head. “Don’t antagonize the angry Walker. If she decides to wrestle you’re going to end up with more than a black eye.”
Colton laughed out loud. “These two are fantastic,” he said to Brace.
“Do they always say whatever they are thinking?” Magenta’s pouty lips were pursed. “Because that will get annoying fast.”
“Oh no,” Lucy held one hand over her heart, “however will I live with the shame of being annoying to a pretentious Walker.”
Colton laughed again, doubling over a little. His sister slapped his arm hard. Everyone in the room was distracted then by Jen announcing that lunch was ready in the dining room.
“I might take these Walkers into my study. I want to go over their list and work out some of the logistics of this gathering,” Josian said.
Lallielle nodded. “I’ll have them send the food in to you.”
“Do you want us girls in there too?” I was annoyed at being excluded again, especially when the half-Walkers were apparently so vital to the success of this venture.
Josian winked at me. “Don’t worry. We aren’t discussing anything important, just figuring out the fine details. Like what to do about Tatiana of Laos and Nos of Whar.” The Walkers all groaned. “They have this lifelong feud. Their clans are always fighting. We’ll put them on opposite sides of the field.”
“And after Jedi of Gai slept with Nos’s sister, they’re also on the outs,” Magenta gossiped.
“This is going to get very messy,” Brace said. “And that’s if Que doesn’t decide to just show up.”
Magenta and Josian continued to discuss the Walker clans as they left the room. But Brace stayed by my side.
“Why aren’t you going with the others?” I asked him.
He smiled. “They don’t need me right now. Mags and Colt will fill Josian in, and I’d rather have lunch with you.”
He hadn’t let me far from his sight since the mountains.
“I just need to use the bathroom first,” I said as I ducked into the small room off the side.
Lucy and I had finally figured out the First-World toilets. It had freaked me out initially, but now I was used to the water and waiting for the blast of air to dry my butt.
I washed my hands, catching sight of myself in the mirror. I’d noticed recently that my marks seemed to be changing: they were brighter, bolder, although it was hard to tell with the constant pulsing of the red.
I walked out, my heart skipping a few beats as I eyed my mate. He was waiting for me, one leg propped up against the wall. Gods help us all from that lean.
His eyes lazily followed me. There was no urgency in his face, so I was unprepared for him to take two steps and scoop me off my feet. His lips crashed into mine. He stood there, in the middle of the room, supporting my weight with ease. I groaned as he deepened the kiss. I would never have enough of this. I couldn’t believe he was back with me, freed from the Seventine. Which only reminded me of what I’d done, and the guilt at my actions roared to mind, momentarily distracting me. Brace pulled away, his eyes roaming across my face.