“Lucky you look so good in swim shorts,” I said, wrapping my legs around him.
We floated together for a while, not speaking, just enjoying the peace. And after the initial iciness, the water felt rejuvenating now. Eventually he broke the silence.
“So I was thinking that everyone deserves a few days away, some time where there aren’t a thousand Walkers following you girls around.”
Despite the fact the gathering wasn’t official for another week, Walkers arrived every day. And most of them were a tad curious about us half-Walkers. Fury, Talina and I spent a lot of time avoiding large groups and ignoring blatant stares.
“Josian suggested we all take a few days at the cave planet.” He grinned down at me again.
I was pretty excited at the thought of quality time with Brace. It was pessimistic of me, but I had a terrible feeling that our happy moments were coming to an end. I was going to cherish every single one I could get.
“Let’s go tell everyone,” I said, removing myself from Brace and dashing out of the water.
Two hours later Brace opened a doorway. Talina, Fury, Dune, Lucy and Colton were waiting to step through. We didn’t have any luggage. Josian had assured us everything we needed would be there.
“Where’s your sister, Colt?” I hadn’t seen the prickly Walker for days.
I wasn’t complaining. It would not have been a relaxing time if she were present. And I had avoided her ever since Brace told me that they briefly dated for ten years. Yes, he had said briefly. And despite the fact this was over two hundred years previously, it still had my temper as fiery as my hair.
“Catching up with old friends, ignoring me and playing her usual games.” He shrugged. “My sister is a complicated woman.”
“You mean she’s a bitch.” Lucy snorted.
He shrugged again. “Yeah, that too.”
Colton was nothing if not brutally honest.
“Word,” Lucy concurred.
Moving through the doorway was easy; Dune and Lucy were the only ones who needed assistance. We arrived on the other side into the large stone kitchen.
“So what do we do first?” Lucy bounced around.
We’d never had a holiday. Even if this one was to be only a few days’ escape, it was very exciting. My stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly.
Lucy laughed. “So that’s one vote for lunch. Anyone other than Abby’s stomach have a preference?”
“Don’t act like you’re not hungry,” I replied.
Brace was already moving. He opened the hinged door in the stone wall and inside the hole was a pile of wood. With a quick blast he had the flames roaring. It would take a while for the oven to heat. Which gave us enough time for one of my favorite meals.
“Are make-your-own pizzas okay with everyone?” I asked.
The enthusiastic nods said it all.
I walked over to the cold room. Josian had explained how it worked: something to do with cool water surrounding the stone creating an icy interior. The cave fairies had been and there was enough food inside the cold room to last us a month. While I gathered meat, sauces, vegetables and cheese, and set them out into little bowls, Lucy found the dry ingredients in the pantry.
“Since Mom isn’t here to help those of us cooking-disabled, we’re going to have to wing it and see how we go.” I was sorting ingredients and finding bowls, rollers and knives as I spoke.
“Something tells me we’re going to need Lallielle; I have a burnt thumb.” Lucy grimaced.
I laughed. “What do you mean?”
“Everything I try and cook ends up burnt,” she said.
“Imagine how I feel,” Fury said. “I literally have a burning thumb.”
“I think you missed my point, but that’s okay.” Lucy waved her hand. “So let’s get this party started. I’m hungry.”
Of course she was.
By the time we’d made and rolled our bases we were all covered in flour. But it had been fun, like having a big happy family. I actually couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I looked up to find Brace staring at me.
“What?” I said, rubbing a hand over myself. “Am I completely covered?”
He grabbed my hand. “You look beautiful, Red.”
He brushed his finger tips along my cheek, before shaking his head, the slightest grin crossing his face.
“What?” I said.
“You never knew me when I lived in the Abernath compound, but I was a different man then, not one that you would have liked and ... the reality is I’ve been trained as a warrior my entire life. I’ve seen some terrible shi ... things, done terrible things. But you ... you’ve given me something no one else could ever have done.”