Crais(82)

But I knew he could snap into action within a blink of my eye.

“How is it that they seem to know the names of all seventy thousand Walkers?” Lucy’s breathless voice had me spinning around.

She stood next to me, her breath coming in gasps. She’d clearly sprinted to get here.

I eyed her carefully, raising my eyebrows. “If I was a suspicious kind of person, Luce, I’d think you were stalking Colt.”

Her eyes widened, the picture of innocence, something she used to her full advantage amongst these Walkers. In general they spent a lot of time shielding the women, and Lucy especially inspired their protective instincts. Colton was an exception; despite their few interactions in the caves, he had mainly ignored her, which had only increased her interest.

“We’re an old race and have had many thousands of years to meet each other,” Josian answered Lucy’s original question.

“Who gave you permission to speak, Earthling?” Another voice rang out.

I growled. Those damn elitists were getting on my nerves. I spun to glare at the small group of Walkers who’d decided that half-Walkers and Lucy were the crap under their boots. Especially Lucy. We were keeping her abilities quiet at the moment, so they thought she was a useless human.

At these words Colton moved into action, smashing aside the hands on his throat. Okay, he had definitely been letting that Walker hold him. He stalked across to the Abernath who had spoken, getting right into his face.

“If you value your life, you will never speak to her like that again.” His tone was low. “Her name is Lucy. You will use it.”

And without a backwards glance Colton stalked off. The Abernath he’d threatened gave Lucy a wide-eyed look before turning tail and departing himself.

“You wish you could be his stalker now, right?” Lucy said, one of her hands pressed against her chest. Her voice was light and breathless. “Damn,” she muttered.

“I take it you’re not issuing a challenge?” Brace gave the original Relli Walker one last chance.

The man pursed his lips, before shaking his head. “He’s not worth it, but you tell him if he comes around again I will neuter him.”

Brace gave one nod.

Once the tension had dissipated everyone left to go back to their clans’ territories. There were no set events that day. The real fun would start the next day. This moment was for settling in and socializing.

“This week is going to be awesome.” Lucy pranced beside me as we left to find Talina.

I’d been on my way to meet her by the lake when the fight broke out.

“Huh?” I stared in disbelief. “Are you crazy? If this is day one, they’re going to be tearing each other apart by tomorrow.” I grabbed her arm. “Promise me that you won’t go off by yourself. Make sure you’re always with one of us. These Walkers don’t give a shit about you and some of them might actually prefer you dead.”

Lucy snorted. “Don’t you worry that gorgeous head about me. I’m not useless; I have my fight training and if all else fails my soothsayer abilities.”

Walkers had exceptional hearing, so we really shouldn’t be having this conversation here, but I needed her to understand. Lucy wasn’t great with accepting limitations.

I leaned in closer. “You’ve seen them fight. I wouldn’t stand a chance and you have even less than me.”

She opened her mouth but I cut her off.

“And Mom told you that your visions can be very hit and miss. Sometimes you’ll see everything, sometimes nothing and, most importantly, you often don’t see your own direct future.”

Lallielle believed Lucy was exceptionally strong as a soothsayer, maybe even more so than her sister Francesca, who was believed to be the greatest ever. But she’d had no training and no time to really understand and develop her abilities.

“Just don’t get over-confident,” I finished.

She was quiet for a moment, before her laughter rang out. I was about to give her a good whack when she darted out of my reach.

“I recognize that look, Abigail. We’re so not going to have a bitch-fight here and entertain the Walkers. I just found your whole mother speech funny and sad.” Her expression sobered as she stepped closer. “We were always equals and now you’re so much stronger and more powerful. I don’t like being the weak one that people have to look after.”

She was uncharacteristically serious as she waited for my reply.

“You’re smart, resourceful and the future has you on its speed-dial. No one thinks you’re weak.” I took a deep breath. “You’re just my best friend, soul sister, and I can’t live without you.”