First World(70)

Then she surprised me.

“You know whenever Olden took me away, Sam would fight through his bars to stop her. And then when I came back into the room, worse for wear, he talked to me for hours. His voice, his stories, they allowed me to escape for a time.”

I hated it when her blue eyes held that empty horror.

“I’m pretty sure his stories and lovely husky accent got us all through the day.”

One of the few things Lucy had confided was the reason for Samuel’s unique husky tones. His vocal cords were damaged during his year of imprisonment and torture.

“I still can’t believe I dreamed of those cells and then ended up there, Abbs. Sometimes I’m afraid to fall asleep, afraid I’ll dream a new catastrophe.”

I laid a hand on her arm for comfort, but I couldn’t contain my own worry. I’d had my own weird dreams that night, and really wasn’t keen for them to come to life. I knew it was to punish us that Olden deliberately targeted Lucy for the worst of the treatment. A familiar white flash of anger threaded through me. Olden was dead, and a person could only be killed once, but sometimes I wished that wasn’t the case.

“Luce, there is no doubt a true bond exists between you and Samuel.”

The type of unbreakable bond forged in battle.

She smiled, the sheen of happy memories in her eyes. I pushed down my brief flashes of jealousy.

I hadn’t seen Quarn or Brace since arriving back on First World. Quarn had gone back to his home. He wanted some time with Hallow’s things – which Lallielle had stored for him – and to mourn properly. And I’d given up questioning Brace’s absence. There had been no word from him since we’d returned. Sometimes the ache in my chest was from more than a big-ass knife wound.

I had a sudden thought. “So did I tell you that Brace has seen me naked?”

We both needed some light-hearted relief.

My blunt statement had its desired effect. Lucy whipped her head around so fast that she fell off the bed.

Climbing back up, her face was one of disbelief. “You and Brace ... had sex?” She was in shock.

I laughed, one hand holding my chest to ease the pain.

“Of course not. What type of girl do you think I am?”

Lucy shrugged. “One that takes advantage of all the hotness that is Brace.”

I shook my head and before she could create any other elaborate scenarios, I explained what had happened that day. As expected, she got a good laugh out of the entire scenario.

Lucy changed the subject as she rolled back onto the bed. “You know Lalli’s finished my room. She let me pick the wall color.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bet she regretted that decision.”

Her laughter sprang forth. “It’s amazing. Turquoise with chocolate brown accessories. Just how I always pictured my first room.”

Tired again, I rested against my pillows, ignoring the familiar need to escape.

Leaning down, I sniffed a few times. I really needed a shower; when the smell starts to bother your own nose, you know it’s time.

“Lalli said, when you are up to it, I can go clothes shopping.”

I nodded, closing my eyes. “Sounds great, Luce. You know how much I love to shop.”

Despite my sarcasm, I was happy she was there and loving everything. It went a long way to soften the memories of her time with Olden.

She’d gushed to me for hours about how gorgeous the house was, and her room and Samuel. She was happy.

My door opened. Lallielle and Josian crowded into the room.

I smiled at my parents. My relationship with Josian was wonderful. He was huge and intimidating and passionate, but I already loved him. Maybe it was genetic, but I didn’t care.

After the stabbing, he’d been crazy protective, barely allowing anyone except Lallielle near me, which might have had something to do with Brace’s abrupt departure. Even Lallielle and I were ... better. I was growing up, accepting her tough decisions. And she was giving me the space to come to terms with it.

“Hi, where have you been today?” I looked between the two of them as they dropped into armchairs on the other side of my bed.

Lallielle leaned forward, excitement across her nobly gorgeous face, green eyes alight.

“We had to speak with the town chair about possibly throwing an event for your birthday.”

I shook my head as I sat up again. “No ... seriously. No way. I don’t want to be the centre of attention.” I looked toward Josian in desperation. “I’d rather be stabbed again.”

Lallielle shook her head. “Don’t even joke about that, Aribella.”

Josian chuckled. “Sorry, baby girl.” He’d taken to calling me that constantly. “I’ve been outvoted by your mother.”