“Do we really have to listen to this?” For some reason Detective Rast was glaring at Nadiah’s image on the viewscreen. “I mean, you had me going for a minute with the whole purple shadows and the blue and red clothes but giants kissing? Come on.”
Nadiah stiffened. “Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.”
“I don’t have to understand something to know it sounds crazy,” he shot back.
“No, wait a minute.” Olivia held up a hand. “You said the girl in your dream just disappeared? Like she’d been taken somewhere? Maybe transported by the molecular transfer beam the Scourge have?”
“Oh no.” Lauren felt suddenly sick. “But that’s not possible! Xairn took me to O’ah to have my DNA altered specifically so the AllFather couldn’t kidnap me that way again.” She shivered and her mom wrapped an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. “Please tell me it can’t happen again.”
“I know how you feel,” Sophia said sympathetically. “It happened to me too. It’s awful—like somebody put your entire body through a cheese grater.”
“That’s exactly how it is.” Lauren shivered again and pressed her face to her mom’s shoulder. “Ugh, I really don’t want to think about it.”
“I’m sorry.” Nadiah looked regretful. “But I thought I should warn you. Just in case.”
“It sounds like Lauren will be just fine as long as she stays away from kissing giants,” Detective Rast said dryly. “Somehow I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
“Very funny.” Kat’s blue eyes flashed. “Did you ever think that since it’s a dream the giants Nadiah saw might stand for something else? Maybe they’re some kind of symbolism.”
“The symbol of a fraud, maybe,” he growled.
Olivia put a hand on her hip. “Seriously, Detective Rast, does it say ‘professional jerk’ on your business cards or what?”
“No, it says that I find missing persons,” he snapped. “And I don’t need a bunch of psychic mumbo-jumbo to help me do it.”
“I never offered you my help.” Nadiah gave him a look that could freeze a laser beam. “And don’t worry, Detective, I never will.”
His striking green eyes flashed. “I wouldn’t take it if you begged me.”
Nadiah put her hands on her hips. “Begged you? Are you out of your tiny human mind?” She sniffed and her eyes flickered down to his crotch. “Though I’m sure that’s not the only thing that’s tiny about you.”
Detective Rast, who was as big as Xairn or any of the Kindred warriors Lauren had seen, raised an eyebrow at Nadiah. “Are you saying you want to come down and check out my equipment? Because that’s certainly what it sounds like.”
Nadiah’s cheeks went bright red. “Of course not. I have no interest in your…your…in that!”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “They why were you looking south of my belt?”
“I…I was looking at your weapon,” Nadiah protested. “I have no interest in anything else.”
“My weapon, huh?” He smirked. “Well I think I can promise you it’s a larger caliber than you could handle.”
Nadiah looked furious. “Why, you—!”
“Okay now,” Lauren’s mom said, putting out a hand. “Maybe we should all say goodbye. It’s awfully late and I know Lauren is exhausted.”
Lauren, who had been fascinated in the exchange between the detective and Sophie’s cousin-in-law, quickly manufactured a yawn. “Uh, yeah. I really am.”
“We’re sorry for keeping you,” Kat said, smiling warmly.
“And I apologize for disturbing your reunion with your kin,” Nadiah said formally. “Truly, it wasn’t my intent. I simply wanted to warn you to be on your guard.”
“I will be.” Lauren smiled at her. “I promise. But don’t worry—I have protection.”
“We know you’re in good hands.” Kat smiled at her. “Say hi to Xairn for me.”
“I will.” Lauren smiled. “I hope to see you all in person soon.”
“And don’t forget you promised to come for my baby shower and bring cupcakes,” Olivia said quickly. “I think we’ll need at least three dozen.”
“Yeah, but what are the rest of us going to eat, Liv?” Sophie grinned at her sister and gave her a nudge. “You know I’m kidding. Though I think you ought to ask Lauren if she does some of the weird flavor combinations you’ve been craving before you place your order.”