Nadiah shook her head. “We don’t think so—at least, we certainly hope not.”
“But isn’t it a possibility?” Kat asked, frowning. “I mean, could the same people who took your ex, uh, Yo-dah…Y’dix…Y’dax…whatever the hell his name was—could they have taken her too?”
Nadiah’s face on the viewscreen went pale. “I suppose it's possible, but Goddess, I hope not!”
“Who took her ex?” Lauren asked Kat in a low voice. “What did I miss?”
“The Hoard,” Kat said grimly. “New bad guys—or old ones, depending on how you look at it. The Kindred thought they’d been wiped out a thousand years ago but now they seem to be popping up again. And just as we got rid of the AllFather.” She shook her head. “Just can’t win.”
“They tortured Y’dex,” Nadiah said faintly. “What they did to him…it was horrible.” Her complexion had gone from pale to positively green. “I hope that Lissa is simply lost in the desert and not at the mercy of those monsters.”
“She’s probably hiding,” Sophie said soothingly. “We both saw her amazing powers with sand. She could probably do most anything with it—use it as shelter, camouflage…whatever.”
Nadiah sighed. “I hope so. I’d feel better if she wasn’t wandering around out there naked with no food or supplies.”
“What?” Lauren frowned. “Why would she go out naked into the dessert?”
“The ex-high priestess killed herself,” Sophie said. “You know, the really bitchy one I told you guys about?”
“Oh.” Lauren nodded and then frowned. “That’s too bad, but why—?”
“Lissa felt like she had to honor her passing,” Olivia supplied. “And that’s why she went out into the desert with nothing—not even her clothing.” She frowned at Nadiah. “How long did you say she’s been gone?”
“Several days and nights.” Nadiah looked close to crying. “We’ve been searching and searching for her. Rast has been flying all over the place, trying to see her from the sky but…” She shook her head. “Nothing.”
Sophie bit her lip. “I’m so sorry, Nadiah. I wish I was there to give you a big hug!”
“I wish you were too.” Nadiah had begun to cry in earnest now. “I miss all of you so much! And Lissa has become a friend—a dear friend. And now to lose her as well…” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t give up,” Olivia said, frowning. “If she knows the desert, it could be that she also knows where the best sources of water and nourishment are. Don’t count her out yet and don’t stop looking.”
“We won’t,” Nadiah promised, brushing the tears from her eyes. “Thank you, Olivia. And the rest of you, too.” She looked at all them, assembled in the viewing room. “I really do miss you. I wish you could come to First World and see me.”
“Maybe after the baby is born.” Olivia patted her swelling belly with a smile.
“Oh, that’s right—I almost forgot.” Nadiah looked at Sophie. “Any news yet?” she asked hopefully.
Sophie shook her head. “We’re waiting to do another test until we’re absolutely sure I’m late. It shouldn’t be much longer now.” She smiled and blushed. “We’ve, uh, been trying really hard.”
“I just bet you have,” Kat said dryly. “You’re probably trying twice as hard as me—but that’s not saying much since I’m not trying at all.”
“But you try twice as hard every time by default—since you’re mated to twin Kindred,” Nadiah pointed out with a faint smile. “How are Deep and Lock, by the way?”
Kat shrugged. “Oh you know, just fine. Lock is as sweet as can be and Deep…well, he’s Deep. What can I say?” She grinned, obviously enjoying the thought of her bad-boy dark twin.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Nadiah sighed. “Well, I really must be going. I understand transmissions at this distance take tremendous energy.”
“They do, but don’t be a stranger,” Olivia said.
“That’s right. Call us back when you find something out about Lissa,” Sophia said. “I didn’t get to know her very well, but she seemed really sweet.”
“She is.” Nadiah’s eyes began to fill again and she blinked away tears. “I just hope…hope that she’s all right.”