“I’ve contacted a few of my technologically inclined Abernaths. They’ll be working to break open Que’s tank before he completes his new body,” he said. “Also Jedi and Nos are researching for me. They’re in the war library. Que will be moved to the dark mountain. I can’t bring all of the men here; they’re needed there.”
Lasandra pursed her lips, before giving a few little nods. “Yes, it would be better to move him rather than bring everyone here to Abernath.” Oh. She didn’t like strangers on her world. “I’ll help them. I have much knowledge from my father … your grandpere. This technology might have come from him.”
Brace smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. Your knowledge is invaluable.”
Lasandra was gone then with a quick kiss on her son’s cheek. The rest of us were invisible, which was a hundred times better than being the focus of her sharp tongue.
Lucy shuddered as soon as the blond hair disappeared into Que’s house. “Anyone ever told you that your mom is an uber-bitch?” She made the cross symbol, as if warding off evil.
Colton snort-laughed before trying to cover it up with a cough.
Brace didn’t sweat Lucy’s bluntness. He was nothing if not honest. “Yeah, she’s having a moment right now. It’s hard to know what to do. Before she was taken prisoner she barely had a bad word to say about anyone. Que tried plenty of times over the years to destroy her, but she stayed pure. Now, though …” His features tightened. “We’ll just have to give her time.”
Well, if we all survived, we’d have plenty of time up our sleeves. We were basically immortal. Or at least really hard to kill.
By then Lallielle had had a few minutes with Josian. I wished I could give them longer, but I was on the countdown. I started toward the door.
“We’ll wait here for you.” Lucy said.
I paused, throwing my head around to catch her gaze.
“No need to crowd Jos when he’s probably all discombobulated.”
I smirked. “Someone found a dictionary last night.”
Lucy’s expression morphed into a grimace. “Hanging around these old dudes is rubbing off on me in the worst possible way. Big words are for losers.”
Colton and Brace exchanged looks. The wolf-Walker crossed his arms, muscles in the biceps straining. “I have never, in my life, used the word ‘discombobulated’. And I’m not that old.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” I said, turning to give him a commiserating pat on the arm. “I’ll be back out in a minute, and then we can head to First World.”
“I thought we were going straight to Earth.” Lucy’s eyebrows rose to almost meet her blond-and-green streaked hair.
“I want to check in with the girls, make sure they’re okay. When we left, the battle was on the brink of starting. I just … I have to check them.”
No one said anything. They all understood the bond I shared with the girls. It was ancient and it was important. Moving quickly, I strode through the glass building, Brace right on my heels.
“Is he still in the basement?” I murmured, my words hasty.
Brace’s low tone was both soothing and spine-tingling. “Yes, Grantham will take your parents back to Angelisian as soon as you’ve seen Josian.”
Oh. “So they won’t go to the dark mountains?” Secretly, I was really happy about that.
“Not until Josian has recovered. He’s vulnerable right now, and we don’t want to give anyone a chance to take advantage of that.”
I would personally be drop-kicking anyone who tried to take advantage of my family again. Effing lalunas. Freaking Que. Stupid Seventine. All total asshats.
The journey through the ugliest-building-to-exist seemed to take far less time than earlier. I wasn’t as nervous. I knew what was going to jump out at me now. Taking the stairs two at a time, I was still amazed by how much more graceful I was now than before my Walker powers enlightened.
The starkness of the basement room was very obvious about halfway down. Brace had done a real number on it. It was probably all kinds of wrong, but I got a little turned on when he went crazy-powerful-Walker, and blew shit up. Working hard to conceal my current thoughts, I hoped the pink flush of arousal was fading from my warm cheeks.
My eyes remained locked on the small group. They were crouched around robo-Que’s tank. Josian was draped between Grantham and Lallielle. My eyes scanned him, searching for any injuries. He seemed smaller, despite the fact he topped out near seven foot. The fact that his power was weakened had impacted his aura. When I opened my energy up and searched hard, I could sometimes see auras. I was thankful that the beautiful pink and silver of my parents’ bond seemed to be intact. Lallielle might have been spitting mad at Josian before he disappeared, but no one could doubt the love and devotion which was always there under her anger.
“Baby girl!”
The moment I heard his voice I ran, my feet swift across the cold, dank space. I had to stop from throwing myself at him. He definitely looked worse for wear.