Lucy winked. “Pretty sure that’s a dirty movie title, Abbs. Better get your schoolgirl outfit.”
I blushed, the heat traveling all the way to the tips of my ears. I dropped my head, hoping I wouldn’t catch my mother’s eye. She didn’t need to hear about the time when we were kids and accidentally discovered a pirated porn channel. In typical Earth fashion, even when almost no television shows existed, there was still pornography.
“I can’t believe Talli didn’t make it through the doorway.” I hoped Lucy would accept the subject change for once.
And I was really worried about Talina. I hoped she’d made it out of the city collapse. We would have to go back soon and convince them to let her free. We needed her, and I couldn’t leave her there for Gladriel to torment.
A jolt of power suddenly coursed through my body. Don’t ask me how I knew, but a large energy source had just entered the house.
“Josian is back.” Lallielle jumped to her feet.
But by this time the two men were already walking through the door.
“Dad!” I shrieked, running to him.
Lallielle was right behind.
We both threw ourselves into his arms.
“Did you find him?” I said, pulling back.
He shook his head, an arm around both of us. “No, we managed to figure out where his little floating rock was, but by the time we got there he’d vacated.” He raised his head. “Brace made sure there was nothing left for him to come back to.”
I looked behind me to see Brace standing in the doorway. Lucy gave him her squinty evil eyes, I think daring him to step any closer.
“Brace and I have had a conversation. And he has some explaining to do.” Josian appeared to have gotten over the majority of his anger.
“Why should Abby ever trust a single word out of your lying mouth?” Lucy crossed her arms, moving a foot in quick hard taps.
“I know it’s going to take time before you can trust me.” He locked eyes with mine. “You deserve more than words, Abbs. You deserve actions, and I plan on being that man. But I’ll give you some words now, because there have been too many secrets between us.”
I moved away from my parents to sit on the couch. Lucy sank in next to me.
“I’m listening.” No matter how angry I was, I’d been dying to know his secrets since the first moment we locked eyes.
I had been too exhausted during the bath, but now I’d had plenty of time to process his lies. And if he didn’t explain something I was putting my foot in his butt.
With a sigh, he moved further into the room, but didn’t take a seat, just stood with his feet apart and arms rigid at his sides.
“I’ve been on First World for about fifteen years. My mission was to gather information.”
I held up a hand. “What about Deralick? You said he was your father.”
Brace shook his head. “No, he’s not my father. I do some work for him. It allows me access to the royal forests. Deralick never even knew I broke you out that day. I’ve been around here for a long time, everyone knows me, but no one’s ever bothered to find out who I am or where I’m from.” He laughed without humor. “It was my mission to stay as undetected as possible.”
The depth of his deception had my heart sinking. But my traitorous soul didn’t care. Brace could have killed half the town and it would think he was awesome.
“Who were you gathering information for?” Lallielle had her hand tightly wrapped around Josian’s.
“My father.” Brace turned away. “I never questioned my orders. If you’re an Abernath you do as you’re told, especially if that command is from one more powerful than you.”
“You were waiting for me?” I just knew that had been Brace’s mission.
His stoic control broke for a moment, before he recovered. “Yes, I’ve been stationed here waiting for the moment you returned.” He rubbed at his eyes in a tired manner. “I just never knew it was going to be you. The stunning redhead I’d escape with in my dreams. The one I knew was mine to find and protect.”
“What does your father want with Abby?” Lucy leaned forward.
He laughed drily. “My father doesn’t share his plans with me, but over the last few weeks I’ve been forming a theory.”
We locked eyes.
“He might be the one releasing the Seventine, or at the very least he’s involved. He knows about the prophesy ... and he doesn’t want anyone to stop it.” His frustration rose. “I would have stopped him, but I’ve never questioned my orders. I was raised to accept him as the all knowing authority on everything, but I should have delved deeper.”
“How could you keep lying even after you met me? You must have known then; you must have felt the connection.” My voice broke.
Don’t cry. I repeated it a few times to myself. He’s not worth your tears.