Part 23 (2/2)

”We're coming in on the side of the castle.” Brace lowered his voice. ”The guards are around.”

We'd been running for miles. Luckily we were supernatural creatures now.

”They're going to freak when they catch sight of Colt.” Lucy snorted out a few giggle noises.

And right then the wolf slowed before stopping. We came up next to him.

”Colt says that the trail disappears here. So either they're standing somewhere in this vicinity invisible, or they've hidden their scent.” Brace stood next to his best friend.

Lucy was on the other side of the wolf, one of her hands threaded through the thick fur. ”Well, at least Colt has his scent now. If he comes around again we'll know.”

”Why did you chase him anyways?” I asked the giant wolf. ”I know it's wrong seeing a creeper at the window, but you chased him like the man had seen Lucy naked.”

At Lucy's cough I swung my head around.

”Really, Luce? In the front room.”

Those two were a hot mess. Fighting one minute and loving the next. Oh, well, it would never be boring in their house.

”I wasn't naked.” Lucy defended herself. ”Well, not completely.”

She winked at me; I shook my head.

”Will you two be okay for a minute?” Brace said. ”I need to get Colt some clothes.”

At my nod, he kissed me on the cheek and left.

The wolf stayed right between us while Brace was gone, his head flicking left and right as he sensed things that we were unaware of. Lucy and I just chatted quietly.

”So have you seen much about Ria and Lucas?” Those two fascinated me. It made sense and yet how could it possibly work?

”I just see them together. Their auras intertwine with each other the same way that the gold links you and Brace.”

”You can see that?” I stared at her wide-eyed.

She nodded. ”Occasionally, when things get emotional.”

I opened my vision to include the energy around us and held my breath, hoping I would see the truth. I had nothing to worry about. There were ties between Lucy and Colton. They were green and white. Sparkling, s.h.i.+mmering and drawing those two souls toward each other.

”You and Colt have energy ties as well,” I said with a smile.

”I know.” She dropped down to burrow her cheek into her wolf. Right near his face. ”Colt's my other half.” Lifting her face again she focused on me.

”Are you really going to reform the melding bond?”

Colt gave a soft growl at this. ”He's a little annoyed that I didn't tell him.” Lucy's grin went almost from one side of her face to the other. She loved tormenting Colton.

”Josian wants me to talk to the lalunas, make sure that nothing crazy is going to happen. But yes, I think your vision was wrong. I've never felt weaker since breaking our bond.”

I sounded a little defensive. Lucy held up her hands.

”No judging, Abbs, I'm inclined to dismiss most of the planted visions.” Her brow furrowed. ”I just wish some of them hadn't come true. Leaves a small parcel of doubt.”

I had a thought. ”Maybe the lalunas can tell us if the visions were legitimate.”

Lucy shrugged. ”Worth a try, but I'm not owing those creepy little nuts a favor.” She shuddered. ”I have nightmares thinking about what they could demand from you.”

”Word,” I said. I was totally feeling that sentiment. ”But Josian trusts them, so I'm sure it can't be too bad.”

Wishful thinking there.

I had another thought. ”Didn't Malisna say that the fey or faerie land was somewhere near the castle? Do you think ... maybe your visitor was ...” I trailed off.

A few varied emotions crossed her face fear, intrigue, relief and curiosity were all present before finally she lowered her eyes to stare at the ground. ”I felt something strange when the man was close. I don't know, Abbs, but a spy from faerie land ... well, that's as good an explanation as any right now.”

I studied her face closely, so different now, and yet still as familiar as my own reflection. ”So how else have you changed since your powers were unlocked?”

We hadn't had much chance to really chat about it. I felt as if we were losing bits and pieces of the closeness we used to have. We used to sit for hours every night chatting at the compound. And now, well, we were lucky to have an hour a week for conversation.

She dug her fingers deeper into Colton. She was almost lying across him. ”Well, I have wings ”

She stopped as I snorted and rolled my eyes at the same time.

”I meant besides the obvious.”

She grinned at me. ”Just wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten. Other than that my senses have kicked up an awesome notch; hearing, sight, smell all heightened.” She glanced down at her wolf. ”Even taste and touch.”

Colton growled, but this time it was like a purring rumble.

”I sometimes sense things just before they're about to happen, like if there's a knock at the door, I'll know who's there. I heal really quickly,” she said, holding up her index finger as if she was ticking off her new attributes. ”My pixie dust can bespell someone if I flick it into their eyes and add some words from the ancient language.”

Well, that was almost as awesome as her wings. Pixie power.

”Men are drawn to me, but thanks to my ma.s.sive guard-wolf, I don't have to worry about that. Malisna ... mother seems to think that there should be more powers from my faerie side. My father was also one of the leaders of that race, but so far everything I have is pure pixie.”

”Maybe you need your faerie side unlocked also,” I suggested, wrinkling my brow at the thought of her getting stabbed again.

”Yes, maybe,” she agreed. Her slight wince indicated that she hadn't forgotten the pain either.

I brushed my head, pus.h.i.+ng a few leaves out of my hair. ”You know, I'm wondering if we should be gathering all these different races, from across the seven worlds.” I mused for a moment, crumbling the dry thud tree leaves in my hands.

”Maybe the final battle will come down to the seven half-Walkers, but would it hurt to have some powerful backup?”

Lucy and Colton were both staring at me, in such a way that I knew they were thinking very seriously about what I'd said. Lucy opened her mouth but paused when a doorway appeared and Brace stepped back through. He strode across and dropped a bundle of folded clothes in front of Colton.

I kissed Brace's chest as he drew me into his arms. And then as Colton prepared to change back, Brace turned me so I was facing away from the wolf. I buried my laughter in his s.h.i.+rt.

”What?” My voice was m.u.f.fled. ”You can't seriously be worried that I'm going to drool all over his nakedness.” Teasing Brace was fun. ”I've seen him naked before.”