Part 26 (2/2)

I'd forgotten that most people didn't know we were true mates. Well, they did now. And I planned on telling them the entire story, no more keeping information from the very people who deserved to know everything.

”So is this the full Walker bonding done?” I thought he'd told me long ago about something more.

”No, they still have to travel into the place of Walker birth, and if their mating is accepted, I believe something magical happens that brings the bond into a level of untouchability.”

We'd never been 'officially' bonded, so he didn't actually know.

”Is the bond always accepted?” I asked.

Brace tightened his arms around me. ”No, sometimes people mistake l.u.s.t for love, a true mate for a right-now mate. You can fool yourself, but you can't fool the bond.”

While the ceremony had been going on, Lallielle must have had people setting up a banquet on the front lawn, in the s.p.a.ce between the house and the ocean. She led the crowds around.

The area was lit up with millions of what looked like faerie lights, but they were not connected to anything. Just tiny, sparkling lights floating above the scene. I looked closer. Were they actually little faerie's floating there? How would Lallielle have managed that? Maybe Malisna had a hand in organizing the ceremony.

I was distracted from the softly lit area set up for dancing by Lallielle capturing my hand.

”This is so amazing, Mom.” I hugged her hard. ”I can't thank you enough. You made the most beautiful moment of Lucy's life absolutely perfect.” I realized that she was alone. I looked around. ”Where's Dad?”

”He had to go and take care of something, baby girl. He said he'd try and make it back as soon as he could.”

I found that a little strange, him leaving in the middle of an important event and not even telling Lallielle why. It was obvious he'd just given her the old something-important-came-up line.

”Is everything okay with Dad?” It was time to ask the question. ”He's been acting a little strangely. Has the fifth Seventine been released?”

Josian had said he would let me know. Was that where he'd disappeared to?

Lallielle's eyes dulled a little, but her smile appeared readily enough. ”No, he checked out the dark mountain just before this ceremony. At the moment we're ahead of them, and if you can find the next girl I think we'll have a real shot at beating them to the end.”

She reached out and grasped my hands. ”Don't you worry so much, darling. Jos is a strong, loyal man and an amazing leader. He'll do the right thing in the end.”

I was opening my mouth to ask her what the h.e.l.l she was talking about, but she distracted me by taking my arm and ushering me onto the dance floor. I froze as I realized Brace was standing there waiting for me, forcing the other dancers to move around the mountain of a man standing in their center.

I heard a shriek of laughter. Colton and Lucy were enthusiastically shaking what their mommas had given them, which made me laugh. No slow-music first-dance for those two.

”Would you like to dance?” Brace had moved without me even noticing. He held a single hand out to me.

I didn't hesitate taking his hand and yanking him into me. Well, more like attempting to move a mound of muscle in my direction, which didn't work. But thankfully he took pity on my weak-a.s.sed attempts and stepped forward.

”I wish I had the words to describe how I felt when you walked down that aisle toward me.” Brace had his head lowered, speaking into my cheek. ”Your beauty knocks me to my knees.”

I could hear the tremble of emotions in his voice. My usually stoic, strong warrior-man sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

”I felt the same,” I whispered back. ”And I promise you, we'll have our own ceremony and we'll never be parted again.”

”First thing in the morning, we go to the lalunas.” His arms tightened around me, almost to the point of pain, but I welcomed it.

As his lips met mine in a kiss, I decided then and there that nothing would keep us apart any longer. I was no longer fighting that which fate had decreed. It was stupid of me to second-guess my melding bond, it had been a gift from whatever G.o.ds created our universe, and I would destroy anything and anyone that got in my way.

But that destroying would have to wait for tomorrow; right now was for dancing, drinking and celebrating the beauty of love. I paused as my eye caught on something strange walking along the beach toward us. I pulled my face back from Brace.

”What the h.e.l.l ...” I tried to get a better look. Brace stopped twirling me around, and turned his head in the direction of the water. ”Tell me you're seeing the same thing as I am,” I could finally gasp out.

A low chuckle shook his chest. ”It's Lina.”

”Oh, my freaking G.o.d.” Lucy ran up to me, screeching her head off. ”Abbs, it's a unicorn.”

”Lina the unicorn, apparently.” I closed my mouth, which had been hanging open.

Lina was beautiful, standing hands taller than most of the people present. The unicorn was black as night, and its horn was white and s.h.i.+mmery, like a glitter-threaded piece of ivory. Ivory that was a good three-foot long and lethal, with a razor sharp tip.

Cerberus took off then, galloping along the sand until he circled Lina. I held my breath, but there was no attacking. Instead they seemed to be greeting each other.

”Why is there a unicorn walking along the beach?” I managed to drag my eyes from the magnificence of the two animals to face Brace.

He reached out a hand and pulled me closer. ”The sacred ones are returning.”

”Which means what?” Lucy asked.

He paused for a moment before answering. ”It's time to prepare for war.”

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. s.h.i.+t, things were starting to get real and I wasn't ready. I doubted I'd ever be ready.

Chapter 18.

Josian

Josian clenched his fists as the calling started again. He fought the urge, but he knew it wouldn't be long before their power overwhelmed him and he had to leave.

Lallielle lifted her face, meeting his eyes, and he knew that she could feel his unease. He reached out a hand and gently touched her perfect features; the connection worked as rea.s.surance for both of them.

The emerald green of her eyes softened as she turned back to the emotionally touching ceremony. Josian's gaze alighted onto Aribella, who stood close to her best friend, Lucy the pixie.

Josian loved nothing in this world more than his true mate Lallielle and their beautiful daughter. It made him happy to see that Aribella was happy. She stood tall in her green lace dress and she was as beautiful as her mother.

Josian's heart literally hurt.

He was in so deep and there was no way to dig himself out. He was powerful, h.e.l.l one of the most powerful creatures in all of the worlds, but right then he was nothing but a p.a.w.n in a large and deadly game. He knew that if he wasn't Walker the fight he battled now would have knocked him down. He was fighting so hard to free himself, but it was like sticky glue. He'd free one part, only to find another was stuck.

In the beginning he'd never remembered when they'd influenced him to help them. But eventually bits and pieces would come back and over time he no longer forgot his actions. Instead they kept him up at night; he raged around his rock planet but to no avail. All the raging in the world wouldn't save him. Right now he wasn't sure what was worse: not remembering, or actually knowing how bad things were and not being able to do anything to stop it.

Colton and Lucy were kissing now. The ceremony had reached the point where on Earth the couple would be joined as husband and wife. Now it was time for the Walker tradition, where they would actually join their souls together. A much more permanent binding than any Earthling could hope for.