Crusade Across Worlds by C.G. Coppola Page B

the next few days. The queen keeps a very busy
schedule.”
    Sampson and Clarence exchange looks. “I
see.”
    “Shall we be on our way?” Maris asks.
    The Fychu nods and we start for the Millix.
Jace explains something to Walker and the two slowly approach the
sea creature. A few feet from the shore they pause and Walker
closes his eyes in concentration. The others do the same, keeping
to a cautious advance while Qippert and Sampson merely hop on their
Millix. Clarence appears at my side.
    “I hope you don’t mind. I’m sure you
would’ve rather ridden with Reid, but I haven’t had the opportunity
to talk to you much since you’ve returned.”
    “It’s fine. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to
be so…” I pause to think of the right word, “…inaccessible.”
    Clarence laughs. “It’s completely
understandable. Three months is a long time.”
    “I thought it was a grain of sand?” I
smirk.
    “That it is,” he agrees and we walk silently
toward the shore where Lalu is waiting for us. “So…” he rubs his
hands together, a devious grin working its way into place, “big
night last night, huh?”
    I’m about to ask what he means when it hits
me. I stop and turn. “You know ?”
    “You’ve got to work on blocking those
channels, kid,” he pauses. With a genuine smile, he presses a
gentle kiss to my forehead. “Congratulations. Couldn’t be happier
for you both.”
    “Thanks,” I blush, wondering what else I
might’ve sent out into the Dofinike channel-sphere. I worked on
controlling my channels the entire time I was away. How is it that
Clarence was able to pick up on what happened last night? Is it
because we’re technically related? Or do I just have a stronger
connection with him than other Dofinikes?
    “He’s quite gone for you,” Clarence glances
at Reid and begins walking again. “I guess it was only a matter of
time.”
    “Clarence…” I keep pace with him, biting my
lower lip. “Did you know—when you saved Reid from that plane
crash—did you know…”
    “I didn’t save him. He would have
survived.”
    “But you took him. You took him to Harrizel.
Did you know that we’d…eventually…”
    “Did I know that he was destined to be the
one for you?” Clarence finishes my thought. I nod and he offers a
slight shrug. “I didn’t know exactly why I needed to bring him
back. Only that I did.”
    “But I’m sure there were others from the
crash that you could’ve taken.”
    “Oh,” he chuckles, “there were plenty.
Plenty I could’ve used to fill my quota.”
    “Then why Reid? What drew you to him?”
    “Honestly?” Clarence stops and I stop with
him. He thinks for a moment and then shakes his head. “I don’t
know. But why do we do the things we do? Because some force drives
us, right? Whether it’s intuition or divine intervention or fate
itself. I chose to bring Reid back because he was the one I saw. He
was like a beacon among the others; my focus was latched onto him.
I chose him because something told me to, and what that is,” he
shakes his head again, “I can’t explain.”
    I nod, accepting his answer and we continue
walking.
    “But really,” he starts again, “does it
matter?”
    “Sometimes I feel… he had a fiancé. Did you
know that?”
    “I did.”
    “How?”
    “You uh… were quite chatty at the end there
on Harrizel. I’m afraid Sampson, Vix and I knew a great deal of
what was going on in your head.”
    My face heats.
    “Nothing to be ashamed of, I assure you. But
yes, we were aware of Reid’s situation. To be honest, I’m not sure
whom it was tougher on. We could actually hear your thoughts, feel
your anguish, but Reid… he was betrothed to another and so very in
love with you. How difficult that must’ve been for him.”
    “Sometimes I worry that—”
    “No,” Clarence shakes his head. “You
shouldn’t. He has told you time and time again. He made his
decision when he stayed. You must accept it. Besides,” he glances
over