reforming into a blue stone nestled on the forest floor.
Josian and I both stared at it.
“What does that mean?” I widened my eyes.
A broad grin crossed my father’s face. I blinked a few times. It was odd to see him so joyous. I hadn’t seen that expression in a long time. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
Great, the stress had gotten to him and he’d lost the plot.
“They like my plan, baby girl,” he spluttered through his laughter.
How the hell did he know that? Shaking my head, I knelt down and curved my fingers under the stone, prepared to pick it up again.
The moment my palm wrapped around the blue surface, I flinched as whispers of energy crossed my mind, and then there were voices in my head. It says a lot about my recent life that my shock lasted all of a second before I was okay with what was happening.
Lock away all of the lalunas. We are too powerful; we will contain the Seventine and right the wrong of our brethren. We must right the wrong.
A symphony of voices continued to echo through my mind, and I was reminded of Francesca’s prophecy from a long time ago. That the end of days was written in mineral. Maybe that was to do with the stones, and the bindings on the prison. I had a brief thought of my aunt. She had been lying low in the beach house, depression claiming her ever since her gift of prophecy had fled. I knew Lallielle checked on her all the time. I hoped it was enough.
Pushing these thoughts aside, I stood up and faced Josian. “My laluna does like your idea. We need to gather all fourteen lalunas and lock every single one away.”
He straightened. “Did they tell you that?”
I nodded. “Yes, they want to repair the damage from their brethren and contain the Seventine.”
Josian stood taller than I’d seen for a long time. A light descended over him and he started to glow, in that same way he had when I first ever saw him. I hadn’t realized but over time his light had faded out, and that probably had something to do with his laluna manipulating him. Especially once he started to remember it. Now, though, he looked like the gods that Walkers were worshipped as. Furious, fierce and utterly spectacular.
“I’m going to find the stones, baby girl, and we’re going to lock them away.”
I bit my lip. I was thrilled at his enthusiasm, but – “How are you going to find them on the worlds?”
He reached across and took the stone from me. “We already have the First World pair. Tenni will have to be last. The others I can find using this.” He held the stone aloft. “They’re beacons for each other.”
My lips parted as a grin forced itself across my face. The fact that my laluna didn’t disappear from his hands meant it was definitely agreeing to this plan. I moved closer and, standing on my toes, waited until he leaned down so I could kiss his cheek.
“This is going to work, Dad. We’ll lock them away forever and imprison the Seventine and live happily ever after.”
Fairytales were awesome for a reason.
He chuckled uneasily before it was cut off abruptly and sadness descended again. “All of that sounds simpler than easing the hurt I’ve caused Lallielle.”
I knew Mom had not been far from his mind. He would have no respite from his own hurt and guilt until his mate forgave him.
“Mom is an incredibly strong and forgiving woman.” I offered the comfort I could. “Just give her some time; it’s a remarkable healer.”
“Time, hey?” He ran his hand through his red mane. “I’m not very patient, but I’ll do my best.”
We walked back to the Doreen area and I left Josian at the main war tent again. He was going in to explain his plan to the princeps, and then, with my laluna in hand, was going to be jetting off to the worlds to find the other stones. We’d probably cross paths with him on Dronish.
Lucy was in my face as soon as I found the girls again. “So you’re absolutely sure you don’t want me on this trip?” she demanded.
Josian and I both stared at it.
“What does that mean?” I widened my eyes.
A broad grin crossed my father’s face. I blinked a few times. It was odd to see him so joyous. I hadn’t seen that expression in a long time. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
Great, the stress had gotten to him and he’d lost the plot.
“They like my plan, baby girl,” he spluttered through his laughter.
How the hell did he know that? Shaking my head, I knelt down and curved my fingers under the stone, prepared to pick it up again.
The moment my palm wrapped around the blue surface, I flinched as whispers of energy crossed my mind, and then there were voices in my head. It says a lot about my recent life that my shock lasted all of a second before I was okay with what was happening.
Lock away all of the lalunas. We are too powerful; we will contain the Seventine and right the wrong of our brethren. We must right the wrong.
A symphony of voices continued to echo through my mind, and I was reminded of Francesca’s prophecy from a long time ago. That the end of days was written in mineral. Maybe that was to do with the stones, and the bindings on the prison. I had a brief thought of my aunt. She had been lying low in the beach house, depression claiming her ever since her gift of prophecy had fled. I knew Lallielle checked on her all the time. I hoped it was enough.
Pushing these thoughts aside, I stood up and faced Josian. “My laluna does like your idea. We need to gather all fourteen lalunas and lock every single one away.”
He straightened. “Did they tell you that?”
I nodded. “Yes, they want to repair the damage from their brethren and contain the Seventine.”
Josian stood taller than I’d seen for a long time. A light descended over him and he started to glow, in that same way he had when I first ever saw him. I hadn’t realized but over time his light had faded out, and that probably had something to do with his laluna manipulating him. Especially once he started to remember it. Now, though, he looked like the gods that Walkers were worshipped as. Furious, fierce and utterly spectacular.
“I’m going to find the stones, baby girl, and we’re going to lock them away.”
I bit my lip. I was thrilled at his enthusiasm, but – “How are you going to find them on the worlds?”
He reached across and took the stone from me. “We already have the First World pair. Tenni will have to be last. The others I can find using this.” He held the stone aloft. “They’re beacons for each other.”
My lips parted as a grin forced itself across my face. The fact that my laluna didn’t disappear from his hands meant it was definitely agreeing to this plan. I moved closer and, standing on my toes, waited until he leaned down so I could kiss his cheek.
“This is going to work, Dad. We’ll lock them away forever and imprison the Seventine and live happily ever after.”
Fairytales were awesome for a reason.
He chuckled uneasily before it was cut off abruptly and sadness descended again. “All of that sounds simpler than easing the hurt I’ve caused Lallielle.”
I knew Mom had not been far from his mind. He would have no respite from his own hurt and guilt until his mate forgave him.
“Mom is an incredibly strong and forgiving woman.” I offered the comfort I could. “Just give her some time; it’s a remarkable healer.”
“Time, hey?” He ran his hand through his red mane. “I’m not very patient, but I’ll do my best.”
We walked back to the Doreen area and I left Josian at the main war tent again. He was going in to explain his plan to the princeps, and then, with my laluna in hand, was going to be jetting off to the worlds to find the other stones. We’d probably cross paths with him on Dronish.
Lucy was in my face as soon as I found the girls again. “So you’re absolutely sure you don’t want me on this trip?” she demanded.
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