Page 62 of Fastlander Fighter

The Beast Boar himself stepped from the shadows in the corner of the room and nodded at her, his eyes glowing blue, then made his way to the front door.

And sure as shit, Hallie came in a few moments later, looking as shocked as Sloane felt.

Clara gestured for her to sit down and handed her the fifth glass, and then stated, “Lucia likes red.”

Sloane had heard that name before. When she looked at the others, they were already looking around the room like she would appear out of thin air. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood as Clara made her way to a wine rack, drew down a bottle of red, and then busied herself opening it.

Silver explained, “I asked her to come.”

“Why?” Hallie drawled out, and Sloane didn’t miss the unease in her tone.

“Because I have a theory about her vision, and I want to run it by her. Figured this was a good place to meet up, since Lucia is Damon’s right-hand woman now.”

With her back to them, Clara nodded. “It is true. Beaston has taken a step back to give his daughter more space for her powers to grow, and Damon has begun to trust her powers.”

“When will she be here?” Silver asked.

“I have been here all along,” a voice emanated from the same dark side of the cavernous room that Mason had emerged from.

Clara smoothly turned and offered a glass of red to Lucia as she passed.

Sloane was taken aback by the pretty woman. She had hair the color of raven’s feathers and bright-green eyes, the same shade as Hallie and Corey’s when they were riled up.

“Nice to see you again, Maker,” Hallie gritted out, and her eyes flashed with a wave of fury as she watched Lucia Novak make her way to the table with her wine.

Lucia smiled. “I know a part of you hates me still,” she said. “I know your mate hates me too. Yours as well, Corey. But you should both ask me if I regret it. And then ask your bears if they regret their existence.”

Hallie and Corey both glared at Lucia, and then exchanged a glance. It was Corey who spoke. “My bear does not regret her existence, and after watching what has been done to Captain, I am grateful for what I am. So…” She lifted her eyes to Lucia. “Thank you.”

Lucia nodded, and then looked to Hallie expectantly.

Hallie still looked at the striking woman like she hated her. “I’m still traumatized by Turning my cousin and being Turned unwillingly, so forgive me if I’m not to my thank-you stage quite yet.”

“You will be,” Lucia assured her. “You’ll thank me in three months’ time, on the edge of Fastlander territory, when it is just you and me and the trees. You’ll be carrying a child in your belly that you just found out about and haven’t yet announced to your mate. He’ll be a bear, and fierce just like his father, and just like the bear I gifted you. You’re going to name him Arden. And you’ll be able to protect him as he grows…because of the bear I gave you.” Lucia arched her dark eyebrows and held Hallie’s gaze. “Because of that pregnancy, you won’t be able to Change during the Holland War, and you will have to depend on the Fastlanders and the weapons they can provide to keep you and your unborn cub safe.”

Chills.

Chills.

Chills.

“Three months?” Silver asked. “Can you see the timing more clearly now?”

Lucia shook her head. “It’s at least three months. I can see Hallie can’t Change, but I can’t tell how far along she is. I only see her from behind. She’s got a rifle. She’s screaming orders. I keep trying to move in my vision, but I’m stuck behind her. It’s like I’m…” Lucia inhaled deeply and shrugged up a shoulder. “I’m a part of it, but I can’t tell if I make it there in time or not. I can’t see the Warlanders. I can’t see Damon. It happens fast.”

“Is there fire?” Hallie asked.

Lucia shook her head. “I don’t know. I see everything close up. I don’t know if Wreck makes it there in time.”

Silver huffed a laugh. “Wreck would kill us himself.”

Clara swirled her glass of wine. “Have you figured out what he is yet?”

“Dangerous?” Corey guessed.

A smile stretched Clara’s lips. “Very. It’s better to be with him than against him.”

“Pretty sure he thinks we’re against him,” Hallie said. “That’s what the fire in the mountains says.”

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