Nami wasn’t paying much attention to Tam and Bebe when they finally headed outside. She occasionally glancing out the window and then back to Maisie.
That’s why when she saw something outside that made her do a double-take, her scream scared the crap out of Malyah and Brianna and sent Nami running out the back door.
* * *
Dewi
“Um, hello? Dewi?” Tamsin.
Dewi immediately tempered her tone. “Hey, Tamsin.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. What’s up, honey?”
In the background, Dewi thought she heard a strange howling, and Malyah, Nami, Carl, Mateo, and Brianna all talking at once.
No, not talking.
Pleading.
Dewi’s hackles went up.
Tamsin sounded…odd. “Um, well, I… shouldn’t really explain this over the phone. Firstly, no one’s in danger,” she quickly added.
Dewi was already snapping her fingers at Ken and Badger as she ran for her purse and keys. “Then tell me what’s wrong.”
“Can you please—safely and at the speed limit—come over? Right now? Or at least perhaps send Duncan or Badger, if you aren’t available? It’s not about me,” she added. “I’m fine. We…need a Prime.”
Shit. “Get Da,” Dewi called over her shoulder at Badger. “Is someone dead, injured, bleeding, or needing a doctor?” she asked. Dewi hit the garage door almost at a full run, punching the button as she passed it to roll up the large door on her way toward the Saleen. She was aware of a couple of sets of footsteps behind her.
“No, I swear. It’s…” Tamsin sighed. “We really need toshowyou.”
“This isn’t a ‘surprise’ birthday party, is it?” Dewi growled. “No offense, I love you, honey, but I don’t have time for that bullshit right now. I already told all of you I don’t want a birthday party next week. Or this week. Or any week.”
Tamsin nervously laughed. “Iwishthat’s what this is. But we do need a Prime here before Lu’ana comes this afternoon.”
“Why—” Dewi skidded to a stop and Ken nearly ran into her. “What happened to Bebe?”
“Not…happenedto, exactly. She’s safe. Please?”
Dewi wished she could place the sound of that howling in the background. “We’re on our way.”
“Brilliant! Cheers!” Tamsin hung up before Dewi could ask anything else.
Dammit, I wish my Prime powers worked over a phone!
She turned to find Badger and Duncan rushing out into the garage, Ken on their heels. “Change of plans. All four of us are going. Badger, you’re driving. Let’s take your truck.”
“Thank feckin’ hell for that!” he muttered as he smacked the button to roll up the door. He rummaged around in his pockets for his keys.
“What’s going on?” Ken asked as he followed them to the truck.
“I don’t know,” Dewi said as she climbed into the backseat next to Ken while Duncan took shotgun. “It has something to do with Bebe. All I know is she’s safe, no one’s hurt, but they specifically asked for a Prime to get there before Lu’ana does.”
Badger froze in the middle of fastening his seat belt. “Tamsinspecificallyasked fer a Prime?”
“Yeah. And there was howling in the background I couldn’t—” Dewi suspected her train of thought had just arrived at the same station as Badger’s because their gazes met over the seat back.
“Oh, no!” Dewi gasped.
Badger grimly nodded and finished buckling up. “Aye,” he said. “I believe our lives just grew a lot more complicated.”
