Byron didn’t waste time. He turned sharply. “Corey! Damien!”
Within moments they came jogging over, blades already strapped at their sides. Corey frowned. “What’s going on?”
Lucy’s gaze remained locked on the empty drive, “Someone is coming.” she repeats.
Corey’s brows furrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said. “I can feel it. They’re getting closer.”
A minute turned to an hour.
The whole team had now gathered, scattered across the entrance hall and the front steps, every one of them holding their breath. “Lucy,” Damien said finally, his voice sceptical, “are you certain this isn’t just...”
But before he could finish, Lucy said.
“They’re here.”
And then they saw them.
Two figures, faint at first in the wavering heat of the late afternoon, then clearer with every step down the long drive. A woman and a child.
The woman walked with quiet purpose, her hand resting gently on the shoulder of the small figure at her side. The child, no older than five, kept pace easily, their eyes fixed on the house as if they’d known exactly where to find it all along.
Slowly, steadily, they made their way to the front of the house.
The crunch of footsteps grew louder on the gravel until the woman and child stood at the very base of the steps. The child shrank behind her mother, small fingers gripping the fabric of her dress, eyes darting nervously between the strangers waiting above.
Lucy’s breath caught, the word in her skull beating harder, louder:Connect. Connect. Connect.But she forced herself to move slowly, carefully. With each step toward the door, she willed calm into her limbs, into the voice.
The woman’s eyes lifted, “Hello,” Lucy said softly, she kept her hand gentle as she reached forward. Her palm rested briefly on the child’s head. The moment skin touched skin, Lucy’s eyes glowed violet, the light spilling like liquid through the dim air.
The woman gasped. Her left eye flickered, it glowed in response and she bowed deeply.
“My queen,” she whispered. “I was twelve when I last saw you. I was so lost. And when I felt your energy, I had to come straight away.” She straightened, holding her daughter close. “This is my child, Erin. And my name is Mandy.”
Lucy’s gaze slid toward the little girl. Erin peeked out from behind her mother, her left eye glowing the same violet as Lucy’s, but her right was a startling green.
“Say hello, Erin, this is our queen” Mandy urged gently.
“Hello,” the child whispered before darting back behind the safety of her mother’s skirt.
Lucy’s heart softened. “Please, call me Lucy, come inside. Let us talk.”
Behind her, Corey gave a subtle nod. The Doves, who had been poised for anything, lowered their weapons and melted back into the shadows.
Byron stepped forward to guide the newcomers down the hall, into the dining room, while the others had gathered in the kitchen.
Mary swept in with a tray that was already prepared with sandwiches, a pitcher of water with lemon slices. She set them before Mandy and Erin, her voice smooth and warm. “Eat. We will join you shortly.”
When she returned to the others, the debate was already underway.
“We keep the welcome committee small,” Corey said firmly.
Lucy nodded. “Yes. Byron should be there. And Mary, because of her presence. She calms people.”
Corey frowned. “What do you mean? What about me?”
“And me!” Barnaby blurted, indignation flushing his cheeks. “You can’t cut me out, Lucy. I need to document everything. IfI’m not in the room, I can’t learn. And if I can’t learn, then how am I supposed to help you?”
