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Jayd took in a visible breath. “It is Forryst and Fawna—”
“What?”
“Crista, I need you to stay calm and—”
“Calm?” She pushed the princess away, lurching past even Jagger. “By the mercy of the Creator!”
Jayd spun around, flicking a help-me glance my way as she did. “They are not dead, dinné.” Another look back gave me a silent addendum. Not yet.
As I followed the princess, I tugged on Jagger’s sleeve and whispered, “They who? Forryst? Fawna?” Sounded like a couple of characters from a Peter Jackson film—but a lot of Arcadian names did.
“Crista’s youngest siblings,” Jagger explained. “A boy and a girl. Twins. Just six years of age.”
My mouth turned into a huge O. “Holy shit.”
His jaw tautened. “Perhaps the un holy shit, as well.”
Crista stopped. Paced a full, frantic circle. Returned our direction. Stopped again. Her arms fell to her sides, balling into fists. “Not dead,” she repeated. “All right, all right. They are not dead. What are they, then?”
Jayd straightened. Her posture was so formidable and her presence so certain, I forgot all about the hard numbers missing from her height. “Not what,” she replied. “But where.”
Crista grimaced. “So they are missing?”
Jagger squared his massive shoulders. “Officially, as of an hour ago.”
“The little preeshes likely snuck off again,” Crista gritted. “When they are together, they think there is some kind of a force field keeping them safe. They should be disciplined, but Forryst knows exactly how to play Maimanne and Fawna has Paipanne wrapped around her little finger.”
“They cannot be far,” Jayd assured. “And Shiraz is heading the search party himself—but he told us you might be able to help with specific information. You have relayed stories to him before, of how the kids enjoy going to Parryss Landing…?”
“On the river. Yes.”
Crista added a nod but it was jerky and scared. I couldn’t blame her. Not right now. The river. In Sancti, that could only mean the Mousselayan, which was as wide as the Mississippi on low days and predicted to become a lake-sized hazard in this storm. I remembered at least that much from the chatter on the walkie-talkie Shiraz had grabbed while delivering us down here. The situation was turned into a double whammy of disaster when considering all the structures now erected for the Grand Sancti Bridge reconstruction project. Once the violent waters knocked them loose, there wouldn’t be just normal debris to worry about. The torrent would likely contain spare wood, nails, and sheet metal.
The same thought clearly struck Crista. Her manic combination of laughter and tears was followed with a rapid-fire explanation. “The water has always fascinated them. They enjoy watching the ships go by. They even dug out a little cave in one of the banks as their ‘lookout fort’.” Her throat convulsed as the sobs threatened to win the battle. “The little preeshs. As soon as they heard about the hurricane and the flood, they probably hatched a secret scheme to get there.” A full moan broke free, making her wrap both arms around her middle. “If anything happens to them, I shall—”
“Nothing is going to happen to them.” I was the one who said it this time, going shoulder-to-shoulder with Jayd for the effort.
“Especially if you can help us with any more information,” she added, grabbing one of Crista’s elbows. “Please, Crista. Anything at all…”
The small touch carried a galvanizing effect. Crista’s shoulder’s straightened. Her head shot up. Though tears rimmed her dark brown eyes, her reply was underlined in pure determination. “We have to get to the river. Now.”
Jayd nodded. “Excellent idea.”
“We?” Jagger cocked his head, watching like an intense buzzard as Crista crouched and started stuffing her shit back into her duffel. When he straightened, it was to slice the same look back at Jayd. “Yes,” he leveled, “We, as in Shai and me.” He seesawed a finger between himself and the other guard, who stayed carefully silent despite a startling green gaze that missed absolutely nothing—
Especially every steady inch of Crista’s rise back up. And the sharp resolve in her own eyes. “You only get the information if I go too.” She daggered that determination into both the men. “They are my brother and sister. They must already be so terrified,”—her voice caught on a quaver—“and when we find them—and we will find them—I can help calm them.”
“And we can help calm her.” I stepped into the space between Crista and Jayd, forming us into a chain by linking our elbows.
Jayd grinned and gave me a fast wink. I swore to God, despite the situation, I almost laughed. Only one person on the face of the Earth could’ve taught her that cocky smirk.
The man who was out there right now, risking his generous, gorgeous hide to find those two kids…
And what had I expected he’d be doing? Sitting around in some command center, playing solitaire with the radio dispatchers?
Holy Mary, full of grace—what the hell; I was already in practice—please keep that man safe, or I’ll have to break his beautiful face. Practice being relative.
“No. Everyone wait.” Shockingly, Crista issued the mandate—as she looked at me with wide, questioning eyes. “Lucy.” Stepped around, grabbing both my hands. “This is not what you came to Arcadia to do. And I cannot ask you to—”
