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Cloudy looked at her parents. “Do you want to come along?”

Elspeth picked up her shot and slammed it back. “Lead on.”

Thunder followed them.

They went to the private room where graduations and parties were held.

Yvari looked around and smiled. “These are artworks from your world?”

Cloudy smiled. “Reproductions, many from memory. They are family and friends and places. We remember.”

Yvari smiled at the walls covered with memories of a distant world. “My brother’s wife would love to visit here, but he needs to finish training some relief guardians for Vecchin. He and his team have children and need family time. Hm, I suppose I should begin seeking backup for Hazor and the others.”

Cloudy’s cheeks got warm. “Uh, that may be rushing things a bit.”

“And you can work on backup for the food stall,” Mathon murmured.

She laughed, and then realized he wasn’t kidding. “Oh. Right.”

Thunder said, “Sunny would be interested. He loves the payday.”

“I thought he was interviewing.”

“What he can make at the stall is more than he can make at any of the companies he’s been applying to.”

She blinked. “Right.”

Mathon smiled. “Dr. Thunder? I believe we have much to discuss.”

Cloudy looked around: Elspeth was talking with Yvari, and she was standing there until Bess and Molly came back in with trays.

For a day that had gotten out of control, it had just gone off the rails.

Chapter Seven

When Cloudy walked home, she was fairly certain her mother had just sold her for a continent full of goats. The mothers had debated over work, income, ownership, location, and possibly the names of the firstborn when they showed up. A home was being arranged in the city, and it would be used as the new base for the guardians.

Cloudy’s head was buzzing, which was probably why she didn’t notice the two thugs near her doorway.

She felt a hand over her mouth, tasted sweet chemicals, and everything ceased to be.

Cloudy woke up with her hands fastened very securely behind her. She felt the beacon and hoped it was still transmitting. “Who are you?”

The large male gestured, and a thug grabbed her hair and slapped her face. The hard sting made her blink.

“I am Mr. Venmar. You have interfered in my businesses at the docks, and I want to discuss things with you.”

She flexed her face. “What do you want, you flippered twit?”

The guard stepped toward her again, but the man in charge held his hand up.

“You have business skills that I admire.”

“You have body odour I can’t ignore. Why are my arms tied so tight?”

He snorted. “We know what you can do with your hands.”

“Right. Smart. Just one little thing.”