Reece released his next breath in a slow hiss. "Your family is very powerful, and the reason you’ve been denied more is that it would shift the balance and equality of our people. Not to mention, your love of power makes you a terrible candidate for princeps. Which is why I voted against your family every time."
Her gasp was loud as she pressed a hand to her shell suit. "You voted against us? We thought you were the one vote we had in our favor."
Reece didn't bother to sugarcoat it for her. "Family friend or not, power corrupts within your aura. You are not worthy."
Zena tilted her head back, looking like she was about to start yelling.
"Shut the hell up, Z,” Dally, her brother growled, shutting her down. “You've already given the bastard god too much information."
Reece didn't respond to the insult or even acknowledge that another had spoken. He simply rose and turned to the rest of us, indicating we should close in ranks. I sent my weapons into the bedroom as I joined the others, moving away from the line of Desertlandians on their knees.
Reece's sand power formed a wall between them and us. “As expected, this entire event was a setup from the start,” he said, “and it seems we are now on a countdown to the power moon. We must reach the Delfora before then and ensure this plan never comes to pass.”
"How do we know which of the princeps are in on it?” I asked him.
His expression darkened further. “My sands are out gathering information, but now that I know what to look for, I can see the energy sources running through the Ostealon. It’s clear who has had a hand in this, and from what I can see, none of them are princeps. These are all lesser members wanting to step up in power.”
That was why Tsuma had touched Reece’s tent, when she’d been there. She’d been marking the spot, preparing the power to span out from all the dynasties.
"I’ve felt no pull on my energy," Shadow said at a dull roar, his rage palpable. "None on mine or Mera and the baby.” His eyes turned to his mate. “Right, Sunshine?”
“Right,” she said quickly. “I feel great, and the baby is kicking the shit out of my internal organs as usual."
"Their plan is subtler than that,” I said, piecing it together. “As Reece said, unless you’re looking for it, you wouldn’t notice the network now joining all of us together. The Ostealon is a central gathering spot where all the desert rivers converge. From here, they could send the power straight to the Delfora and no one would feel anything until it was too late.”
“I’ve cut the ties now,” Reece said in a huff, “but the energy has already started to swell within the rivers. It will be enough to get them through the Delfora and hide their path. We would be wasting our time to follow. Instead, we must get there first.”
“They didn’t count on all of us being here,” Lucien said, his fangs extended as adrenaline from the previous fight still raced under his skin. “They know we can stop them, which is why this battle went into play—a distraction so they had a head start to hide and get moving.”
I stilled, my eyes meeting Reece’s. “There’s still time,” I said. “We just have to get to the Delfora before the power moon.”
“We need to hurry then,” Len said in a rush, and I noted he was once again dressed in his silvers. “Even though I have no idea how these morons think they can control ancient gods when they wake them.”
Or Death, if it came to that.
Myth says that until the gods are at full power, they will be beholden to those who drag them from the sands.
We all looked at Galleli, letting those words marinate. Tsuma had to have a plan for the gods, and whether she was fighting in a class above her own or not, the fervor for power had already warped her mind past the point of return. She was more than prepared to risk life as we all knew it for a chance at godlike-power.
"We can't let this happen," Alistair said softly, his skin looking dry even as his eyes were bright. "It will not just impact this world, but all of them."
Mera sighed. "Not like we can ever just have a regular disaster. Nope. We always have to have the sort of disaster that ends life as we know it."
She pressed a hand to her stomach, and despite the sarcasm in her tone, we all saw her fear. We felt her fear. Each new member of our family was another member we had to keep safe.
“We still have time,” I said again, voice stronger than ever. “We can get there first. We can stop them.”
I wasn’t usually the cheerleader type, but hope and purpose were powerful motivators.
"I agree," Reece said, backing me, much to everyone’s surprise.
That was the point they all appeared to notice our lack of trying to rip each other’s heads off. "We reached a truce," I said in a rush, needing a temporary explanation, "until we sort out the shit going on in this world."
Reece nodded. "There’s no time for internal battles. Our only chance for success is if we all work together."
"I agree,” Shadow said shortly. “And we all will, except Mera."
She swung on him like a boxer ready for the fight of her life. "Excuse the fuck out of me? What did you just say?"
