He laughed out a string of warbles. Even in death, a jokester.
Laughing through the tears, I held my other hand out to him. He leaped into the air with a silent swoop like an owl and landed on my other shoulder.
Balancing me against the eagle’s weight. Just like in Lew’s bond.
My throat ached, my heart so full of emotion my ribcage felt like it would explode. “I wish?—”
Sekh opened his ram-like muzzle and two birds flew out. They chased each other in swoops and dashes around the circle and then dropped down to land on Lew’s shoulders. The red one with black plumes had to be Zharr. The other bird was a grayish purple with a long snaky neck.
“Lucian was a rare male harpy,” Lew said. “The winged Blood used to race each other to see who got to carry Esetta’s hair.”
Lucian’s bird croaked like a crow.
“He wants you to know his lineage,” Lew said. “His mother’s a descendant of Tisiphone, one of the Greek Erinyes. She was known as the avenger of murder.”
I lifted my wrist to him, allowing my blood to flow so they could all taste it. “I will avenge your murder, Blood of Isador. So says Shara, daughter of Esetta, daughter of the Great One. Upon this House, Isis builds Her future.”
As we left the small island blood circle, I willed fire to destroy everything inside. Even the three drops of the Dauphine’s blood. I burned all traces of the horror, but the smell of rot and decay still lingered in my nose.
I will never forget. Or forgive.
48
SHARA
Before we exited my heart tree back in my nest, a plan of retribution and vengeance had started to formulate. The four new Isador birds flew up into the tree and began chirping rapidly with Thierry, rustling wings and touching each other despite their species’ differences.
It broke my heart and put it back together again at the same time. Especially when Lew drew me against his side and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thank you for bringing them home, my queen.”
Gina, a woman I assumed to be the new consiliarius, and Regina were sitting around the table as we strode in. Gina took one look at my face and picked up the phone to call Kevin. Julie rose from her seat and faced me, her hands clasped before her, waiting to be introduced.
As I sat down and accepted a fresh hot cup of tea from Winston, Sekh added the final piece to the puzzle.
“My queen, I See the other three Isador Blood leaving with the queen of Rome and her contingent. They stepped onto a yacht approximately three days ago.”
Sipping my tea, I nodded. “Let me guess. They’re sailing up the Seine River to Paris?”
He inclined his head, his golden eyes shining. “They arrived at almost the exact time we left Mykonos. They’ve entered a home in Paris different from the Valois house we saw earlier. I’m unable to See them currently inside the queen’s blood circle, but I’ll notify you at once when they leave again.”
I touched Leonie’s bond. I felt her far away, walking hand in hand along a riverbank with a new Blood.:I’m sorry to interrupt, but if you’re able to join me, I need you.:
Her bond jumped to attention.:At once, my queen. I’m on my way.:
“Should Gwen come with Kevin?” Gina asked, still on the phone. “They were getting ready to depart for Glastonbury Tor?—”
I shook my head. “No. Gwen should go home as we discussed.”
:Are you sure?:I could feel Gwen wringing her hands in the bond.:If you’re going to war, I want to be there.:
:I know.:I assured her.:But for my plan to work, I can’t actually take you with me. So you might as well proceed with your original plans.:
Her worry faded to relief.:House Camelot rides with House Isador, always and forever, my queen.:
:Thank you, Daughter of Guinevere. May your quest for more Blood be fruitful.:
She laughed ruefully.:It’s like looking for the holy grail, I’m afraid.:
Gina hung up. “Your Majesty, this is Julie Summers, here on a trial basis as consiliarius as we discussed. Julie, this is our queen, Shara Isador. Kevin’s on his way, my queen, but Althea is staying in New York in his absence.”
