Rik grunted. “We set a boundary around the house. If they come inside that area before you can help them, they’re free game.”
She nodded. “I can agree to that.”
Smiling, I gave her a nod of confidence and encouragement. “Let’s go lay some dead back into their graves.”
28
LEONIE
The alpha didn’t object but it was easy to read his body language, even if I didn’t have access to the Blood bonds any longer. He wouldn’t take a single risk with our queen’s life. Not that I blamed him in the slightest. Her life was his priority.
It was mine too, but I would use my power to serve her.
She didn’t question me in front of her household or express any doubts in my ability, for which I was grateful. Though in the privacy of my own thoughts, I could admit some nerves to myself.
I hadn’t worked my own magic in decades. I very likely would be a bit rusty.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I crossed my forearms over my heart for a quick prayer.
Aisha, daughter of Yejide, daughters of Oya, I call upon you for guidance and strength. Help me demonstrate our power for my new queen. Help me protect her and her house from all harm. I come to Your river, Mother Oya, with the souls of the unrest who have been disturbed. Please guide these lost souls back to their eternal rest.
When I opened my eyes, only Shara and her alpha remained. Everyone else had gone to their stations. “I’m ready.”
Smiling, she held out a hand to me and we walked outside together, her alpha close on our heels. To the east, the sky had begun to change colors, though rather than turning golden, red streaked the horizon like a warning.
Overhead, Vivian’s phoenix shrieked.:I spot movement at the edge of the forest.:
:Me too,:Mehen said on the opposite side of the nest.
:Same,:another Blood said, though I didn’t immediately recognize his voice.
Startled that I could hear them again, I cast a quick side eye glance at Shara.
Her lips quirked. “I figured since we were going to battle, it’d be ideal for you to hear everything so you knew exactly what was going on at any one moment. So I opened up firewall access again, according to Nevarre.”
“Thank you, my queen. That does make it easier for me to know where we’re being attacked.”
:I’ve got two nearly at the blood circle,:Vivian warned.
:Let them cross,:I said.:I need to physically touch them to send them back.:
Rik swept Shara up in his arms and stepped backwards to put distance between us. “I mean no offense, Your Majesty, but if you’re going to get that close to them, I’m removing our queen from the battlefield.”
“I understand.” I nodded, not looking back over my shoulder. Lifting my wrist to my mouth, I hesitated, fangs bared, intending to draw my blood. But I didn’t want to disturb the beautiful marking where my hand had been reattached. I switched wrists, biting higher than I normally would because of my jewelry. Power filled me, a gentle welling like a natural fountain or spring, flowing up out of the ground into me. Through me. Making me a tributary of Mother Oya’s river.
Cresting higher, the wellspring quickly overflowed, startling me. Pulling me under. Water rose over my head and I sank intounknown depths. Heart racing, I tried to calm my breathing. It’d never been this deep before. This dark.
:I’m here,:Shara whispered in my head. I felt her palm against mine, her fingers locked around mine.:You’re not alone.:
I took a shaky breath. Again. Trying to calm my nerves.:I need to touch the bottom, but it’s never been this deep before.:
:It’s a long way down.:Her voice echoed, the words stretched out beneath the water pressure.:I won’t let go. I’ll pull you back if you need it.:
Goddess. I kept sinking until finally I felt the river bottom beneath my feet. Tipping my head back, I couldn’t see even a hint of light flickering down through the murky depths. I worked my toes deeper into the mud, connected to the land of my ancestors. My blood flowed in the river. My blood watered this land. My flesh had been made in the shallows of the Niger.
A hand closed over my shoulder, and I bowed my head.:Thank you, Mother Oya.:
:WHEN YOU’RE READY TO CLAIM THE FIRST OF YOUR PROTECTORS, COME HOME, DAUGHTER. HE’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU ON THE BANK OF OUR RIVER.:
