Regina was a different story. There was a spark in her. A resonance, faint but unmistakable. Somewhere in her family line, there was a bit of goddess blood.
:Are you able to sense anything about her lineage?:I asked Leonie.
I smelled her blood, her magic sparkling to life like a fresh spring water bubbling up out of the ground.:She has a protective guardian spirit with her. A female ancestor on her mother’s side. Oh.:
I waited a moment, not sure what was happening.:Are you okay? Is she one of the practitioners we’re looking for?:
:Sorry, my queen. Marion has a lot to say. She’s been trying to guide Regina to find a queen to serve since she was a child. She claims Regina has a great many gifts a queen like you would find useful, even though she’s only human. But I’m not detecting anything related to the goules that attacked or even that kind of magic.:
:I take it Marion once served a queen?:
:Elspeth White in Edinburgh.:
Nevarre had served a queen in Scotland. I touched his bond.:Is the name Elspeth White familiar to you?:
I wasn’t prepared for the low growl rumbling in my gentle Blood’s voice.:I served her, aye. She refused to let me answer my mother’s call for help until it was too late. By the time Elspeth freed me, both my mother and the grove were gone.:
:Does she still live?:
Evidently the quiet venom in my voice surprised him just as much. Relaxing enough to chuckle, he replied,:I have no idea, my queen. You restored the part of my heart and soul that died with the grove and my clan. Elspeth at least freed me from my bond, so I could find Brigid. The one who betrayed our clan died long ago. I made sure of it.:
“Tell me about Marion,” I finally said out loud.
Regina gaped at me before stuttering, “Gran? Why? How do you…?” She shook her head slowly, gathering her wits. “Marion was my great grandmother on my mother’s side of the family. She died before I was born, so I never met her, but her stories are legendary in my family. Mom and her sister, Janet, used to spend a few weeks at Gran’s cottage in Scotland every summer until she married Dad. Aunt Janet lives there now.”
“Legendary stories about…” I let my lips quirk. “Magic?”
Regina nodded slowly, her eyes widening. “Hidden queens who lived among everyday people. Daughters of goddesses.” She swallowed, clasping her hands together tightly in front of her to stop their trembling. No doubt playing back Gina’s words earlier. “Are you a daughter of a goddess?”
Without answering her question, I turned to Alex. “You’re free to go.”
His eyes narrowed, flickering to Rik behind me. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” I repeated his words lightly. Though I couldn’t help but play with the man a little.:Itztli, do you mind showing our guest out as your black dog?:
:Do I get to bite him?:Itztli asked hopefully.
:Not unless he runs.:
I didn’t have to tell him to be dramatic. Sekh quietly stepped over to the back door and let him inside. Shifted, Itztli was bigger than a Great Dane. He trotted over to sit beside me, and I stroked his massive head.
“It’s real,” Regina said faintly. “I’ve never seen such a big dog in my life. Is the horse real too?”
“This is Itztli. He’ll walk you out to the gate.”
Itztli stood and took a slow, menacing step toward the man. Silently bristling, his lips peeled back from his teeth, he made a low whuff, breathing in deeply.
“Once he has your scent, he can find you anywhere in the world. Do we understand each other, Mr. Manning?”
The man nodded jerkily. “Crystal clear, ma’am. Have a good day.” He glanced over at Regina. “Are you coming?”
She dragged her gaze away from Itztli—but only to look up at me. Not her companion. “Am I allowed to stay?”
“You’re free to go with him. Now. But if you stay…” I looked over at Gina, letting her step in.
“I’m certain we have employment opportunities inside House Isador, though our contracts and nondisclosure requirements are ironclad.”
“Meaning once you know too much, they can’t let you leave,” Alex translated. “Come on, kid. You’re in over your head on this one.”
