Page 114

Cloth that didn’t move in the breeze.

I heard the sharp snap of sails. Tasted the dampness of salty air on my lips. But the woman talking to the Dauphine still didn’t move or react. “That’s why her voice is so warped. She’s speaking from a great distance. Almost like…” It sounded crazy, even in my own head. My lips felt numb, making me mumble slightly. “Is she even in our dimension? The same planet? But this was centuries ago. Humans were still reliant on wooden ships to travel. How…”

“Her eyes,” Esetta whispered. “What do you see?”

With the memory paused, I focused on the veiled woman’s eyes, the only part of her not hidden from my sight. Zooming in closer. The whites of her eyes. Her dark irises. Not blue or even black but dark, almost foggy. Muddied. Not wholly gray or brown or even any distinguishable color. Which was definitely weird. Not glassy or reflective, as if no ambient light was being allowed to penetrate her eyes.

Could she even see the Dauphine? Wouldn’t I see light reflecting images on the surface of her eyes?

The dull, matte surface of her irises suddenly sharpened. Widening to fully cover the whites. Hard, glistening obsidian. Faceted and sharp. Seeing. Images reflecting over and over in the facets. Not the Dauphine.

Me. My image. My face.

I jerked away, my eyes flying open. Pale, Esetta looked back at me. Slowly, she lifted her index finger to her lips in a silent shush.

Don’t speak of it. Even here. Not now.

Because whatever she was…

They’re listening now. They know I saw.

51

SHARA

As I made my way back downstairs to join my Blood, I let ideas bubble up inside my mind. Sparks. Flares. Brilliant pops of color and light. My instincts said I needed to move and strike quickly, even though I didn’t know what sort of battle might lie in wait.

They wanted me to delay. They didn’t want me to look. Or think. Certainly not listen to my own gut instinct or my goddess’ inspiration. Even better if I talked out loud about any of my plans, questions, or theories. I would never know for sure who might be listening now. I couldn’t rely on Carys’ gift—or my own—to help warn us we might have a betrayer among us.

Only the depth of my bonds, my blood shining to illuminate what might be hidden, could keep us safe. The one thing Janelle had been afraid of. Not my magic or power as a Triskeles queen, not even after killing the Dauphine and cleansing Valois.

She’d been afraid of letting me have a deeper bond with her.

So that’s exactly what I must continue to do.

Sensing my return, Winston had prepared a tray of some of my favorite comfort foods and a fresh pot of tea. More of the fantastic clam linguini he’d made before with cheesy garlic bread. Fruit salad and simple steamed vegetables. Cheddar and scallion scones, crispy and warm from the oven. Even a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Perfect for dipping either the garlic bread or scones.

Silent, I sat down to sample everything, though I made use of our bonds. I didn’t think anyone else could access my mind without a blood bond. Even Occulta.

:Don’t say the word even here now,: I told everyone, grateful even my humans could hear me. :They’ve seen me. They know my face. They know I’m looking back.:

Rik let out a low rumble. :Who, or what, is it?:

:I don’t know yet. I only have more questions. But I’ve got to get back into the basement before it’s too late. Kevin, I want you to take our consiliari team in the front door and arrange an informal gathering of the remaining sibling queens. Make up something, I don’t care what. Review contracts. Something boring. I just want them together, casually, maybe waiting for me to arrive later. Be annoyed with me if you want. Apologize for making them wait.

:Whatever happens, I want you all to stay with the queens. Do not enter the basement, even to warn me of something, unless I specifically call for you in our bond only. Nevarre will have my phone if you need to reach me in an emergency.:

Kevin nodded and stood, pausing with his eyebrows raised, as if to say, “Should we go now?”

I nodded. Silently, the rest of my consiliari stood. Gina lightly touched my shoulder, her eyes tight. “Be careful.”

I gave her a smile and nodded again.

:Xin, I want you to be present and observe them. Use all your senses. Watch for anything suspicious. If any of them tries to leave, uses any sort of magic, or tries to attack anyone, kill her.:

Xin’s eyes flashed like quicksilver. :Understood, my queen.: Then his wolf loped out after the consiliari.

:Since there are at least a couple hundred other siblings living in the tower, it’s too many people to gather to watch like the queens. Guillaume, I want you to lead a team of your choosing to guard any access points to the basement area from upstairs. Kill anyone, human or Aima or other, who tries to enter while I’m working.: I paused, my throat aching. :Even if it’s someone we know and trust.: