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Anhur glanced down at Frankie, who shook her head, and sighed again. “No.”

It appeared Frankie was having a greater influence on Anhur than even Dante had predicted. A life bond as a mated pair was highly unusual among Atlanteans, almost controversial, but it suited the couple. The life bond allowed the couple to share the life span. Frankie may now live for centuries, or it could shorten Anhur’s life to that of a human. It wasn’t something Dante ever intended to share with anyone.

Frankie snorted as she patted her belly, her dark brown eyes twinkling. “Looking and feeling radiant are two very different things. Especially when I’m doing my best beach ball impersonation. A seat would be nice.”

Anhur grabbed a seat, placing it near him as Frankie beamed a smile. Dante couldn’t recall ever seeing his uncle move that fast, even when they’d trained against each other.

Frankie sat with a sigh, her bright kaftan stretched over her belly. “No one ever talks enough about the cankles,” She admired her feet, a faint smile on her face. She looked at Dante, effortlessly switching topics. “Don’t think we didn’t notice that you brought Talik with you.”

“If Kade was here, he would glower and not answer questions.” Dante acknowledged. Talik could pry secrets from the dead if he was so inclined, and he often was. His history with Khalida was a complication, but not one that he couldn’t use against the other Houses to his advantage. “But you didn’t come find me to discuss Kade or Talik.”

“I noticed your sister is too busy with her lab to attend the Jimourt,” Anhur stated as he moved to stand next to Frankie, hovering protectively over his consort, a possessive hand on her shoulder.

“Aldora much prefers to play scientist than diplomat or politician,” Dante answered. Their mother would only tolerate Aldora’s desire for independence for so long before they interfered with her life choices. Aldora and he may no longer be as close as they were as children, but he did not envy the position she was in. Dante had chosen his path; Aldora was expected to take a prominent position within the House Mneseus council. She was the family heir. Even if she didn’t want it. Over the centuries, they had developed an unofficial agreement that allowed only one of them to attend these events as a representative of their House. More times than not, it was him. As the future matriarch, it should be solely Aldora’s responsibility, but Dante had garnered enough power and wealth that no one argued the point when he was the representative.

“You haven’t changed the study at all.” Anhur still stood behind Frankie. “It is as if Talal is coming back.”

Dante looked around. He’d brought no belongings here as a child. Egypt had been where he’d been sent when his mother decided she needed extra leverage or support through House Azaes. It had never been a home—just a glorified political prison. The study had been his only refuge. He had lost himself in the artifacts and the writings scattered throughout the room. But he had always thought of it as his father’s and not his. Thousands-of-years-old papyruses and original tomes from the Renaissance masters. How would Rieka like the study? “The room belongs to you.”

“Some days, I wonder if he chose to disappear. Free himself from the trappings that you and I both crave.” Anhur wondered aloud.

Dante often pondered the same. “I don’t think you came here to reminisce about the past.”

“I think he wants us gone,” Frankie said. “You are both the same. Too busy empire building to enjoy what you have.”

Anhur smirked at Frankie. “Empires are hard work.” He turned and looked at Dante. “I have something for you.”

Talal may have been Anhur’s older half brother, but his and Dante’s relationship had not been familial until recently. Instead, it had been built on mutual trust and begrudging respect. Until now. Frankie had decided that she liked Dante and made it her life mission to include him in the family, as she called it.

“I am just the messenger,” Anhur said as he held out a brown box. “Talal asked me to give this to you at the next Jimourt.”

Dante stilled as he focused on the palm box in Anhur’s hand. Talal had left him something? “What is it?”

“I promised I would not open it.” Anhur shrugged. “It has crossed my mind, knowing that you would never realize. But he gave it to me on his last trip. He knew he was not coming back.”

“Was he gifted?” Frankie asked.

“No.” Both Atlanteans said in unison.

Dante took the wooden box, surprised at its lightness. The color appeared to have faded. Around the edges it was a darker brown. A simple design, but he couldn’t take his gaze off it.

Frankie stood, wavering for a moment as she slapped Anhur’s hands away. “I swear the baby is jumping on my bladder.” She turned to Anhur and grabbed him, tugging him toward the door. “Make sure Rieka gets an invitation to the ball,” Frankie ordered sweetly as she ambled out.

Dante stared at the box, but it would not give him the answer he was seeking. There had been no rush of emotions, just a tinge of curiosity that dulled the numbness when he thought of his father. He did not know what he had been expecting.

He opened the box, the creak of rusty hinges punctuated the silence. The bronze bracelet was plain, but despite its simpleness, the metalwork was exquisite. And warm to touch. He held it up to the light; the metal was almost transparent. Orichalcum. The Atlantean metal hadn’t been mined in more than eleven thousand years but was unmistakable. No other metal on the planet compared to it. A faded yellow piece of paper, half-hidden by the bracelet, was at the bottom of the box. The almost illegible scrawling was unquestionably his father’s. Gently, he returned the bracelet to the box before unfolding the paper.

He reread it.

A sense of foreboding trickled through him. Two simple sentences. But both of them made little sense.

Stop the O’hurani.

Protect the heir.

Chapter 15

Thewayfarermovedbeneaththe fortress, walking through the untouched tunnels as he wove his way through the labyrinth. Vandana’s bloodline had become diluted, but he could sense the heir. They were in Egypt. The knowledge ran through him as surely as his blood.