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Rieka fidgeted. She didn’t want to close her eyes—she didn’t trust that she wouldn’t dream of the serpopards and the attack. Maybe if she distracted herself into exhaustion, she wouldn’t dream. Or, more importantly, remember the dream when she woke up. “Tell me something about your family?”

Dante looked down at her in surprise. “What would you like to know?”

Rieka thought about it for a second. During the day, she had heard whispers about Aldora, heir to the Delacroix family, and the future leader of House Mneseus. Dante’s twin. “Where is your sister? I would have thought that she would be here.”

Dante sighed with exasperation. “She is in Antarctica, working on an experiment that she couldn’t leave,” Dante said. “She much prefers staying in her lab to attending functions.”

Sounded like a smart woman.

“House Mneseus has three ruling families that rotate every two hundred and fifty years into a dyad leadership. The Delacroix family representative has been hibernating for the last two hundred and forty-eight years.”

“Isn’t that your mom?” Rieka asked, as she did the math. She really should have paid more attention to Atlantean politics growing up. “She is going to have a massive culture shock—she went to sleep in 1828!”

“Dion Delacroix is nothing but resilient,” Dante said. “She will adapt.”

No hint of emotion in his voice. As if he was discussing the weather and not his family. When Aldora had been mentioned, there was the barest hint of affection. Rieka wanted to give him another hug, but she still couldn’t move. Damn human burrito. She was going to have to remember to keep her arms free next time. If there was a next time. “Do all the Houses work on a dyad leadership?”

“No. Anhur has led House Azaes for over one thousand years. Mestor and Euaimon have five ruling officials.”

Rieka yawned. “I’m still listening.”

“I can see you find Atlantean politics fascinating.”

“I have a confession to make. I have failed every Atlantean test I have ever taken. If it’s more recent than eight thousand years, I am not interested in it. But I’m willing to learn,” Rieka mumbled under her breath as she buried herself deeper under the covers. The pillow was so soft, and her eyes were so heavy.

Despite all that had happened that night, she felt safe. Under Dante’s watchful gaze. It should have sent her running in the opposite direction, but for the first time in her life, she had someone in her corner. Even if it was only for a few days.

“Goodnight, Wildfire.”

Rieka wanted to open her eyes, but the soft allure of sleep was making it hard. Had she just imagined the brush of his lips against her forehead?

Chapter 34

Aadyaglidedtotheend of her quarters. Bright light streaked through the ancient stained-glass windows. An ingrained tiredness settled within her. Past decisions were coming back to haunt them. Her.

She was the only survivor from the original council. Only a child herself when the council had decided that their bloody history should be rewritten and the Atlanteans made the victor. It had been a lie. But history always was defined by the ruling class and the wealthy.

“Forgive me,” Aadya whispered to herself.

The secrets of the past had cost her the loves of her life and her firstborn son, Talal. She would not let it take another family member. Her hands clasped together as she stood on the exact spot where she had first taken her oath to protect the House. Despite being an outsider, a war bride brought to create an alliance between the families, Egypt had long ago become her home.

Five years ago, Anhur and Frankie had stumbled across the Anki. She had known then that they could not remain a secret forever, but she had wished that it would have lasted for a few more centuries. Aadya hoped this time they would stop it.

She looked down at her hands as the energy sparked from her fingers. Her lifeblood.

An image of a young woman appeared: pretty with black hair and eyes the color of flames. Aadya had waited three thousand years to meet her.

A mere slip of a girl.

The hybrid appeared to be far more human than Atlantean. But Aadya knew better. Rieka carried the bloodline of Vandana and the O’hurani, king of the Anki. Her blood could save them or damn them into a dark future.

The wheels were already in motion. Aadya prayed that the lost heir was strong enough to survive.

Chapter 35

Dantestaredattherolling dunes.

The world was eerily quiet as the sandstorm whipped around Dante, biting into his skin. Like a thousand paper cuts. A woman stood in front of a vast expanse of nothingness; her hair danced around her ferociously, the loose curls almost snakelike in their movement. She was only a hundred feet away from him, but she may as well have been on another planet. The barren desert between them was like an infinite chasm. The night sky above them darkened until it was pitch black. No light touched the woman, but even in the darkness, the bronze bracelet on her arm glittered.