Page 125 of Obsidian Dream

Lucien ate another spoonful of the sorbet.The weather was too cold for the humans to overly indulge in the sweet treats the region was renowned for, but he couldn’t help it.His body craved the sweetness after he expended too much energy, and he had pushed his limits at Palatine Hill.

A favor he would one day collect.

He sighed, enjoying the chaos of the tourists in front of him as they politely and not so politely pushed each other out of the way to take the perfect photo of the fountain.Their energy soothed his.

Lucien took another bite, savoring the tanginess that was followed by the overtly sweet hit.Almost as good as the perfect red apple.

It was always quiet before the storm...and it was only a matter of time before the Anki made another appearance.The pantheon of gods would return with a bloodthirsty vengeance to find the Ša that had been stolen from them.It was why he had let the Atlanteans keep it, just like the other artifact he had found secured at Villa Aurora.He had no need to attract the Anki to his location.

Not when House Azaes was far better suited as a battleground.

Epilogue

KHALIDA

Atlantean Quarter, Manhattan

Talik and Khalida’s penthouse

Khalida walked intothe penthouse and stopped, her mouth hanging open as she took in the mesmerizing view.The twinkling stars of the night mingled with the bright lights of New York City.Overlooking the city itself, and Central Park, she could make out the outline of Delacroix Arx as it stood watch over the Manhattan Atlantean quarter in the distance.She had never thought she could find a home outside of Egypt, but she could get used to it here.Talik had already changed into one of his casual tailored suits.This one was plain black, and he had traded the shirt for a black T-shirt.The tip of his tattoo peaked over the top.Hair in a messy bun, he looked delectable, and she itched to help him undress and show him how much she’d missed him.

He played with his pinkie ring, and his perfectly black manicured nails caught the light as he walked toward the bar.It was the only hint he was nervous.As if he was worried that she wouldn’t like her new home.The penthouse was bigger than manors she had stayed at, but she didn’t care where they lived—as long as it was together.

Leaning against the wall, she watched in the reflection of the window as he poured them a drink.The bar behind him was exactly what she imagined would be the envy of the New York City elite.Row after row of expensive liquor sat untouched.The marble counter Talik was currently using had been imported from Italy.Nothing but the best for Talik—not that she had expected any less.

“It’s beautiful,” she said to him, breaking the silence as she turned to face him.

She wasn’t lying.The apartment was dark and masculine and everything she loved about Talik.Simple but elegant, but with a flair for the dramatic.She walked toward him, her boots silent on the large black tiles.

Behind her, the moonlight streamed through the ceiling-to-floor windows that encircled the entire penthouse in a 360-degree view.It was serene at night, and this close to the human Christmas, the city had taken on an otherworldly glow when they had walked through the streets.It had been fifty years since she had last visited the city, and now she was going to call it her new home.Talik had arrived back home two days before she had.Her negotiations had taken longer than anticipated, but were not surprising—not when she was dealing with Dante and her father in his role as Lord Azaes.

“The contract has been signed,” Khalida said as she approached Talik, the butterflies in her stomach going into overdrive as he smiled at her.He still moved slowly, but it would only be a few more days before there was no physical hint of what he had gone through.He gave her a small crystal glass.It was heavier than it looked.She swirled the tumbler, the amber liquid sloshing against the giant ice cubes.The cognac smelled divine.

“I have been saving this particular cognac since I stumbled across it in 1827.”

Khalida clinked her glass against Talik’s, their fingers touching.She took a slow sip, savoring the vanilla undertones.“I approve.”