Page 92 of Obsidian Dream

“Ša?”she repeated, not recognizing the term.

“It is an ancient Atlantean dialect and roughly translates to mean heart,” Kade explained.He moved from the wall, stopping next to Talik.“When the hunters destroyed the original town, they placed the ashes and anything that could not be burned in a pit.The Romans built around the surrounding areas, but Palatine Hill is over it.”

Talik crossed his arms.“And you think Ninhursag will return there?”

“Yes.She wants her Ša back,” Kade answered.“And she is unlikely to be alone.Egypt is not the only place where we have registered sightings of wayfarers and the serpopards.”

Another secret the hunters had kept from the rest of their society.

“How will we stop her?”Khalida asked, emphasizing thewe.There was no way she wouldn’t be involved with the fight.She had a score to settle with the so-called god, and she was going to see it come to fruition.“We don’t even know what the Ša is.”

“The archives describe it as being wrapped in material and placed in a silver-coated oval case.As for Ninhursag, we lay an ambush for her.Trap her in an iron cage and transport her to a prison that she cannot escape from,” Kade said.“I have kept Dante in the loop.The reinforcements will be positioned throughout the city.”

“We are looking for a silver egg-shaped relic?”Talik translated.“And why do we want the Ša?”

Kade glanced at Khalida before he turned to answer Talik.“If the archives are to be trusted, the Ša Ninhursag is searching for belongs to the O’hurani.Ninhursag will use the piece to find Atlantis and awaken the O’hurani to his full power.”

Chapter Forty

KHALIDA

Khalida walked outof her guestroom, her mind still trying to process all the information she had just absorbed, when a sixth sense stopped her.A slither of darkness descended over her.

Kade.

Perceiving movement a second before he stepped behind her, she moved on instinct—grabbing him by his right arm and twisting it back until it popped before she slammed his head against the wall, the sound not as loud as she would have liked thanks to the thick red wallpaper that decorated the corridor.Kade’s sleeve rode up as she continued to twist his arm, the only warning she gave him, before pressing her dagger to his throat.A single drop of blood streaked down his neck.

“You may not be aware, but I don’t like surprises, hunter.And after your show and tell an hour ago, my sentiment hasn’t changed.”

Kade had the audacity to chuckle as he turned his head toward her.“I am now aware.”

She could see her reflection in his dark wraparound glasses.Snarling, she pressed the blade into his neck to reinforce her point before stepping back and dropping the dagger to her side, close enough that Kade would think twice if he tried to attack her.

Kade pulled down his sleeve, rolling the shoulder he had popped when he hit the wall.Faint white scars, resembling small cut marks, littered his forearm.Atlanteans rarely scarred and never to the extent that she had just glimpsed on Kade.

“I want to talk to you.Alone.”