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I pulled back and looked at each person, letting them see my pride. My love. “Whatever happens, I love you all.”
“What happens is Shara fucking Isador kicks their motherfucking asses,” Mehen growled.
“We have to get there first.”
Okeanos pulled the door open for me. “I tasted the Deep Blue, my queen, even without your blood unlocking the way.”
Inside, the pool house looked more like a sumptuous Roman bathhouse than a casual outbuilding. The walls were the same sandstone finish as the salon, and the floor was paved in the same Moroccan tiles as the patio. Above, the ceiling was painted deep blue darkening to indigo with the first stars gleaming in a night sky. With lapis lazuli tiles surrounding the pool, the water resembled a secret oasis.
“Wow,” I breathed out. “This is absolutely gorgeous.”
“The throne room is even more impressive,” Magnum said. “We ran out of time today, but I still have several areas of the house to show you, Your Majesty.”
“I look forward to returning quickly.” I stepped close enough to the pool that the hem of my gown dipped into the water. Lifting my hands, I went to pierce my wrist in my usual spot, but my nail tinged on the gold bracelet. Damn it. I poked the meaty part of my left palm instead and held my hand out over the water.
Closing my eyes, I envisioned the round red and blue pool in Galveston. Waters parting easily, allowing us to pass through without even getting wet. The warm breeze off the gulf. The taste of salt in the air.
Gina gasped softly, and Magnum whispered, “Blessed be.”
I opened my eyes. The pool before me remained the same, but at the bottom step, it was like a window appeared to the other round pool’s steps.
“Winged Blood not staying with our queen, go first,” Rik ordered. “Get airborne and as high as possible to avoid notice.”
Mehen leaped into the water, diving beneath the surface without even taking a step. Green scales boiled out of him, and Leviathan shot up out of the pool on the other side, immediately surging into the sky. Vivian and Tlacel went next, steam and water splashing in their wake.
“Daire, Lew, Thierry, Ezra, Sekh you’re next. Secure the perimeter.”
My throat ached at the sight of Lew gripping Thierry’s arm, steadying him on the steps. He didn’t have long before I’d have to either drain and heal him again—or put him to rest. Hopefully we’d have some resolution soon. He, of all people, deserved to see the Dauphine brought to justice.
Though thinking about her made tingles burn down my spine. She was still the unknown piece on the board. I could only hope she’d taken notice of the Skolos queens gathering the same as me and was betting on me going to challenge them. Even more likely, she might have even orchestrated their presence in Texas as the bait to bring me to her trap.
“Humans, you’re up,” Rik said.
Magnum and Kevin stepped into the pool, followed by Frank and Gina, holding hands.
“Carys and Winnifred.”
The owl squawked, hunching down on the queen’s shoulder, making herself as small as possible. Carys passed through quickly, and Winnifred’s head popped up, turning so I saw the flash of her large golden eyes. Not a single feather was wet.
“Okeanos, Itztli, Guillaume, and Nevarre.”
“Shall I go on the boat, my queen?” Okeanos asked. “Or can you send me directly into the gulf?”
I considered my options while the other Blood passed through. “I can probably drop you directly into the gulf when I get Xin. Can you mask your presence from Undina, though? I don’t want to give her a heads up that we’re close.”
“She’d have to be looking for me to find me,” Okeanos said with a shrug. “And she’s never had a reason to look before.”
Which fucking broke my heart. I took his hand and looped my other arm around Rik’s waist. “I’ll always look for you, my kraken.”
As the three of us stepped into the water, I touched Xin’s bond. :I’m going to drop Okeanos into the gulf, and then I’m coming to you.:
The silver wolf immediately leaped off an embankment into the water below, still a few hours up the coast. Water closed over his head as I sank beneath the surface of the pool.
I released another drop of blood from my hand, willing the pool water to merge with the salty waters of the gulf. Three places at once, hanging suspended in water. Connected only by my blood.
And my will to bring them together.
I released Okeanos’ hand and tentacles boiled up out of him as he swam away. Holding my breath, I turned toward the northeast, stretching out my hand toward Xin. Pulling him toward me. Willing his fur to come to my hand. His scent of wolf and snow. Cold, silent fog.
