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:Home,: Vivian whispered hoarsely, even her mental voice shaking with awe. :The sunfires’ birthplace.:
:Now you carry your home with you.:
:Our home burns in you, my queen. Forever.:
57
SHARA
“Maybe we should film Lady Godiva,” Guillaume said as Vivian landed with me in the backyard of the Galveston house beside the pool.
Both of us stark naked. Though my hair was so bushy and wind tossed I doubted anybody could see much more than a bit of my skin flashing through the heavy tendrils. A quick check confirmed that Penelope was still sound asleep. Though now my hair definitely looked more like a rat’s nest.
Rik leveled a hard look at Vivian. “What part of ‘fly as safely as possible with our queen’ did you fail to understand?”
Tossing her braids back over her shoulder, Vivian tipped her chin up proudly. “Our queen was perfectly safe until someone punched me through the bond so hard I almost dipped her into the ocean.”
I leaned against her and gave her a lingering kiss, softening her defensive stance immediately. “Thank you for an incredible ride.”
“Anytime, my queen.”
Nevarre stepped out of the shadows near the house with what had become one of my favorite items of clothing ever. A robe. Quick to put on—and take off—and it covered enough of me I didn’t feel like I was going to make anyone, especially myself, blush if they saw me in it. He helped me pull the silk robe on, lifting the thick mass of hair.
“I’m sorry, Nevarre. I’ve made quite a mess of my hair.”
“No worries at all, my queen,” he said cheerfully. “I love a challenge. Besides, this gives me even more time with my hands buried in your glorious locks.”
All the jostling woke Penelope up. She peeked out, nose working eagerly, and then clambered down my hair like a rope ladder.
“Where are you going?” I called after her as she ran back toward the beach.
She sent me a picture of a group of rats squeaking and chattering in a circle. Evidently, she had rat business to handle.
:Be back by dawn,: I told her. :We’ll head home before the sun.:
She gave one last squeak of acknowledgement and disappeared.
I looped my arm through Rik’s and let him lead me toward the massive, three-story beachfront house I apparently owned. Party lights were strung around the pool and the two-story deck. One level surrounded the pool, and then another up to a set of French doors. To the right of the entry, an outdoor kitchen had both a huge grill and a smoker.
Daire and Ezra manned the grill, joking about whose sausage was bigger. Even though they were flipping burgers.
Magnum and another woman with dark hair buzzed short on the back and sides, with a thick curly mass on top of her head dyed hot pink, met me at the door. “Your Majesty, I’m pleased to introduce you to Parker Jansen, who handles this house’s staff when you’re in residence. Jansen, this is our queen, Shara Isador, last daughter of Isis.”
Jansen inclined her hand and gave me a short bow. “Your Majesty, it’s an honor to meet you. Please forgive the hair. If I’d known you were coming to town, I would have prepared myself properly.”
“It’s not a problem at all. I actually love it. And please, we barely gave you an hour’s notice before a whole ravenous army descended upon you. Whatever you’ve pulled together with such short notice will be perfectly acceptable.”
Jansen’s lips quirked with a relieved grin. “Quite the army, Your Majesty. With Magnum and Winston’s recommendations, we’ve appropriately stocked the kitchen. Is there anything I can get you? Tea, wine, something to eat?”
“For now, I’d like to freshen up a little and rest.” I gave her a wry smile. “Maybe put on something more appropriate than a robe.”
“Of course. The main suite is right this way, and Magnum already unpacked your things if you’d like to bathe or sleep.”
I hadn’t packed a single bag, and we were only staying one night. So I really had no idea what Magnum might have unpacked for me.
:My queen doesn’t pack or unpack a single bag,: Rik rumbled. :She has people to do everything she could possibly need done, and if you have to ask, we’ve already failed you.:
We passed into a massive great room with a sectional and dining table large enough to seat ten to twelve people at once. Everything was white and fresh with touches of coastal blue. Pretty, but not really something I would pick out for myself.
