“Camille,” he whispered, his hands tight around me. Then he stood back, regarding me carefully. “So much water under the bridge, right?”
“So much water and not enough lifeboats,” I said softly.
“Too true. And for so many, not enough time to reach them, even if there were.” He bopped me on the nose, then turned to greet Delilah as Smoky sprang forward to Vishana’s side.
“Mother! We didn’t expect you.” He knelt before her before rising and kissing her cheek with a light peck. She returned the almost-air kiss, but her eyes sparkled as she stared at her son.
“Derisa contacted us when Trenyth told her that he had located the whereabouts of the final spirit seal.” She motioned to Venus. “It’s time for Venus to rejoin you. He’s the only one who knows the location of the Maharata-Vashi, the matching scroll to the Maharata-Verdi.”
Menolly and Rozurial had hidden away the Maharata-Verdi in a location only they knew about. To find the Keraastar Diamond, I would need both scrolls. The Maharata-Verdi and its twin worked in conjunction, though I wasn’t entirely sure how. And Venus knew the location to the latter one. Queen Asteria had entrusted him with it.
Venus turned. A fire opal, glistening and alive, hung on a platinum chain around his neck. The spirit seal glimmered in the dim light, swirling like flames caught within a glass bell. He caught me staring at it and inclined his head, a grim smile replacing the easygoing welcome. I would be his queen soon, and he would be one of my Knights to defend the portals. His life and his death would be in my hands.
I withdrew to the side as he chatted with Delilah. Venus was originally from the Rainier Puma Pride. That’s how the two had met. Meanwhile, Smoky and his mother were talking with the Fae Queens. Trillian and Morio were talking to Myrddin, and Derisa was keeping her own company in the corner. Feeling overwhelmed, all I wanted to do was go up to my room and sit on the balcony, and stare at the moon.
“Too much change, too fast?” Iris crossed the room to me, looking concerned. The talon-haltija was a Finnish house sprite, but she was also a powerful priestess in her own right. And right now, I knew she was stressed out because she had twins at home, and a husband who was thousands of miles away in Ireland and the last thing she needed was to be included in our problems, too.
“Yeah. I feel like I can’t breathe.” I let her take my hand and lead me into the parlor where I sat on the sofa. She closed the door partway to keep out the noise and then joined me.
“I sometimes feel like that. I always wanted to be a mother. It’s important in my culture, but with Bruce away and with me taking care of Chase’s daughter too, it’s more than a full-time job.” She leaned back, resting her head on the sofa. “I’m grateful that the Duchess is here, but I always feel like I’m on display with her. She tries to be nice, but she’s so used to giving orders that I never know where I stand with her. Don’t let the stories fool you. Leprechauns are nothing to fool around with.”
“I bet,” I muttered. “Neither are dragons. Think about it—I have two mothers-in-law I’ve never even met. One hates my guts, and the other isn’t far behind. I dread the day either decides to visit. I’m hoping that taking the crown of Queen of Dusk and Twilight will throw a bit of a scare into them.” I laughed, thinking even that probably wouldn’t be enough to appease Trillian’s family. Ever. Svartans had a class structure and I didn’t figure into it in any way. He had given up his family ties for me, something I hadn’t fully realized until recently.
I leaned forward, elbows on knees, resting my chin on my hands. “When did things get so complicated? Four years ago, we were sorting our way out, just getting used to living over here.”
“Life happens, doesn’t it? That’s the problem with getting comfortable. Something is bound to come along and shake you out of your complacency. Tell me something,” she said, sitting down and resting one hand on my arm. “Would you give it all up? Would you give up Trillian and Smoky and Morio to have things go back to the way they were before all of this happened?”
I frowned. “Leave it to you to find the silver lining.” Still frustrated, I stood and crossed to the window, staring out into the night. “Oh, Iris, of course I wouldn’t give them up. And, to be honest, I’m…I don’t know if excited is the word, but I feel like I’m walking on eggs. I never dreamed that all of this would happen. But it’s going to hurt. Leaving this house, leaving Delilah and Menolly, leaving Maggie behind. I won’t lie, it’s not going to be easy.” I stared out into the darkness, feeling tears creep down my cheeks. “Especially leaving Maggie. I’m going to miss that little gargoyle.”