34. Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter 34
A adya glided to the end of her quarters. Bright light streaked through the ancient stained-glass windows. An ingrained tiredness settled within her. Past decisions were coming back to haunt them. Her.
She was the only survivor from the original council. Only a child herself when the council had decided that their bloody history should be rewritten and the Atlanteans made the victor. It had been a lie. But history always was defined by the ruling class and the wealthy.
“Forgive me,” Aadya whispered to herself.
The secrets of the past had cost her the loves of her life and her firstborn son, Talal. She would not let it take another family member. Her hands clasped together as she stood on the exact spot where she had first taken her oath to protect the House. Despite being an outsider, a war bride brought to create an alliance between the families, Egypt had long ago become her home.
Five years ago, Anhur and Frankie had stumbled across the Anki. She had known then that they could not remain a secret forever, but she had wished that it would have lasted for a few more centuries. Aadya hoped this time they would stop it.
She looked down at her hands as the energy sparked from her fingers. Her lifeblood.
An image of a young woman appeared: pretty with black hair and eyes the color of flames. Aadya had waited three thousand years to meet her.
A mere slip of a girl.
The hybrid appeared to be far more human than Atlantean. But Aadya knew better. Rieka carried the bloodline of Vandana and the O’hurani, king of the Anki. Her blood could save them or damn them into a dark future.
The wheels were already in motion. Aadya prayed that the lost heir was strong enough to survive.