Page 23 of Violet Legacy

Elixir had infused every cell of his being; he was becoming more like them. If he closed his eyes, he saw the tendrils of their connection. Flashing neurons traveling at the speed of light. It was growing stronger and stronger each day. All he needed was to give his masters the heir, and they would give him true immortality and not just a taste.

Vandana had ensured only one of her direct lineages could resurrect the king, the O’hurani. Through the forsaken bloodline flowed the elixir to awaken their ancient father. His masters needed to take their rightful place in the world. Where Atlanteans and humans would be relegated to the class of chattel once again. Eleven thousand years was enough time to have been forgotten, but the Anki were ready to remind the world of their existence.

The abyss beckoned him, the darkness calling his name.

Next to the chasm, he flicked a rock, listening intently as it continued to fall, trying to hear when it landed. The sound of silence greeted him. Minutes ticked by, but there was no movement.

He had been waiting for more than three hundred years for this opportunity, and they had finally granted him the highest honor.

Talons dug into the hard rock above him; the nauseating stench of death and decay followed. They used the jagged ceiling as camouflage, unnaturally contorting their mammoth bodies with almost feline precision until they appeared to merge with the roof itself. It was horrifyingly hypnotizing. Their snakelike necks entwined, they hissed in union as they prowled toward him, stopping just out of his reach. The creatures stared at him, unblinking, the glow of their orange eyes neon in the darkness.

“Hello, old friends.”

Chapter 16

Riekastopped.Shewantedto pinch herself. It was like walking into a scene fromIndiana Jones. Rows and rows of shelves filled with priceless artifacts. There was no other explanation except that she’d died and gone to heaven. And she was totally fine with it.

Talik chuckled at her dramatic reaction. “Wait until you see what is inside the vault.”

Rieka’s head snapped back so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. “This isn’t the vault?”

They had gone through three levels of security to get to the room. For a moment, she’d seriously thought she was going to be physically searched—if it hadn’t been for Talik death-staring the guard into submission.

“No. This is the open area. Anyone can request access to the archive room.” Talik nodded to the back where a large black metal door stood. “That is the vault.”

“What do you mean, anyone can request access?” Rieka repeated slowly. She stopped and looked around at the Atlanteans studying at the desks. Not a single human or hybrid in sight. At no point in her entire ten-year academic career had this ever been an option.

Talik gestured. “Anyone who has the right connection.”

Connections that a human or a hybrid without an affiliation to a House would never have. The Atlanteans she’d worked with would have known that she was kept in the dark. Chay would have known about it. A small part of her numbed at the realization. She had assumed they were close enough friends that he would have shared the information. She unclenched her jaw. Rieka didn’t have the capacity to be pissed off about it. She would get angry later, after she located the tomb.

She followed Talik in silence. The never-ending rows of shelves distracted her. “Who else has access to the vault?”

“Only you and two other scholars. The rest of us will only see what is showcased at the exhibit.”

Rieka had not been expecting that. A part of her had assumed it would be open to all the scholars, not just a handful. Yet again, the Houses were trying to control history. “How?”

Talik stopped. His black eyes gave away no emotion. “Dante called in a favor.”

Rieka let the words roll over her as they walked. It made her more determined to find the tomb. Even if it was only so her name would be recorded in the Atlantean history books. It may be fucking petty, but she was long past caring.

Except for the two Atlantean scholars, the area was empty. She wasn’t naïve—most of the Atlanteans attended the festival for other reasons. Talik walked ahead, allowing her to slowly wander through the rows as she mentally noted areas she wanted to come back to. The shelves opened to a large space; six large tables were covered in a pale muslin. “What exactly is in the vault?”

“The relics of House Atlas and a handful of items that have been retrieved from collectors,” Talik replied, no doubt being purposely vague. “And, of course, the crown jewels of House Atlas.”

Rieka nodded. The information wasn’t new. The Atlanteans guarded the artifacts like dragons hoarded their treasures. Only a handful of Atlanteans knew the extent of the treasures held within the vault. She just hoped she hadn’t made a deal with Dante for something she would find on an archaeological excavation. Pretty jewelry was not why she was here.

“Until the vault is officially opened, you have access to anything on the tables or within the archive. Dante has ensured that nothing is off-limits to you.”

Rieka nodded absently as she gravitated toward one table. It took a minute before Talik’s words registered.

She turned around, but Talik was gone.

Riekastaredattheartifact in her gloved hand. A delicate amulet created out of orichalcum, the famed Atlantean metal. The artificial light of the room was tempered to protect the artifacts but also allowed her enough exposure to identify the minuscule details. She absently touched her pendant, letting the familiar shape anchor her. She would need three lifetimes to go through the artifacts, but she only had days to find the tomb and understand why her mom had been so obsessed.

Where did she even start?

Rieka took a breath and began working on the closest artifact. She played with an errant curl as she focused. The amulet was no bigger than a small thimble, but the intricate carving along the body was breathtaking. It depicted a battle scene, reminding Rieka of the ancient Greek vases she’d studied. The stylized battle was highly detailed, although she didn’t recognize any of the characters or the story.

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