My eyes widened as I looked at my mentor. She’d make an excellent leader for the race.
“Meanwhile,” the Queen said, “Alexis and Slade Corbin will be searching for Persephone.”
“What?” I said, my voice rising in shock. “Alexis and Slade?”
The vampiress came forward, her chin high. “When we realized Cain was behind all this, it was clear that Slade was never at fault. Besides,” she said, her cheeks heating, “if Persephone is still in New York, I’ll need his help tracking her down.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. “I almost wish I could be there when you ask him for help.”
“I just bet—” She paused, cutting off what was no doubt a brilliantly cutting retort. Taking a deep breath, she started over. “I’m sorry I, uh, accused you of murder and all.”
I bit my lip. Her consternation was so un-vampire-like that I couldn’t help but take pity on her. “Ditto, Vampira.”
Our gazes locked for a few moments. All sorts of intangible things passed between us then. I still thought she was a hothead with questionable fashion taste. But I also knew she wouldn’t be the worst ally to have on my side in a fight. If nothing else, she had a nasty right hook.
Rhea clapped her hands and turned toward me. “So, now that that’s all settled, when are you heading out?”
I paused. “Tonight.” My gaze shifted to Adam, who suddenly was very interested in his shoes. “I need to get to New Orleans to see Erron Zorn. He’ll know how to get in touch with Abel.”
Rhea nodded. “Sounds like the best place to start. You, Giguhl, and Adam can flash there tonight.”
My head jerked up as her words sunk in. “Adam? You’re coming?”
“Of course.” He hesitated, as if something occurred to him. “Unless—do you not want me to come?”
Relief flooded me. I wanted him to come more than just about anything I’d wanted in my life. I’d just been worried that with everything that had happened between us he might prefer to stay and help Rhea run the race. “Of course I do.”
Our eyes met and held. Words best left for a more private moment passed between us in that look. Words of forgiveness… and love. Maybe Giguhl was right before: Love alone isn’t enough to fix a broken relationship. But without it, there was no hope. I knew I loved Adam, and judging from the look he was shooting me, he still loved me, too. I wasn’t sure how we’d work through all our issues, but I knew I wanted to try.
I also knew that, other than Giguhl, there was no one I wanted by my side more for the biggest battle of my life.
Rhea cleared her throat. “Yes, well, now that that’s settled, we’ll expect daily reports on your progress.”
I dragged my eyes from Adam and nodded. “Of course.” I turned to grab my coat from where I’d left it on the altar.
Gasps echoed through the chapel. I paused and looked over my shoulder. Shocked stares greeted me. A cold chill passed over me. What the hell?
“Slap me on the ass and call me Dionysus!” Giguhl exclaimed. I looked up at Adam, whose mouth had fallen open. He approached me slowly, as if I might disappear. He and Giguhl reached me at the same time.
“What’s going on?” I demanded. I craned my neck to look at the spot on my back where everyone was pointing, but Adam and Giguhl both yelled at me to stay still. Warm fingertips and a pointy claw prodded the skin of my left shoulder blade. “Guys?”
“Holy shit, Red,” Adam said. “What the hell happened to you in the Liminal?”
I frowned. Hadn’t we gone over this? “Wha—”
“You’ve got two birthmarks now!” Giguhl said, drowning out my question. I stilled, a chill spreading across my skin. A vague memory of the chaotic seconds surrounding Maisie’s death flashed through my memory. The searing pain when the orb rotated around my body.
Rhea ran toward us then. “Oh, my gods,” she breathed. “Sabina!”
I turned to her, accepting the embrace she offered. “This is a sign,” she said.
“You and your signs,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
The air tingled with magic as Rhea summoned a mirror for me to use. I glanced back into the surface to see what they’d seen. My breath left me in a sudden rush.
Identical eight-point stars now scored both my shoulders. Is this what Phoebe had meant when she said that Maisie would always be with me? Had this birthmark been my sister’s parting gift? Or was it just some other f**king arcane symbol I wasn’t supposed to understand yet?
“What does it mean?” Giguhl asked.
I shook my head. My throat felt tight, but hope bloomed in my chest. The skin under the star felt hot, like a healing wound. I paused. It didn’t really matter what it meant to anyone else, I guess. Because I chose to see it as a positive sign. A totem, a good luck charm. Proof that even though she couldn’t be there in person, Maisie would always have my back.
“Whatever it means,” Rhea said, her voice hoarse, “it’s got to be a good omen.”
I met her gaze and smiled. Finally, a reason to hope.
Adam cleared his throat and tried to covertly wipe the wetness from beneath his eyes. “The sun’s going down so we probably need to motor,” he said in a gruff tone. “Aunt Rhea, can you call ahead to Zenobia and let her know we’re coming?”
“Absolutely,” Rhea said. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you all again.”
Zenobia. Gods, I never thought I’d be seeing her again so soon. I definitely didn’t think that when I did it would be under such dire circumstances. “I don’t plan on being in New Orleans long,” I said. “But we could probably use any supplies she can offer.”
I saw Giguhl tense. Most likely at the prospect of seeing Pussy Willow again. But before we could deal with the ramifications of going to the Big Easy again, we had to begin the tough process of leaving New York.
“You guys ready?” Adam asked.
I grabbed Rhea in a tight, hard hug. “You be careful,” she whispered. “Check in as often as you can.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “I promise.”
“And, Sabina?” She pulled back with her hands on my shoulders. “Don’t doubt yourself. You’re ready for this.”
“You don’t know—”
“Hush now,” she said gruffly. “Don’t question your elders.”