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And then the whistling neigh I heard exploded, cries ringing and startling the other horses. June’s body slammed against the stall, her strong neck pushing over the door to strain closer to me.
My heart shattered.
I ran up to her, letting her press her forehead into my chest and blow heaving breaths against my stomach.
“Shh, it’s okay, June,” I said, brushing my hand down the side of her neck, relishing in the familiar glide of her deep purple mane. June let me relish in the comforting press of her head and the glimpse of her glittering scales for a moment before she blew a particularly harsh breath and pushed back.
Her huge eyes turned angry.
Betrayal was clear in her expression. June was channeling hurt, concern, and a whopping question ofwhere the hell have you beenright at me.
I walked toward her slowly, and she snorted. Okay, explanation first. “I’m sorry.”
A flash of forgiveness.
“I’m so sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? Will you forgive me?” It was a question I’d get used to asking.
June assessed me hesitantly, her warm brown eyes blown wide. After a few large breaths, some snorts that sent bubbles churning, I felt a wave of full-bodied relief and love crash over me.
She forgave me.
I fought the tears threatening to spring to my eyes, half hurt and half frustration. Because under all the pain, I was still so, so mad at Lukas. At him for breaking my trust. And at myself for crossing a line and dragging him with me.
But for now, I walked toward the gate to June’s stall and unlatched it. She came willingly, nudging my shoulder with her nose as I approached.
At least one person wanted me here.
Working quickly, I got her bridle on and pocketed a tin of fish for some well-deserved treats. I started to bring her out on my left, but a flash of warning from my power told me to move her to my right.
Smart move, because the second we got close to August’s stall, he came barreling into the door, neck reaching for June.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Finally caved, June?” I asked, reminding myself to go look for a foal in another stall. Snarky one, I thought, that she decided to do it while I was gone. To remind me when I inevitably came back that I missed out in my time away.
I let August nuzzle her neck and mane, reluctant to pull her away. Not when my chest felt like it was splitting open at the reminder that I hadn’t felt that level of affection in a long time.
After a moment, I gently tugged June away. I treated them both to a piece of fish and started walking toward the open sea. The parts of Lukas’s power in my veins kept me planted to the sea floor, while June swam next to me. It felt so good to be back in the water, even separated by the thin layer of magic that kept me dry.
I was in such a rush to feel the relief, to feel the slight pressure from being deep in the water on my skin, that I’d barely considered what would happen if it didn’t work. If I’d lost the ability to breathe underwater.
But walking on the rocky path, with June swimming next to me chomping at seaweed as it floated past her, I had my answer. That like Lukas said, his power had transferred and stayed when he took the throne.
“Daphne.” Lukas was shaking me lightly, but insistently.
I opened my eyes to find his own frantic and rimmed in pain. I shot up in bed. “What happened?”
“Nikolas decided to abdicate,” Lukas said, his expression dark.
“Oh, Luke.” I let my fingers brush his face lightly, before reaching down and entwining them with his shaking hand.
Lukas didn’t seem fully in his body. Not entirely present while he lifted our hands and placed a kiss on my knuckles. And not for the rest of the night while he took the throne, never once letting go of my hand.
A neigh from June broke me from the memory. If that habit was going to stay, my brain was going to get confused.
June made another sound from her nose, eyes out at sea. I turned to see a massive sea creature, with green and blue scales covering its back, swimming in the distance.
Lukas.
He rarely turned into that form. It took most of his energy to do so, the beast further out of reach than it had been for the first Poseidon. Few people knew of that trait. The gods kept their origins close to their chest, scared of it revealing a vulnerability. The original Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades allowed people to think they were siblings. They spun wild stories about the origins of the other gods just to confuse the humans as to their actual birth.
