Tentyrian Legacy by Elise Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

thinking that. Aglaia
continued: “My twin and I are in agreement that the balance needs
to be reset, which doesn’t need to involve us leaving
Tentyris.”
    “Yes. But what does ‘resetting’ it mean to us
and our Covens?” asked Hathor.
    “It means revenge for father,” said
Calypso.
    “It means freedom from pacifying an
incompetent king,” Calix answered.
    “It means unleashing our real power and for
once being who we are!” proclaimed Stavros.
    “It means showing that we are superior,”
intoned Maximos.
    Hathor was taken aback by Maximos’ bold
statement. It was unlike him to tout the superiority of Tentyrians
over humans. She could understand that grief was dictating
Calypso’s emotions. She could even understand Stavros and
Calix—they had always wanted more freedom. But Maximos believed in
and deeply respected the Code, which he helped craft. Why the
sudden change of heart?
    Maximos continued: “Showing that we are
superior means being superior in mind, body, and spirit. If that is
what we are, as Stavros believes, our kind can thrive anywhere.
This has been our home for over a century. But why hold onto
something that is crumbling? We know this land is on the verge of
revolution. If we fight now and take down Auletes openly, there
will surely be many more battles to come. We have been given the
gift of eternity. Let us use that gift. Unlike the humans, we are
not burdened by geographies or most mortal dangers. Our time at
Tentyris is done. Let us move on.”
    Hathor breathed a sigh of relief. The split
second she had doubted Maximos had shaken her. She knew she would
die. And when that happened, she would especially need him to help
her daughters carry on the Tentyrian legacy and keep the Council of
the Zodiac together. It was just over thirty years ago, right
before Narcissa’s birth, when she’d had a vision of Maximos
protecting the generations of Luminaries to come. And he would be
around when it came time to stop “the Event.” “Before we submit to
a formal Council vote regarding whether we should stay or leave, I
wish to speak in further detail about our relocation,” said Hathor.
“When we first discussed finding an alternate home for our kind, we
agreed to appropriate funds yearly to the effort and inevitable
reconstruction. I started using those funds about twelve years ago.
The location was found and construction is near completion.” Hathor
saw the surprise on many of the Council members’ faces.
    “Only Maximos, Aristos, Pello, and the
Luminaries have known about the project,” said Hathor. But before
she could finish, Stavros interrupted.
    “Hathor, why would you not consult and gain
consensus from the rest of us?” Anger rolled off Stavros in waves,
despite his calm exterior, making Karis’ mind swim. Her empathic
abilities made her highly sensitive to emotions around her. Easing
her discomfort, the Virgo Coven leader modified her breathing and
strengthened her mental barrier.
    “That is why we are here,” said Stavros, “to
provide counsel and equitable representation amongst the Covens. It
is within your right as queen but in opposition to all of your past
policies. The Tentyrian relocation should be a democratic vote
amongst the Council. Yet you’ve already made the decision
yourself.”
    “Typical,” Hathor heard Aglaia mutter.
    “Yes, I have made that decision, as was my
right as queen and Primary Ruler, with the consent of all four
Luminaries,” said Hathor fiercely. “I did what I thought was right
as your leader. Many years ago, I had a vision of an isolated
mountain that would become a safe haven to our kind. After that, I
sent out numerous expeditions to find it. And as much as I wanted
to garner consent from you all to build once the mountain was
found, I saw that agreement would never happen. You all would
inevitably argue over the timing and location—saying that it was
premature. So I initiated the project with the Luminaries’
approval, which