Page 29 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

She wanted to dress up for the occasion of introducing Ell-rom to the rest of the family.

It felt like a significant step for the future of the clan, but she couldn't articulate what made her think that. Ell-rom didn't seem like the type of guy who reshaped futures. He was pleasant and intelligent, but he wasn't charismatic or possessed of any of the other qualities she'd come to associate with a leader.

Ell-rom wasn't Kian.

Not that anyone could be like her husband, but Ell-rom wasn't like Annani or Sari either. He just didn't have that extra something.

Then again, he was still basically a baby, finding out who he was, so it wasn't fair to judge him. After all, Kian had also been asweet, naive boy before his mother had started training him to be a leader.

"You look beautiful," Kian said from behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her neck.

Syssi leaned back into his embrace. "Thank you." She looked at his face in the mirror, her heart swelling with love. "You look as dashing as the first time I saw you."

It seemed like a lifetime ago that she had met Kian and moved into the penthouse with him, and yet the memories were as vivid as ever. The nervousness of their first encounters, the thrill of falling in love, and the passion of their early days together still burned with the same ferocity but also with a level of comfort and familiarity that could have only grown over time.

She could let go with Kian and feel perfectly safe, knowing that not only would he never hurt her, but that he would do everything for her.

"What's that faraway look about?" He nuzzled her neck.

"I was just thinking about the penthouse and our early days as a couple."

Kian's eyebrows rose. "Feeling nostalgic?"

She turned in his arms to face him, her hands resting on his chest. "A little. It's where our relationship started. The penthouse will always hold a special place in my heart."

Kian shrugged. "I don't miss it at all, to be honest. I love it here in the village."

Syssi playfully swatted his arm. "Where is your sense of romance?"

"Hey," Kian protested with a chuckle, "I never claimed to have one. You're the one who has been trying to convince me for the past five years that I am a romantic."

"That's because you are." Syssi rose on her tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "You're romantic in all the ways that count. I love you more than life itself."

Kian's expression softened, his eyes filled with a warmth that never failed to make Syssi's heart skip a beat. He cupped her face in his hands, drawing her in for a deep, passionate kiss that left her breathless.

They were so blessed to have each other and Allegra.

It pained her that Annani had been robbed of her blessing when Khiann had been taken away from her only a few months into their relationship. They hadn't even had the chance to create a child together, and all of her children had been sired by human fathers.

If the prophecy Annani had been given was true, though, she would have two more children, and Syssi had a gut feeling that those children would be fathered by Khiann.

It could be just wishful thinking on her part. She wanted that for Annani as much as she wanted to have more children with Kian.

A wave of guilt washed over Syssi.

She had promised to summon a vision about Khiann's fate, and she'd been putting it off, fearing what she might see, but she couldn't delay any longer.

Leaning away, she looked into Kian's eyes. "Today, after we return from lunch, I will attempt to summon a vision aboutKhiann. It's not fair of me to drag my feet about it and leave your mother in suspense."

Kian's big body tensed. "You don't need to rush. You'll be tired after the get-together, and you shouldn't summon a vision when you are low on energy."

"I'll be fine. Allegra will probably fall asleep on the way home and keep sleeping when we get her to her crib." She put a hand over her chest. "Postponing the inevitable just weighs me down and stresses me. I don't want to wait any longer."

She could see the concern in Kian's eyes, the worry he always felt when she opened herself up to the visions. But there was understanding there, too. He knew how important this was.

"Alright," he agreed reluctantly. "I'll watch over you, making sure you're safe."

"Thank you. I wouldn't have it any other way."