Page 33 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

"Well, that's a shame." Amanda pursed her lips. "I love juicy gossip, but I respect your reluctance to divulge Margo's secrets."

As the meal progressed, Jasmine relaxed, drawn into the warm atmosphere of family togetherness. She watched with growing pleasure as Kian's sisters engaged Ell-rom in conversation, their initial curiosity giving way to genuine interest and affection. It was incredible how quickly Ell-rom was being integrated into the family.

Annani, who was seated at the head of the table, turned to coo at Allegra, who was reaching out for her grandmother with chubby hands.

"Nana," she demanded.

Annani's face lit up with joy. "Come to Nana, sweetness."

Kian handed the baby over, and Annani sat Allegra on her lap so she faced Ell-rom and Jasmine.

"Om. Jaja.”

Ell-rom waved his hand and smiled. "You are a remarkable young lady, Allegra."

"She is," Kian agreed. "Her memory for names is very uncommon for a child her age."

Annani looked at her granddaughter and then shifted her gaze to Ell-rom with the same love and approval in her eyes.

Jasmine's heart swelled. Surrounded by the warmth and love of this incredible family, she felt a sense of belonging she'd never experienced before.

As unbelievable and surreal as it felt, she knew this was where she was always meant to be.

Jasmine had never felt like she belonged in her father's house, and she couldn't remember if things had been different when her mother was alive.

What had happened to her mother?

Now that Jasmine had powerful friends, perhaps she could finally find out.

25

KIAN

Kian watched with quiet satisfaction as his sisters engaged Ell-rom in conversation. Amanda peppered him with questions about his experiences since waking and whether physical therapy had helped with his memories. Alena just listened, occasionally interjecting with her own inquiries, but Dalhu and Orion didn't say much and were content to let their mates talk and get to know their new uncle.

He was glad that his sisters seemed to like Ell-rom, mostly for his mother's sake. It was important to her that her family accepted her brother.

The penthouse was alive with the buzz of family. His mother's Odus moved unobtrusively among them, refilling glasses and clearing plates. The rich aroma of the gourmet meal lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of fresh flowers adorning the center of the table that he had no doubt the Odus brought along with all the ingredients for the meal they'd prepared.

He still remembered the days when this dining room was rarely used, mostly because he'd hated entertaining and also because his mother and Alena were in Alaska, and Amanda lived in herown condo near the university. None of them had mates, and the only time there had been gatherings of any kind in his penthouse apartment was when he had been hosting a council meeting.

A lot had changed during the last five years, and it had all started with Syssi. He reached for her hand under the table and gave it a little squeeze.

She turned to him. "Is everything okay?"

He nodded. "I went down memory lane when this dining room was never used, and I'm so grateful for all the blessings the Fates bestowed on us, but mostly I'm grateful for you." He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "You made my life worth living."

As his sisters and mother all oohed and ahhed, Orion and Dalhu nodded in agreement while Toven and Mia exchanged knowing smiles, and Ell-rom and Jasmine had twin looks of surprise on their faces.

They didn't know him as well as the rest of those present did, and they had never seen him go all mushy over his love for his wife. He usually refrained from making such grand gestures in front of anyone other than his close family.

Across the table, Amanda grinned like a Cheshire cat. "And to think that I had to work so hard to convince you to meet Syssi. I knew you were meant for each other as soon as I finished running my tests on her."

"What kind of tests?" Ell-rom asked.

Amanda gave him a quick overview of her research on paranormal abilities and then waxed poetic about Syssi's incredible results.

"Regrettably, I didn't find any more strong talents among my test subjects." Amanda sighed. "But the Fates have kept sending us Dormants with powers I have never imagined. We have one lady who can tether her consciousness to that of another and spy on them; her sister can hear echoes of conversations embedded in walls, and Mia is an enhancer. She can make any other paranormal talent stronger."