Page 38 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

"Thank you." He poured himself a glass of one of the whiskeys and returned to the couch.

"Have you told her yet?" Jasmine asked.

Edgar shook his head. "Not yet, and I'm dreading the day I have to do that. It's not exactly an easy conversation to have."

"No, I suppose it isn't." Jasmine imitated Edgar's posture and deepened her voice. "Hey, by the way, I'm immortal, and you're a Dormant, which means I can turn you immortal too. Want to live forever with me?'"

They both chuckled at her delivery.

"That was a good impersonation," Edgar admitted. "Do I really sound so cocky?"

"Yeah, you do, but don't change it. Somehow, it fits you. All that 'I'm a pilot' swagger seems to define you more than your immortality."

"Well, of course it does. Except for you, I can't tell the women I'm flirting with that I'm immortal, but I can tell them that I'm a pilot."

She arched a brow. "Women? Are you planning to flirt with anyone else now that you are in love with Angelica?"

28

ELL-ROM

Ell-rom stirred from his slumber, his consciousness slowly rising to the surface and registering voices and laughter that did not match what had been happening in his dream, which had been a lot of nothing.

He'd dreamt about silently meditating in front of the Mother's altar.

The bright and melodious laughter filtering through the slightly ajar bedroom door was as familiar to him as his own, and he wondered what Jasmine had found so funny.

Then he heard another voice, which he did not recognize and was decidedly male.

Ell-rom's eyes snapped open, the cobwebs of sleep vanishing in an instant. He sat up straight, ignoring the slight dizziness that accompanied the sudden movement. The male voice continued, its tone warm and friendly, and it elicited another peal of laughter from Jasmine.

A hot sensation suddenly bloomed in Ell-rom's chest. Jealousy. Intense and undeniable.

Was Jasmine entertaining another male while he was asleep?

Who was that male, and what was he doing in the penthouse?

Supposedly, the place belonged to Kian, and only people he approved were allowed to come in. Given that logic, the male must be a clan member, who Jasmine knew somehow and seemed to enjoy the company of a little too much for Ell-rom's liking.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and walked into the bathroom.

As Ell-rom splashed cold water on his face, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. His hair was growing back slowly, a dark fuzz covering his scalp, and his cheeks were no longer as hollow as they had been, but he still looked gaunt.

Dressing as quickly as he could, he decided to leave the walker behind and enter the living room unaided. If this male was a potential competitor for Jasmine's affections, Ell-rom did not want to show any weakness.

He wasn't sure where those convictions were coming from, especially since he had never vied for the attentions of a female before, but his response must have been instinctual, much like the jealousy he felt.

The short walk to the living room was not as difficult as Ell-rom had expected, and as he entered, Jasmine's eyes widened in surprise.

"Ell-rom!" She rose from her armchair and rushed to his side, wrapping a supportive arm around his waist. "Why didn't you call me to help you? I left the door open on purpose so I would hear when you woke up, but you snuck up on me anyway."

As Ell-rom allowed her to guide him to the couch, he noticed that the male hastily put a pair of earpieces in. Did everyone who visited the penthouse have a pair? Or was it standard for all clan members to carry them?

"It was not my intention to sneak up on anyone," he said in a level tone. "You seemed to be preoccupied with your friend." He hoped that hadn't sounded as petty and as jealous as it had in his mind.

Jasmine helped him sit, then gestured to the man occupying the other side of the couch. "Ell-rom, this is Edgar. He's the pilot I told you about, the one who flew us during the trip to Tibet."

Edgar leaned over, extending his hand with a friendly smile. "It's good to finally meet you in person, Ell-rom. I've heard so much about you."