Page 90 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

Rob nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. He wasn't entirely sure what a Guardian was, but from the tone of Lusha's voice, it was clearly an important position. "He's a lucky guy," Rob said, aiming for a neutral tone.

"Thank you. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"I... well, I was supposed to get married this week," he said, the words feeling heavy on his tongue. "But it turns out my fiancée had other plans. With someone else."

"Ouch." Sympathy flickered across Lusha's face. "I'm so sorry. That must be incredibly painful."

Rob nodded, surprised to find that while the hurt was still there, it didn't feel quite as raw as it had just the day before.

Experiencing this new world, meeting Mia's fiancé, who turned out to be a god, coming to this hidden oasis, and talking with Lusha had provided a distraction and a glimpse of a much better future than the one he had envisioned before.

Rob had a moment of clarity. Yes, he was attracted to Lusha, and talking to her made him feel good in a way he hadn't in a long time. But he also recognized that he wasn't ready for anything more than friendship right now.

He needed time to cool down and to process the hurt and grief of his broken engagement. Jumping into something new, no matter how appealing, wouldn't be fair to anyone involved.

"It's been difficult," he admitted. "But being here and talking with you is helping. It's giving me a new perspective on life."

Lusha leaned over and put her hand on top of his. "Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what we need to heal and grow. And you've certainly come to the right place for new experiences."

64

SYSSI

At the sound of the front door opening, Allegra let out an excited squeal. "Dada!"

She never failed to recognize the sound of her father coming home, even when she couldn't see the front door.

It was a sixth sense.

"Hello, my lovelies," Kian said.

At the sound of his voice, the tension in Syssi's chest eased. "How was the meeting?" She pushed to her feet and greeted him with a kiss.

Kian wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Productive and entertaining."

Syssi raised an eyebrow. "Entertaining? That's not a word I usually associate with council meetings."

Kian chuckled, sat on the floor, and pulled Allegra onto his lap. "Hello, sweetie." He kissed her cheek. "Are you having fun at home with Mommy?"

"Nana," she said in that resolute tone of hers.

"Yes, sweetheart. We are going to Nana’s in a bit."

He turned to Syssi with a smile. "People left humorous comments on the clan's bulletin board in response to the request for the perpetrator to come forward. One person suggested it might be mischievous spirits upset about the lack of ghost-friendly amenities in the village and demanded we immediately install more rattling chains and creaky floorboards."

Syssi laughed. "That's funny. Did you check with Anandur to see if it was him? That sounds like something he would say."

"It could be, even though he denied it. He suggested we form a task force to investigate spectral activity, and he did it with a straight face."

Syssi shook her head. "That was him for sure."

"I think so, too." Kian studied her face for a moment, his expression softening. "Are you okay?"

"I am. I needed a good laugh." She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

Kian cupped her cheek and deepened the kiss, but their daughter wasn't about to be left out of the fun and grabbed his chin with her little hand. "Lala." She pouted.

Lala was how Allegra referred to herself and what she wanted was clear enough. Kian obeyed the command, peppering her face with kisses.