Page 23 of Dark Princess Emerging

"No, not yet," Annani lied.

They did not know the extent of Ell-rom's power and how it worked, so there was not much she could actually tell her grandmother. When she knew more, she would tell her.

"That is a shame. After all the predictions and the prophecy, I expected more from those two."

Annani's gut clenched. "A prophecy about the twins?"

"Yes, and El took it very seriously, which was one of the main reasons he was so obsessed with eliminating them. The prophecy said that his downfall would come from his own blood and that there would be two of them, a brother and sister who shared a womb."

Chills ran down Annani's spine.

If Ell-rom's death ray could work across the universe, he could be the downfall the Oracle talked about, but what part would Morelle play in toppling the Eternal King?

"The prophecy must be about Ell-rom and Morelle," Annani said. "But how can it be when they have no way of ever reaching Anumati?"

"I do not know. We are immortal, and what is not possible now might become possible in the future."

"True." Annani sighed.

She just hoped that it would not be made possible by the Eternal King suddenly allowing communications and transportation between Earth and Anumati. Nothing good would come of that.

"Keep an eye on them, my dear," Aru said for the queen. "A null could be a powerful asset in the right circumstances."

"I will. There is one more question I would like to ask before we continue to our nightly lesson, or what time we have left for it. Can all royals exert power over commoners? And by that, I mean a mental power like compelling them to do things? Or is it done just by a select group of very powerful gods?"

"Of course, royals are more powerful. Did you think that they could rule over commoners just because of their pretty glow? Naturally, not all royals are gifted with special powers, but those who are gifted always come from royal stock."

15

MORELLE

Bright morning sunlight spilled across the polished stone floor of Annani's entryway as Morelle adjusted the ankle straps on her sandals. Brandon stood nearby, keys to one of the village's electric carts dangling from his fingers.

"Are you sure you don't want to ride?" he asked. "It's quite a distance to the clinic."

"I want to walk." Morelle straightened, smoothing the fabric of her dress—a flowing blue sundress that Brandon claimed matched her eyes perfectly. "I need the exercise." She smiled. "Walking is much easier than the torture sessions Gertrude puts me through on the Pilates Reformer."

"Perhaps, but you can take a break any time you want." He glanced at his watch. "If we want to make it in time for the ceremony, we can't even stop on the way for a quick rest. I will have to carry you on my back." The grin that spread over his face indicated that he found the prospect enticing rather than bothersome.

Not that she would ever allow him to carry her. Not unless she collapsed and couldn't take another step.

She gave him a look that made him chuckle and raise his hands in surrender. "Alright, I won't push it. But remember that the offer stands in case you need it. Don't try to be a hero and impede your progress."

Morelle nodded. "I will push myself, but not to the point of collapse. I've been driven back and forth between here and the clinic enough times to have a good estimate of the distance. I should be able to make it without issues."

"Indeed," Brandon said in an encouraging tone that was just a little insincere. "Let's go. A celebration awaits."

Morelle was excited for Jasmine and the confirmation of her immortality that was about to occur, but she was also a little apprehensive about living with her brother's mate under the same roof.

Ell-rom reported that Jasmine had woken up a few times during the previous evening and the night, and Bridget was going to release her after the ceremony, which meant that she was coming home today.

Their interaction the previous evening had been brief, and Jasmine had been friendly and seemed deeply in love with Ell-rom, but Morelle hadn't been able to assess her personality in the few minutes of wakefulness.

Hopefully, they would get along just fine.

As they stepped outside into the warm morning air, Morelle took a deep breath, savoring the fresh scents of the greenery filling every corner of the village. Everything about this place seemeddesigned to delight the senses—the colors were vivid, the air was fresh, and the sounds gentle, unlike the harsh winds of Anumati she had grown to detest even though she hadn't known anything else.

Morelle had often thought about the gods living in their grand underground cities and secretly commended them on their good sense. Anumati's climate wasn't hospitable.