Page 89 of Dark Princess Emerging

"True. It's really a unique phenomenon. They are like the Amazons of myth. They also believe in providing education for their members in addition to combat training."

"Like we do here in the clan," Syssi said.

"Well, they are fighting for their survival and basic human rights."

"So are we." Syssi smiled sadly. "We fight for our existence. If we didn't, Navuh and his goons would have eradicated our people a long time ago."

"True." Kian sighed.

"It's remarkable," Syssi said. "These women choosing to fight not just with weapons but with education and social change. But what's more remarkable to me is how little is known about them in the West. I would think that every women's organization should have sung their praises on every channel available, and yet I didn't know anything about it until that article I read online, and I stumbled upon that by chance."

Kian leaned back. "There is no money in it. That's why you don't hear about it. No one is pushing their agenda."

She shook her head. "It's always about the money. It makes me so mad. That's why hearing about the Kurdish women's resistance makes my heart feel lighter. And maybe we will find Jasmine's mother fighting with them. I worry, though. They are going against superior forces that don't abide by any humanitarian conventions."

"The resistance has safe houses throughout the region," Kian said. "But I worry for them too."

Allegra's tower crashed, sending blocks scattering, but instead of crying, she laughed and started rebuilding.

His daughter was a true leader.

Kian got off the couch and gathered the scattered blocks, and as Syssi joined them both, Allegra's squeal of joy was priceless. These ladies were his entire existence, and he thanked the Fatesdaily for their blessings. If only all the women on Earth were as fortunate, happy, and safe.

"I hope they succeed in reshaping their part of the world." Syssi leaned her elbows on her knees. "Wherever women are free and respected, society as a whole flourishes, and wherever women are oppressed and devalued, the society is consumed by rot and doomed to failure."

"We're fortunate," Kian said, watching Allegra carefully place a block on top of her latest tower. "To be able to raise our daughter safely and have the luxury of choosing our battles. We owe it all to my mother and her unwavering spirit. She's been fighting for women throughout her life."

Allegra lifted her head and cast them both a crooked smile that was slightly evil before crashing her tower. "Boom!"

"Boom indeed," he laughed, pulling her into a tickle attack that had her shrieking with delight.

The most important thing a leader could do was remember what they were fighting for—these simple moments of joy, the right of all people to live in peace and raise their children in safety.

54

MORELLE

The large dining table at Syssi and Kian's home buzzed with familiar energy, and Morelle's heart warmed as she observed her newfound family. Kalugal and Jacki secured their serious-faced little boy in his highchair, the child's solemn expression a stark contrast to Allegra's animated features as she made faces at Morelle and Jasmine from her seat beside Annani. Evie stubbornly clung to Dalhu's neck, refusing to sit in the highchair, while Alena's infant son slept peacefully in his stroller nearby.

Looking at these children, something fierce and primitive stirred in Morelle's gut, the intensity of it catching her off guard. She felt an absolute certainty that she would defend these little ones with her last breath and would destroy anyone who threatened them. The feeling was both foreign and natural, like accessing a part of herself that had always existed but lain dormant until now.

Under the tablecloth, Brandon's hand found hers. "Excited?" he asked softly.

"About what?"

"Moving in with me." He waggled his eyebrows playfully.

Her pulse quickened as she wondered if he was implying what she thought and hoped about tonight. But no, she knew her mate better by now.

Brandon had his ideas about how their physical relationship should progress, and he stuck to his plans with infuriating determination. He'd hinted at what he wanted to try next, though, and heat coursed through her body at the mere thought.

"I am excited about that," she admitted, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "I like having the primary bedroom with that huge bed. Did you have it made to your specifications?"

His laugh was rich and warm. "No, it came with the house. Ingrid, our interior designer, ordered all the furniture."

"That's somewhat disappointing." She looked at him from under lowered lashes, enjoying his intake of breath.

Brandon shifted in his chair, and Morelle felt a surge of satisfaction at successfully disturbing his carefully maintained equilibrium.