That had been such an incredible act of bravery, and it was the reason that Areana was now surrounded by her family. Without Carol helping her establish a line of communication with Annani, none of this would have happened. It had also resulted in Navuh's capture by the clan, but given what she'd gained as a result, Areana didn't regret it.
The Fates had decided that it was time for her to be reunited with her sons, and she would be forever grateful to them for that, even if Navuh never regained his freedom.
"What time did Annani say she was coming?" Jacki asked.
"She didn't specify a time, only that she needed to see me this afternoon." Areana took a sip of her tea.
"It probably has to do with your mate," Kalugal muttered.
"You mean your father."
"Yes, but I prefer to think of him as your mate. He was decent as your life partner but terrible as a father."
She couldn't argue with that.
The new dynamic was strange. Her sons had lived under Navuh's control—one rebelling against it at a young age, the other embracing it until he found Carol. Now they were sitting in the living room of Kian's penthouse and drinking tea while their father languished in the clinic.
They didn't want anything to do with him, he didn't want anything to do with them, and she didn't know how to bridge the divide, or even if it was possible.
A knock at the door broke the moment.
"That will be Annani." Areana rose, smoothed down her dress, and walked to the door.
It was strange not having servants doing those things for her, like opening doors and announcing visitors, but she was getting used to this new reality.
As usual, Annani and Kian were accompanied by the brothers, who were Kian's bodyguards.
The redhead smiled at her fondly and dipped his head, and the blond inclined his head without changing an iota of his facial expression.
"Annani." She hugged her sister briefly and then moved to Kian. "My dear nephew. Please, come in."
"Thank you." Annani swept into the penthouse, her eyes brightening upon seeing Darius. "Look at him. He grows more handsome every day."
Darius stared up at Annani with wide eyes, then broke into a gummy smile and reached toward her with grabbing hands.
"He likes you," Jacki said.
"Babies usually do." Annani picked Darius up and hugged him to her chest. "Hello, sweetness." She kissed the top of his head before returning him to Jacki. "I love the smell of babies. When I hold a small child, all my tension just melts away. They need to find a way to bottle that smell and sell it as a pick-me-up spray."
"Not a bad idea." Kalugal rose to his feet and offered Annani the armchair he'd been sitting on. "I should run it by a lab I work with and see what they can come up with."
"You will need to share profits with my mother." Kian grabbed one of the counter stools and brought it to the seating area. "It was her idea."
The brothers followed his example and did the same.
"I hope you like coconut-flavored tea." Carol emerged from the kitchen with a fresh teapot.
"I have never had one, but I am always willing to try new teas." Annani accepted a cup from her. "How is the spy training program going?"
Carol's face lit up. "It's going well. I took the ladies on a field assignment Friday, and they performed better than I expected, but they still have a lot to learn."
"Wonderful. When do you think they will be ready to be sent to Washington to influence policy?"
Carol hesitated, her enthusiasm dimming. "They're not ready for that yet. It will take months before I feel confident in their undercover abilities. These things take time."
"Of course, dear. I did not mean to imply otherwise."
"Turner recommended a friend of his who can teach them more sophisticated techniques," Carol continued. "I can't wait to meet her. I expect to learn a lot from the pro."
