"On a happier note," Syssi said, "Tony's confirmation ceremony was lovely. It's wonderful to welcome a new immortal into the clan."
"It is," Kian agreed. "I'm happy for him and Shira. I hope their relationship will blossom into something permanent, even if they are not truelove mates. Atzil and Ingrid are great together, and they are not truelove mates either." He shook his head. "Now I sound like Amanda."
Syssi patted his hand. "There is nothing wrong with wanting to see people happily mated. That and having children are the greatest joys in life. Everyone with a good heart should want that for everyone else."
"Not everyone," Kian muttered under his breath. "Some people should never mate or have children, and we all know who I'm talking about."
Syssi arched a brow. "We do? There are so many types of evildoers in the world that it is hard to pick."
"I meant all of them."
"Speaking of transitions," Annani said, redirecting the conversation, "what about Eluheed? He should attempt it as well."
The question was casual, tossed out as if it had just occurred to her, but Annani's casual questions were rarely casual.
Kian felt Syssi stiffen beside him, and their eyes met in one of those wordless exchanges that communicated entire conversations in a fraction of a second.
What do we say?
We can't tell her the truth that he's already immortal, but not from this world.
Kian looked back at his mother. "Eluheed's situation is complicated."
Annani's eyebrows rose. "Why? Either he has dormant genes, or he does not. The test is simple. It is not particularly pleasant, but the potential rewards are far greater than the small inconvenience of having to fight an immortal and get bitten."
"That's not the problem." Kian chose his words carefully, acutely aware that every word was being weighed by a goddess who had millennia of experience extracting information from reluctant sources. "Eluheed shared some things with Syssi and me in confidence. Things about who he is and where he comes from. He hasn't authorized us to discuss them with anyone else. I gave him my word."
Annani set her cup down, and Kian could see the wheels turning behind her eyes.
"I see." Her tone was measured, but a flicker of hurt crossed her eyes. "He trusts you and Syssi but not me?"
"It's not about trust, Mother. Eluheed barely knows you. He told us because he needed our help with something specific, and that was the only reason he revealed what he did. It wasn't a social confidence. Once that project moves forward, I'm sure he'll be willing to expand the circle, but for now…" Kian spread his hands. "I can't break a promise."
The project in question, which was the rescue of whatever sacred charges Eluheed had hidden in a collapsed cave on Mount Ararat, would have to wait until Khiann's extraction was complete and Navuh's situation was resolved. Hopefully, the clan would have enough resources left for an excavating expedition to Eastern Turkey.
Annani respected the sanctity of a given word.
She might not like being on the outside of a secret, but she wouldn't pressure him to break a promise.
"Very well." She picked her coffee cup up again. "I trust your judgment. But I hope Eluheed is ready to expand his circle of confidence soon. I am curious, and I am not patient, but rightnow my mind is occupied by different things, so Eluheed's story can wait."
"Indeed. And the same goes for the help he expects from us. I have my plate full at the moment."
Kian considered the other item that had been weighing on his mind.
"I need your advice on something," he said. "Arezoo and Ruvon's wedding is scheduled for this Saturday."
"I know." Syssi smiled. "Arezoo has been counting down the days."
"That's what makes this difficult." Kian set his cup down. "Onegus needs to deploy half the Guardian force to Safe Harbor by midweek so that we can move forward with the extraction mission on short notice. If Losham's excavation team reaches the chests on schedule, we need to be ready to move and be on the island with no delay. That means many of the Guardians won't be here to attend the wedding, and neither will several other clan members who are essential to the operation."
Syssi's smile faded. "You are right. We should tell her."
"It gets worse. Drova wants to be at the wedding. She and Arezoo are best friends, and Drova is one of the bridesmaids, but we might need Drova for the mission. Her compulsion ability makes her one of our most valuable assets, and we need her on standby at Safe Harbor."
Annani tilted her head. "Are you proposing to postpone the wedding?"
"I'm asking how to approach Arezoo and Ruvon about it."
