Page 7 of Dark Rover’s Luck (The Children Of The Gods #95)

7

ANNANI

A nnani sat on the terrace behind her house, enjoying the fresh morning air. It was crisp, carrying the fresh green scent from the surrounding mountains, and usually it was enough to bring her peace even when her mind was troubled, but not today.

Ogidu stepped outside, holding a tray with a cold bottle of sparkling water, a tall glass with several ice cubes, and two chocolate chip cookies on a small plate. "I brought these for you to taste, Clan Mother."

"Thank you." Annani reached for one of the fragrant cookies that were still warm from the oven. "I am sure it will brighten my day."

"Is there anything else you require, Clan Mother?" he asked.

"No, thank you." Annani smiled at him. "Is everything ready?"

He dipped his head. "I have prepared a selection of juices for the children and teas for the older family members. Would you like me to bring them out here when your guests arrive?"

"Yes, please. It is a lovely day, and it would be a waste to spend it inside."

The younger children would appreciate the freedom of the outdoors instead of sitting still on the living room couch or at the dining room table, which reminded her that there was not enough seating for Kyra's large family.

"Can you please bring a blanket to spread over the grass for the children?"

"That is a wonderful idea, Clan Mother. I will do so expeditiously."

As Ogidu retreated inside, Annani's smile faded, her thoughts returning to her grandmother and her concern for the queen of Anumati.

The Eternal King had sent his wife on a so-called diplomatic tour of the Anumatian colonies, and the queen could not take Aria with her without it looking too suspicious. Ani, Annani, and Sofringhati had debated for days whether the queen should attempt to include Aria in her entourage. Still, it had been Ani's final decision not to take Aru's twin for fear of exposing her importance.

The king was far too shrewd not to suspect something, especially given the almost daily visits of the queen to the Supreme Oracle's temple.

Aru and Aria had created a bridge between worlds, enabling communication between Ani and Annani, and keeping that connection a secret was vital.

Annani had learned much about the political landscape of Anumati and the threat posed by the Eternal King. Most importantly, though, Annani had found an ally and a confidant in her grandmother.

She missed their nightly sessions, and she worried about the Eternal King's motives. When her grandfather wanted someone removed without political complications, he sent them on missions to dangerous colonies where deadly misfortune could befall a god with plausible deniability of any wrongdoing.

The king controlled the media, so news of such misfortunes was usually contained, but Annani hoped that her grandmother could not be easily eliminated without causing a major uproar. Not only was Ani loved by the people of Anumati, but she was also the representative of the noble families controlling all major manufacturing conglomerates. Even the king would think twice before daring to anger them. Those royal families were his power base, and he could not afford to lose their support.

That being said, the Eternal King was notoriously paranoid, constantly searching for traitors in his inner circle, so if he had even the slightest suspicion that his wife was plotting behind his back, he would find a way to get rid of her.

A long diplomatic trip would keep her away from the capital and out of the public eye. Even if he did not send her to the colonies to kill her, it was still a good way to kill her influence.

Annani took a deep breath, refocusing on the present and the joyous occasion of welcoming seventeen new members into her community. Kyra's extended family represented a significant and valuable addition to the genetic pool.

When she heard the doorbell, Annani lifted her hand and pushed her hair behind her ears to expose the translating earpieces. The children and their mothers would all be wearing them, and Annani wanted them to see that she had them on as well.

The sliding door opened, and Ogidu stepped out first. "Your guests have arrived, Clan Mother."

She rose to welcome Kyra, her sisters, and their children.

The youngest ones looked scared, while the older ones seemed nervous, but all were excited.

"Good morning," Annani said, extending her arms in greeting.

Kyra stepped forward first, a bright smile on her face and none of the weariness that darkened her sisters' expressions. "Thank you for inviting us, Clan Mother."

"The pleasure is all mine." Annani embraced Kyra and then stepped back to look over the assembled family. "We have met briefly during the welcome party, but I have been looking forward to getting to know each of you in person."

"Let me introduce my sisters." Kyra motioned for the eldest to come forward. "This is Soraya, mother to Arezoo, Donya, and Laleh."

Soraya's features were remarkably similar to Kyra's. She looked older, and time had started etching fine lines around her eyes, but she was still a beautiful woman, and she carried herself with dignity.

"It is an honor to meet you face to face, Clan Mother." Soraya dipped her head respectfully but did not extend her hand.

Annani offered both of hers instead. "My skin might be glowing, but I assure you it is not radioactive."

That was what most contemporary humans suspected when they first saw her. In days past, people had thought she was an angel or a goddess, which was closer to the truth.

Soraya hesitated for a split second before placing her hands in Annani's. When nothing happened, she let out a breath and relaxed her shoulders.

Annani smiled. "Would you like to introduce your daughters to me?"

A flash of emotion crossed the woman's face. "They are my greatest treasures." She turned around and motioned for the girls to step forward. "This is Arezoo, my eldest. She is nineteen."

The girl curtsied, which was adorable. "It is an honor to meet you, Clan Mother."

Evidently, it was a line they had all prepared. Hopefully, they would have more to say once they loosened up.

Next were the younger girls, then Rana and her daughter, the grieving widow Yasmin and her five children, and Parisa and her four boys.

Rana's daughter Azadeh stood quietly beside her cousins, her intelligent eyes taking in everything with careful observation. Annani sensed a deep thinker in this one.

Rohan, Yasmin's younger boy, stared openly at Annani's glowing skin. "Are you made of light?"

Yasmin looked mortified. "Rohan! That's not?—"

"It is quite all right," Annani laughed, kneeling to the six-year-old's level. "I am not made of light, but the glow is part of me. Would you like to touch my hand?"

The boy hesitated, looking up at his mother for permission. When Yasmin nodded, he reached out tentatively, then quickly pulled his hand back as soon as his fingers brushed Annani's skin.

"You're not hot!" he exclaimed with surprise.

"Of course not." Annani patted his shoulder and then turned to the others. "Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable." She gestured toward the terrace seating. "The younger children can sit on the blanket. Ogidu has prepared refreshments."

Little Cyra clung to her mother's skirt, but she eyed the chocolate chip cookies with unmistakable longing.

"Those are for you," Annani told her. "Ogidu made plenty of them so do not be shy."

The child looked surprised to be addressed directly, then glanced up at her mother for permission.

"Go ahead," Yasmin said softly. "But just one for now."

As they settled down, the initial tension began to ease. The younger children gravitated toward the refreshments, while the teenagers remained slightly on edge, their eyes constantly flicking to Annani's glowing skin.

She could have subdued it or eliminated it completely, but since they were now members of her community, they needed to get accustomed to seeing her glow.

"Your home is beautiful," Soraya commented, probably to start a conversation. "I mean, the entire village is beautiful. It is like something from a dream."

Annani laughed. "Wait until you see my sanctuary in Alaska. That is a true dream made manifest."

"So, this isn't your permanent home?" Rana asked.

"I have two homes. I used to spend most of my time in my Alaskan sanctuary, but that was when I had my daughter Alena as a companion. After she found her mate and moved here, I found myself spending more and more time here. After all, three of my children live in the village."

Yasmin nodded. "I want to live next to my children, too, so I understand."

"What's special about the sanctuary?" Donya asked. "You said that it was even prettier than the village, but Alaska is in the north, and it is covered in snow."

"That is a very smart observation." Annani smiled at the girl. "The sanctuary is a magical place that is even more secure than the village. It is a tropical paradise that is hidden under a dome of ice. No one knows where it is or how to get there other than my Odus, and they will never reveal my secret."

The children looked at her with wide eyes.

"Do you have pictures?" Zaden asked.

"I do." Annani produced her phone from the hidden pocket in her gown and scrolled through her photos. "Here you go. You can pass the phone around. I only took pictures of the main grounds. The private chambers are nice, but they are not as special."

The oohing and ahhing was music to Annani's ears. She had designed her sanctuary herself, and the builders had made her fantasy a reality. Those humans had been thralled to forget what they had built, and none of them were still alive.

"Did you build it yourself?" Arman asked.

Annani smiled. "I envisioned it, and many skilled people helped bring that vision to life."

"How old are you?" Arman blurted out, earning a sharp look from his mother.

"Arman! That's not polite," Parisa scolded.

"Curiosity is natural." Annani smiled. "I am over five thousand years old."

The boy's eyes widened. "You are lying."

His mother nearly fainted, pulling him to her as if she expected Annani to smite him for the insult.

Annani lifted a hand to stop her, a smile still playing on her lips to show that she was not angry. "It is logical for the boy to assume that I am lying because he knows that no one lives that long." She shifted her gaze to Arman. "I am not human, my dear boy. I am a goddess, which means that I am immortal, have glowing skin, and can also do impressive mind tricks. But I cannot create things out of thin air or perform any other magic. I am just different than most of the people on Earth."

Arman nodded, but he seemed terrified of saying anything else, more out of fear of what his mother would do than Annani.

"I imagine that you have gained much wisdom," Soraya said, her voice respectful but with an underlying note of caution.

Annani understood the careful approach. These women had lived under oppression, where those in power demanded unquestioning obedience. They would naturally be wary of another authority figure, no matter how benevolent she appeared.

"I have lived long and seen much," Annani acknowledged. "But I learn new things every day. I understand your caution. You have come from a world where power was often abused, and where those with authority demanded submission. I want you to know that is not how we operate here. Your thoughts, your questions, your doubts—all are welcome. I do not demand faith or obedience. The only thing I will not compromise on is the safety of my people, and that might mean some restrictions on your freedom of movement, but only temporarily. Consider it a period of adjustment, a preparation for a new life of safety and freedom for you and your children."

Yasmin's eyes filled with tears. "My husband died to give us this chance."

A hush fell over the gathering.

"Yes," Annani said softly. "And his sacrifice will not be forgotten or wasted. Your children will grow up free, Yasmin. They will be able to become whoever they wish to be and have eternity to do so. You are all going to turn immortal, starting with the older boys."

"It's always the boys," Azadeh murmured. "Why can't it be the girls first?"

Annani was sure that the older girls had been told how transition was induced in females. "It is simpler for boys," she said. "They do not need to fall in love with their inducers."

Azadeh shrugged. "Neither do the girls. We are no longer restricted, and I am eighteen, which means that I'm free to choose my inducer."

Annani glanced at Rana, who surprised her by nodding.

"We are in the West now, and I support Azadeh's freedom of choice. I hope she chooses responsibly, but I don't expect her to get married first." She grimaced. "I wish I had had that choice. I would have never married my husband." She took her daughter's hand. "But then I wouldn't have had you, so it was worth it after all."