Page 52 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope

"Any objections?" Kian asked.

The silence felt heavier this time, and Lokan wondered if everyone was thinking about his previous failures. But no one spoke against it.

"Then we seal it. To Dylan and Lokan."

As the wine touched his lips, Lokan felt something shift. This wasn't just about successfully inducing a transformationanymore. He'd just taken responsibility for this man, ceremony or not, success or not.

"Ready?" he asked Dylan as they moved to the sparring area.

"Are you?" Dylan countered, and there was understanding in his voice.

"No," Lokan admitted quietly. "But that has never stopped me before."

Dylan smiled. "Good enough for me."

They circled each other, and Lokan found himself talking like Anandur had, partly to calm Dylan but mostly to calm himself.

"You know what the interesting thing about the transition is?" he said as they moved. "It's not really about the venom. I mean, yes, the venom is necessary, but it's just a catalyst. The real change comes from within. The venom just gives your body permission to become what it always had the potential to be."

"Provided that the potential is there," Dylan said, maintaining his guard.

Lokan struck then, not giving Dylan time to tense up in anticipation. His fangs pierced the skin cleanly, venom flowing from his glands.

When Dylan passed out, Jeremy started waking up, and Spencer followed a few minutes later.

"What now?" Spencer asked, sounding as if he were drunk, still loopy from the venom effect.

"Now we wait," Kian said.

21

TAMIRA

Tamira walked the familiar route—left at the tapestry, down past the arch where the plaster still wore a water stain. She passed two maids sharing gossip and smelling of cleaning solution. They bowed and scurried past her, then resumed their excited conversation as if it had never been interrupted.

She let their chatter wash over her. It steadied her.

As she opened the doors leading to the indoor garden, she found Areana sitting on a stone bench, the fountain's music filling the silence with sounds that couldn't replace what nature sang aboveground.

"Care for some company?" Tamira asked.

"Yours? Always," Areana said.

It was such a nice thing to say, but Tamira doubted Areana meant it, especially after the spat they had over Darien and whether Areana knew that Darien had escaped with her son.

"Thank you." Tamira sat down. "We should head to the library soon."

"Yes," Areana acknowledged. "I just needed a few moments alone here."

She usually had breakfast with Navuh in their apartment, and after he departed, she often came here or joined the other ladies for breakfast, sharing a cup of coffee with them. Navuh was intense, so Tamira could understand Areana's occasional need to recuperate and center herself after spending time with him.

"I wish we could have birds here," she said, just to start the conversation. "But I wouldn't want to do that to the poor creatures."

"No, I guess not." Areana glanced upward, acknowledging the watchers without mentioning them. "Did you come just to keep me company, or do you have something you wanted to discuss?"

Tamira sighed. "I feel anxious all the time. Ever since the rebellion, even the harem doesn't feel safe. I can't fall asleep, and when I finally do, I can't stay asleep. I keep waking up."

Areana smiled knowingly. "You have a handsome male sharing your bed. I'm sure he has something to do with your lack of sleep."