Page 19 of Dark Shaman: Love Found (The Children Of The Gods #99)

AREANA

T he wind at the lookout point carried the salt tang of the ocean, clean air unfiltered and uncontaminated. More importantly, it was a place where Areana could breathe without feeling the weight of watching eyes.

The stone bench near the cliff's edge had become her sanctuary over the years, even before Carol had arrived at the harem like an angel of freedom, attempted to rescue her, and realizing that Areana didn't want to be rescued, provided the means of communication with Annani that gave Areana the gift of a window into the world.

Before that, she'd been isolated, learning about global affairs years after they were no longer relevant. Navuh sought to shield her from the ugliness that he had a big hand in creating.

As she sat down on the sun-warmed stone, she allowed herself a moment to simply exist and gather her courage.

Calling Annani from here while workers and guards were crawling all over the place was an act of bravery she usually was too timid to attempt, but she had to let Annani know that she was okay.

Well, she was alive and unharmed, but she wasn't truly okay.

Areana had always wished she could live outside the harem as Navuh's official mate in his main mansion, the other ladies set free to find their own mates. But when she'd gotten part of her wish, she realized that she had been better off in the harem.

Perhaps it would have been different without the ladies living with them in the mansion, but then she wouldn't have anyone to talk to while Navuh was busy.

With a sigh, she casually glanced around to check if anyone was close enough to see what she was doing.

A gardener was working in the distance, but he was human, and he wouldn't notice details from where he was.

Otherwise, it seemed that she was alone.

The cliff area was mostly rocky terrain and didn't require maintenance except for cleaning the benches of bird droppings from time to time.

It was also out of the way and noisy because of the waves crashing on the rocks below.

It was a perfect spot to contact her sister.

Her purse was resting in her lap, and she reached into the hidden pocket. Her fingers brushed against the tiny earpiece that was her lifeline to the outside world, to Annani, to her sons.

She needed to do this quickly. Just to let Annani know that she was okay and not to engage in the fifteen- to twenty-minute conversation as she usually did.

Under normal circumstances, Tula would be with her, and if anyone overheard Areana talking, they would assume she was talking to Tula.

She should have brought her with her, but Tula had seemed so desperate for those few minutes with Tony that Areana hadn't had the heart to tear her away from him. If she didn't know better, Areana would have thought that Tula loved the man.

Hopefully, she only needed his solace because she was distraught about the displacement and everything else that was going on. It was incredibly foolish to fall for a human, and Tula was not a fool.

Areana pulled out the earpiece and put the device into her ear. Her long hair hid it from view, and the second part of the device, which was a pendant, was hidden inside the bodice of her dress. She touched the pendant, activating the connection.

"Lady Areana," William's voice came through clearly and wonderfully familiar. "I'm so glad you called. We were all worried when you missed your scheduled call."

"I don't have much time," Areana said softly, her lips barely moving. Years of practice had taught her to speak without being obvious about it. "I need to speak with Annani immediately."

"Of course. I'm patching you through. "

The brief pause felt endless. Then?—

"Areana!" Annani's voice burst through the earpiece, full of barely controlled emotion. "Thank the merciful Fates! I've been beside myself. Are you hurt? Has anything happened? We were?—"

"Annani, please," Areana interrupted. "I don't have much time."

"I am sorry. Please go on."

"There was a flood in the harem." She kept her voice down, and her head was bent low so her hair was blocking the view of her face.

"The underground structure was compromised.

Everyone survived, but we've been relocated temporarily, and I couldn't get to the cliff.

The place is crawling with workers and guards, so I'm taking a huge risk talking to you. "

"Just tell me if you are safe."

"I'm safe," she assured her sister. "We all are. The ladies, everyone. Navuh has moved us to his primary residence while repairs are made."

"That must be difficult for you and the others."

Trust Annani to understand immediately. The harem, for all its restrictions, had been their domain. The mansion was Navuh's territory.

"It's temporary," Areana said. "I'll contact you when I can, but it may be weeks between calls." She felt a prickle of awareness, as if someone was watching her from behind. "Don't worry if you don't hear from me. "

"How can I not worry? You are asking me to?—"

"I have to go." The prickle had intensified. "I'll be in touch when possible. Give my love to the boys."

She ended the call, removing the earpiece with the same casual movements she'd used to insert it. Into the purse it went, hidden once more in its secret pocket. Her fingers were already reaching for her embroidery, pulling out the long black ribbon she'd been working on for weeks.

Gold thread against black fabric. Navuh's colors. She'd long ago given up wondering what that said about her that even her small rebellions came wrapped in his signature colors or that she loved making these items for him.

It was true that love defied logic and transcended reason.

She slipped the needle into the fabric, in and out, creating patterns that existed only in her mind until her hands brought them to life. The repetitive motion soothed her racing heart, gave her hands something to do besides tremble with the aftermath of the adrenaline rush flooding her system.

Footsteps on gravel. Heavier than a woman's, purposeful rather than casual. A guard, then.

Areana didn't look up from her work. Looking up would suggest guilt, surprise, or concern. She was simply a woman enjoying the morning air, finding peace in her embroidery. Nothing more.

"Lady Areana?" The guard's voice was respectful. "Is everything alright? "

Now she looked up, offering a serene smile that had fooled better and smarter men than this one. "Of course. Why do you ask?"

"It's a hot day, and you've been out here for a while. I was wondering if you needed water or perhaps an umbrella for the shade? I'll gladly deliver anything you require."

"Thank you. That's very kind of you, but I'm almost done here. I'm just waiting for my companions to join me, and then we will head home."

"Of course, my lady. If you need anything, just lift your hand and I will rush over."

She thanked him with another smile and a nod.

His footsteps retreated, but she could feel him hovering just out of direct sight, close enough to observe, but far enough to maintain the illusion of privacy.

He was just doing his job.

Areana let out a breath. Five thousand years of pretense made her a natural. She could slip into roles as if she had been born into them, and sometimes she had a hard time finding her true self under there. Did she even remember life before Navuh?

For better or worse, he was all-consuming. Life with him was a constant challenge, a constant dance, balancing on the edge of danger and at the same time falling into the embrace of his love.

She must be out of her mind to love not only him but this complicated life they had built together. Annani couldn't understand that, and neither could Lokan and Kalugal. In their eyes, she was the epitome of goodness, a gentle soul trapped in the clutches of a monster.

But was she?

She remembered telling Carol that Navuh was not a monster, and in her eyes, he wasn’t. Not entirely. But others thought so, and Areana wondered if she was a little bit of a monster herself to love Navuh.

The needle slipped, pricking her finger. A drop of blood welled up, shocking red against her pale skin. She watched it for a moment, mesmerized.

She pressed her finger to her lips, tasting copper and salt. The tiny wound was already healed, leaving behind just that tiny drop as evidence of the injury.

Female voices carried on the wind, her ladies getting closer with their escorts. They were apparently finished in the gazebo, tolerating the heat for as long as they could before coming to seek her out as instructed.

Tula met her eyes, a question in her gaze. Areana gave the slightest nod—yes, the call had been made.

The wind shifted, bringing the scent of plumeria from the gardens. Somewhere below, waves crashed against rocks, eternal and indifferent.

"We should head back," she said. "The day grows hot."

"Yes, it does." Tamira fanned herself with her hand. "I'm ready to pay homage to the god of air-conditioning. "

That got chuckles from everyone, including her. "Indeed."

As they walked back toward the vehicles, Areana glanced back at the cliff. Hopefully, she would be able to come back here tomorrow.

She wasn't going to call Annani again until next week, but she needed to go back to established routines, so when it was time to call again, her sitting on the stone bench at the lookout point wouldn't seem strange.

When they got back to the house, the head butler bowed to her. "Lady Areana. Lord Navuh requests your presence in his office."

A spike of fear triggered a rush of adrenaline, but she kept her expression schooled. "Of course. Tell him I'll be there momentarily. I just need to freshen up a little after being in the heat outside."

"Of course, my lady. I will let the lord know that you will see him in a few moments." The servant bowed and walked away.

Did the guard who had approached her at the lookout point see anything? Or was this merely a coincidence?

Navuh usually didn't request her presence during the day, but then this was the first time they had actually been under the same roof during daytime hours, so things were different here.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Tula asked quietly.

"Why would I?" Areana cast her a bright, fake smile that was just a little bit haughty. "Perhaps my husband wants to dine with me privately. I should go up and make myself presentable."

Navuh would have approved of her performance. To anyone who didn't know her or Tula, the exchange hinted at Areana's jealousy and possessiveness over her mate.

As she climbed the stairs, she considered stashing the communicator somewhere safe, but on second thought, it was safest on her body. She had no doubt that the servants went through her things while she was away from her room.