Page 42 of Dark Witch: Entangled Fates

Hell, he would have killed Mortdh himself and screw the consequences.

Syssi reached out and touched Annani's arm. "I know you are disappointed that the oracle couldn't help you, but perhaps I can help search for Khiann. If there's even the slightest chance that he is alive, I will do everything I can to find a clue to his whereabouts. After all, if I could find David's parents by inducing a vision, I might be able to find out the truth about Khiann's fate as well."

Kian hated it when Syssi did that. It was one thing when the visions came to her unbidden and another thing when she forced herself into a trance and invited them.

Every time she delved into the mists of time and possibility, she emerged drained and disoriented, sometimes taking days to fully recover. The thought of her subjecting herself to that again made his protective instincts surge to the fore.

True, he told himself that she wasn't pregnant now and that there was no risk to her health, but he was still wary of the damn visions. Where did they come from? Was it from the Fates or from some malignant force that could leave its residue on Syssi's soul?

Kian didn't like anything that he didn't understand, and out of all the paranormal abilities, seeing events that hadn't happened yet or even past events that were unconnected to the seer had no logical explanation.

Still, he didn't say a word.

The desperate hope his mother was trying to mask slew him, and if Syssi could help her, he would never stand in her way.

Annani turned a grateful smile at Syssi. "If you wish to try, by all means, but there was a reason I did not turn to you first, my sweet child. Your visions are about the now or the future, not the distant past. Jacki might have been able to take a peek if I had anything of Khiann's I could give her to hold, but regrettably, I have nothing of his."

Kian frowned. "Why not? Didn't you take some mementos from your time together when you fled to the north?"

"There was no time. I knew that I would need to start a new civilization and to do that, I would need knowledge I did not possess. My first priority was to find Ekin's tablet and steal it." She sighed. "I took some jewelry to barter with, and I used it wisely over the years. Keeping my children and grandchildren fed and sheltered was more important than keeping Khiann's gifts. I have never assigned much value to possessions." Her eyes suddenly widened. "What about the Odus? They were also a gift from my Khiann. I could ask Jacki to touch them."

Syssi pursed her lips. "Jacki can definitely try, but I doubt it will work with the Odus. Then again, Jacki saw what happened to Wonder just from touching the little statue someone had made of her as Gulan, so maybe she can pull it off." Syssi cast a sidelong glance at Kian. "It's a shame the amulet is depleted of power. Jacki could have used it to amplify her ability."

Annani shook her head. "That thing was evil. Even if it still held its potency, I would not resort to using it for this purpose. My Khiann was all bright light and love. To seek him through an instrument of darkness would be an affront to his memory."

Kian nodded in agreement. "I wouldn't use that thing either. I hope that Kalugal stored it somewhere safe so no evil can find it and use it to amplify its darkness."

His mother cast him a loving smile and reached for his hand. "You might not be Khiann's son, but I named you after him not just because I wanted to honor his memory, but because I saw so much of him in you, even when you were still a baby. You grew up to be just like him in so many ways. Your strength, compassion, and sense of justice, even your sense of humor. You also love your wife as fiercely as he loved me."

Kian felt his throat tighten with emotion. "Thank you. I'm honored to carry his name, and I hope Syssi or Jacki can help find him or at least find out what fate befell him."

Annani squeezed his hand. "I know it is not easy for you to watch your mate surrender to the visions, and I appreciate it."

Syssi leaned back in her chair. "If it wasn't so late, I would do it now, but I'm tired, and it's never good to summon visions when I'm not fully rested."

Aru, who had listened to the exchange without saying a thing, pushed to his feet. "If my services are no longer required, I would like to retire for the night."

"Not yet," Kian said. "There is a matter I need to discuss with you before you go."

32

ANNANI

Annani had not expected Syssi to volunteer to induce a vision about Khiann, so she was not disappointed that her daughter-in-law did not wish to do so right away.

Well, not majorly disappointed.

When Annani had asked the oracle for help, she had been aware that Earth was obscured from her vision, but she had hoped that some events from the distant past were accessible to the Supreme Oracle of Anumati, and hearing that they were not had been deeply disappointing. In comparison, Syssi's delay in doing so was inconsequential.

Annani had no doubt that her son's mate would do everything in her power to assist her. In fact, she would probably do more than she should and exhaust herself.

Leaning over, Annani took Syssi's hand. "Promise me to pace yourself and not force too many visions. If Khiann has waited five thousand years for me to realize that he might be alive, then he can wait a few more weeks."

Syssi nodded. "You know me too well, Clan Mother. I promise not to overdo it. If the Fates are willing, they will show me Khiann, and if they are not, no amount of pressure will force them to do so."

Aru had waited patiently for her to finish talking before turning to Kian. "What did you want to discuss?"

Kian raked his fingers through his hair. "It's late, so I will cut straight to the chase. I'm not comfortable hiding things from my sisters and sneaking around behind their backs. This connection is monumental on so many levels, and they are the leaders of this community as much as my mother and I are. If you want us to someday house the headquarters of the resistance, they and everyone else in my clan will have to be told, but everyone can wait. Right now, I just want to tell my sisters."

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