Page 43 of Dark Witch: Entangled Fates

Aru's eyes blazed with anger. "I thought that I was clear on that. You've already betrayed my trust by telling your mate, and now you want to tell your sisters?"

"If I'm talking with you about it, I'm not betraying your trust. I know that you want to protect your sister, but you are being irrational. At some point, we will have to share this with them, and you know it. Does it really matter if we do it now or in a few months? The only thing we will achieve is mistrust. My sisters will not be happy to discover that they have been kept in the dark for so long."

Closing his eyes, Aru let out a breath. "What about their mates?"

Kian met his hard gaze with an equally hard one of his own. "My sisters and their mates are one and the same. None of them will betray you."

Indecision clouded Aru's eyes. "I did not tell my mate about my connection with my sister. If we are to include your sisters and their mates, then I will have to tell Gabi as well. She is my partner, and I cannot in good conscience keep this from her while sharing it with your entire family."

"Of course," Kian said. "I don't know why you kept it from her so far."

Aru's brows went up, and the look he gave Kian had her son avert his eyes. What was that about? Was it about Kian keeping from Syssi the knowledge of what a god's blood could do?

Annani would find out later, but right now she needed to find a compromise that would keep Aru from losing his mind. "I have an idea," she said. "If it would set your mind at ease, I could use compulsion to ensure the silence of my daughters and their mates on the matter. I do not like controlling the minds of others, least of all my children, but I am willing to do so to alleviate your concerns."

"That is an interesting proposition," Aru said. "How strong is your compulsion ability, Clan Mother?"

"Strong," Kian answered for her.

"What about Toven?" Annani asked. "He might be crucial to the success of our future goals, and he should be in the know as well."

Aru's expression turned pensive. "Can you compel Toven?"

"I've never tried," she admitted. "But he is a very strong compeller in his own right, so I probably have no power over him, but I trust him implicitly. Ultimately, however, I leave the decision in your hands."

Aru was silent for a long moment. "Let's keep Toven in the dark for now. We can always include him later when we actually need him. The same is true for your daughters, Clan Mother, but I understand that family dynamics might become problematic if we keep this from them."

"It is not about family dynamics," Kian said. "In the grand scheme of things, this affects everyone in the clan."

"I could host a family lunch tomorrow," Annani suggested before turning to Aru. "You and Gabi are invited, of course, but perhaps it would be a good idea for you to inform Gabi beforehand. She is your mate, and she might feel slighted at not being told first."

"You are right, Clan Mother. I will speak with Gabi beforehand."

"Is there anything else we need to discuss?" Syssi glanced at her watch. "It's nearly three o'clock in the morning."

"I believe we are done." Annani looked at Kian, and when he nodded, she added, "I will make the arrangements for lunch tomorrow. Will one o'clock in the afternoon work for you?"

When Aru nodded, Kian turned to Syssi. "Did you make any plans for tomorrow?"

She smiled. "Other than chasing a vision of Khiann? No. I didn't." She walked over to Annani and embraced her. "If he's alive, we will find him. I promise."

33

JASMINE

Jasmine woke up alone.

She hadn't expected Edgar to spend the night in her narrow bed, but she'd hoped he would stay despite the cramped space. He could have spooned her or held her to his chest, and in the morning, they could have shared breakfast in the dining room.

With a sigh, Jasmine turned on her back and draped her arm over her eyes. She was no stranger to disappointment, and as usual, she found a way to look on the bright side.

Edgar couldn't have joined her for breakfast because he wasn't allowed in the staff dining room, where the rescued women ate. Not that it made any sense to her since the male staff members used the place, but that was the rule, and he couldn't break it.

Poor women, though. It wasn't hard to see that something terrible had happened to them. Their eyes were haunted, hopeless, and Jasmine found it painful to look at them.

Thank the goddess that she hadn't chosen a career as a therapist or a social worker. She would have sucked at it. There were only two ways Jasmine knew how to make people happy. One was acting or singing, and the other was sex.

She also sucked at finding love, but that was beside the point. She should be glad for everything that the goddess had given her.

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