Page 14 of Dark Princess: Shadows

The prince's genuine bewilderment caught Brandon off guard, reminding him of just how much of Earth's culture and idioms were foreign to Ell-rom.

Brandon laughed, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders. "It's just a saying. It means that it's difficult to teach new things to those who are entrenched in their old ways."

"Oh." Ell-rom's face cleared, and he smiled. "Now it makes sense." He turned to look at Morelle, his expression softening with concern. "I should get back to Jasmine. I didn't mean to be away from her for so long."

Brandon rose to his feet. "I hope it's okay with you that I stay a little longer. I was in the middle of telling Morelle a story."

To his surprise, Ell-rom extended his hand. "Stay as long as you wish. If it helps draw Morelle out of her coma, I will be forever in your debt."

Brandon shook the offered hand. "Thank you for allowing me to stay."

Ell-rom nodded, giving Brandon another hesitant smile before turning to leave.

As the door closed behind the prince, Brandon let out a long breath and sank back into his chair beside Morelle's bed.

The glimpse of the power he'd witnessed was terrifying, and he wondered now whether he had imagined it. The prince was half Kra-ell, and the Kra-ell's eye color changed according to their feelings. Brandon didn't remember what all the different colors signified, but red was probably anger and aggression.

Not that Ell-rom's eyes had been red. They'd looked as if they were reflecting the fires of hell.

Brandon chuckled, blaming his overactive dramatic imagination.

His gaze drifted to Morelle's peaceful face. "Your brother certainly knows how to make an entrance." He shook his head. "I have a feeling your story is going to be even more interesting than I initially thought."

He needed to talk to Kian and tell him what he had seen. Kian was a straight shooter, and if there was something he knew about Ell-rom, he might try to hide it, but he wouldn't lie about it when confronted.

It just wasn't how Kian rolled.

If he confirmed Brandon's suspicion, the council needed to be informed about Ell-rom's capabilities.

For now, though, he had a story to finish.

"Where were we?" he asked Morelle, his voice taking on the warm, engaging tone of a storyteller. "Ah yes, I was telling you about the first moon landing and the origins of the conspiracy theories the event provoked."

10

ANNANI

Annani stood by the large window in her living room, her gaze sweeping over the meticulously maintained greenery outside. The midday sun cast a warm glow over the rose bushes surrounding her front porch and the rows of rosemary growing along the pathway with their woody stems and tiny blue flowers.

Her Odus moved around her, setting the long table for the family lunch in their usual quiet manner.

She looked forward to having her children and grandchildren gathered around her, but she regretted not having Morelle, Ell-rom, and Jasmine join them.

With a sigh, Annani reached into the hidden pocket of her gown, pulled out her phone, and called Bridget.

The doctor usually did not work on weekends, but Annani knew she was in the clinic supervising Jasmine and Morelle in person because she knew how important they were to her.

"Clan Mother," the physician answered. "What can I do for you?"

"You are already doing a lot by being there and watching over Morelle and Jasmine. How are they?"

"No change. Both are still unconscious, but their vitals are strong. You are not going to lose either of them on my watch."

Annani was taken aback. That was such an odd thing for Bridget to say. "I do not doubt that for a moment. I expect both of them to make it. My concern iswhenthey will wake up, not if they will."

"I know." Bridget sighed. "It's just that Ell-rom is panicking, and I've gotten used to repeating those words to calm him down. I wish I could give him a relaxant, but he refuses."

Annani winced. "I did not expect him to react so strongly. Kian and I did our best to downplay the risks of transition, not to worry him."

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