Page 18 of Dark Princess: Shadows

"I will."

After she left, Brandon tried to banish thoughts of all the ways he would one day stimulate Morelle's body while engaging her mind, but the harder he tried, the more vivid the images became.

He was cursed with a very vivid visual imagination, which made him a great movie producer, but was giving him a most inappropriate hard-on now.

13

ANNANI

At the sound of the doorbell ringing, Annani schooled her features into a warm, welcoming expression, pushing her worries to the back of her mind. There would be time for heavy discussions later when she revealed Ell-rom's talent to the rest of her children. For now, she would focus on enjoying the presence of her loved ones.

As Kian and Syssi entered, little Allegra squirming in her father's arms, Annani broke into a grin. "Come to Nana, sweetheart." She took the child from Kian.

"Mother." Kian leaned in to kiss her cheek. "How is your day going so far?"

Annani hugged Allegra to her chest and kissed her granddaughter's soft blond curls. "It has just gotten infinitely better." She accepted a slobbery kiss from Allegra. "There is nothing in the universe that can rival the joy of holding my grandchild in my arms."

The girl giggled, a sound of pure joy that seemed to lighten the air around them. "Nana," she said in a tone that sounded like she thought her grandma was being silly.

"It is true." Annani kissed her cheek. "Wait until you are a grandmother, and we will talk then. You will agree with me." She lifted the child so she could look into her eyes. "Children are wonderful, but grandchildren are like the icing on the cake or the cherry on top."

"I bet," Syssi said. "All the fun without all the work."

"Precisely." Annani returned Allegra to her father. "You look troubled, my son. What is amiss now?"

Syssi laughed, stepping forward to kiss Annani's cheek. "He's working too hard, as usual."

Before Annani could respond, the door opened again, admitting Amanda and Dalhu with little Evie in her father's arms.

Evie was not as friendly as her cousin, and she clung to her father, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. At six months old, she was starting to babble a few words, but 'Nana' wasn't one of them.

Annani tried not to be disappointed, but she was. At the same age, Allegra had already been a big fan of her grandmother.

"My sweet little Evie," Annani cooed, pressing a kiss to Evie's back. "Do not be shy. Your Nana loves you."

"She loves you too, Mother." Amanda leaned to kiss Annani's cheek. "She is just shy around people. Put her around animals, though, and she becomes a different girl."

"Oh?" Annani lifted a brow. "How so?"

"She just adores animals," Dalhu said. "I took her on a walk in the stroller yesterday afternoon, and we bumped into Parker walking Scarlet. Evie had a whole conversation with that dog. I recorded some of it." He pulled out his phone. "Would you like to see?"

"Of course." Annani leaned closer.

Dalhu hadn't exaggerated. As Evie babbled happily to the dog, the golden retriever responded with joyful howls and furious wagging of her tail.

"Fascinating," Annani said. "Perhaps she has a special affinity with dogs."

"She might," Amanda said. "Dalhu is trying to convince me to adopt a puppy."

"That's a great idea." Syssi unceremoniously took Evie from her father. "We can adopt two puppies from the same family. Wouldn't that be great?"

"I'd prefer a kitten." Amanda leaned on Dalhu's arm. "They don't bark, and they do their business in a sandbox instead of having to be walked."

Dalhu shrugged. "I don't mind walking a dog. I can do that while taking Evie on a stroll."

As the doorbell rang again, all eyes turned to the door, and when Alena walked in with Orion and little Evander Tellesious sleeping in his carrier, it was hard to believe that he was only two weeks old. So much had happened since he had been born.

David and Sari were the last to join their gathering, even though they were staying in Annani's house. They had gone on a walk around the village and returned just in time for lunch.

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