Page 77 of Dark Rover's Luck

The butler stepped out of the vehicle with a broad smile plastered across his face and opened the passenger door with a flourish. "Please take your seats, mistresses and masters."

The interior of the SUV was luxuriously appointed, with buttery leather seats and more legroom than seemed possible from the vehicle's exterior dimensions. Fenella settled in between Din and Kyra, while Jasmine, Morelle, and Brandon took the row behind them.

"How far is the university?" Fenella asked as Okidu started the vehicle.

"The drive will take about ninety minutes, depending on traffic," Brandon said. "It shouldn't be too bad now, but we will crawl on the way back."

As they emerged from the tunnel and the windows cleared, Fenella pressed closer to the window, drinking in the sight of the outside world. After the pristine beauty of the village, the urban landscape should have seemed ugly, polluted, but to Fenella, it represented freedom, possibility, and the familiar rhythm of human life.

"I've always preferred cities to the countryside," she said. "There's an energy to them, a vitality."

"And plenty of places to disappear," Kyra added shrewdly.

Fenella glanced at her. "That too."

33

SYSSI

"There you are," Amanda called from across the lab as Syssi walked in. "I was beginning to think you'd decided to stay in the nursery."

"Allegra wouldn't let me go," Syssi said. "She was fussy and clingy and generally unhappy."

It had been difficult to leave her child in the hands of others when she was in such a lousy mood, but Amanda needed her help, so she'd practically peeled the crying Allegra off her and handed her to Julia.

Amanda nodded. "We need to watch the new assistant. If the girls don't like her, she has to go."

"Let's give her a few more days," Syssi said. "She seems nice, and Julia says that she's great with the kids. Allegra just doesn't like changes, and she misses the old assistant." She swept her gaze over the empty lab. "Where is everyone?"

"I sent them home for the day so we can do the tests without having to hide what we are doing. I said that we're having a facility inspection."

"Again? The university management might start asking questions if you keep doing that."

Amanda waved a dismissive hand. "The clan funds my research, the official and unofficial. The university is happy to give me free rein as long as the money keeps flowing and my papers keep getting published. Besides, founding the nursery bought me a lot of goodwill with the administration as well, especially after the glowing news article about how accommodating and family-friendly the establishment here is. My 'innovative childcare solution' is now featured in all their recruitment brochures."

Syssi smiled. "I have to admit that it is pretty amazing to be able to pop in and check on Allegra anytime I want. I wish more employers provided solutions like that. Perhaps it would encourage more women to have babies."

"Definitely." Amanda leaned against one of the desks and crossed her feet at the ankles. "Young couples just can't afford to have kids anymore, and if nothing is done to help them, we will soon be like Europe with an old and shrinking population."

"It's already happening," Syssi murmured. "People are not having enough children to preserve current numbers."

Amanda sighed. "Too many problems and too few solutions. I'm starting to feel like my mother."

Syssi lifted her head. "What do you mean?"

"You know how she is always the bastion of optimism?"

Syssi nodded. "That's why your comment is so startling. Has that changed?"

Amanda nodded. "She's talking about moving back to the sanctuary. She only talks like that when she feels unsettled and seeks solitude."

"I didn't know that. Annani always seems so strong. The strongest person I know."

"She is strong." Amanda smiled. "But everyone has their moments of weakness, even the indomitable Annani. I see through her façade. She also sees through mine."

"Mothers and daughters have a special connection." Syssi thought about Allegra and how she felt that unique link between them, even during the pregnancy, and later how she drew on her daughter's power when she summoned visions.

"There is something to your theory about Jasmine, Kyra, and Fenella enhancing each other's abilities. It's like Allegra and me and my visions."

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