Page 8 of Dark Destiny: A New Thread in the Tapestry

When he opened the door, the strategist frowned. "Has something happened?"

"Something has." Kian smiled. "Khiann is awake."

For a moment, Turner didn't respond. Then he let out a breath. "That's good. That's very good. I was concerned. The Clan Mother is the heart of the clan. If she had lost him again, she might not have recovered, and the consequences of that would have been far-reaching."

Kian nodded. "I feared the same thing, but the Fates were merciful, and he's awake."

"I was trying to come up with a contingency for that," Turner said. "I realized that Alena stepping up to the position was the only choice, but she could never fill Annani's shoes. So I'm relieved, and I'm happy for the Clan Mother. I'd appreciate it if you'd tell her so."

Kian chuckled. "Alena can't fit into our mother's shoes. Her feet are too big."

As he'd expected, Turner didn't laugh, but Shai did.

"I apologize for bailing on you. Can we meet an hour from now?"

Turner shook his head. "I can't. I will let you know when I can come again."

"Please do."

Taking the stairs two at a time, Kian rushed through the lobby and pushed through the glass doors hard enough that they banged against their stops behind him. Luckily, the glass didn't shatter.

The café outside was full of people, and as he strode toward the clinic, faster than he normally did, every head turned, and then the murmurs began.

Everyone knew what was happening in the clinic's basement, so they were probably speculating about what could have prompted him to rush there, but he had no time to stop and tell them the good news.

Besides, he wanted to confirm it first.

Hildegard was coming out of the clinic's front door as he reached it, and she flattened herself against the frame to let him pass.

"Basement," she said.

"I know."

He took the stairs down, and at the bottom, pushed through the double doors into the converted operating room.

The ward was quiet, with Julian standing at the monitors, his back to the door, and Bridget bent over the far bed, a penlight in her hand.

Alena turned as he came through the doors, and she crossed the room, meeting him halfway and hitting his chest hard enough to rock him back on his heels.

"You came."

"Of course I came." He wrapped his arms around his sister and held on. "Is he still awake?"

She shook her head. "He was awake for about twenty minutes. His eyes were open and tracking, but he didn't seem to understand what Mother was saying to him. Nevertheless, he's in there. His gaze wasn't vacant, and he managed to communicate quite a lot with just subtle facial expressions."

That was a relief. If Khiann had woken up a vegetable, it would have been even worse than if he hadn't woken up at all.

He rubbed Alena's back, let her hold on, and looked past the top of her head at their mother.

Annani was sitting in the chair beside the middle bed, the same one she had occupied every day for the past three weeks. She was as composed as ever, at least on the outside, and smiling. She held Khiann's hand in one of hers. The other was pressed over her own heart as she watched him and Alena embrace.

The glow she emitted was stronger than ever, bright enough to illuminate the ward, and it betrayed how high her emotions were running.

"Alena." Kian untangled himself from his sister's arms. "I need to go to Mother."

"Yes. Of course." She released him and wiped under her eyes with both thumbs. "I'm fine. Go."

Kian crossed the distance to his mother and crouched beside her chair so their faces were level. He put one arm around her slender shoulders and drew her in, careful not to jostle the hand that stayed wrapped around Khiann's.