Page 71 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"They lied to us about everything," she murmured. "You are the proof."

Yaaf's hand tightened around Sullha's other one, and across the bed Tula lowered her phone for a second, wiped her face with the back of her wrist, then lifted it again.

"Can I have a cut?" Tomek asked.

Every head turned toward the foot of the bed.

"You'll have to wait until you're thirteen," Julian said. "That is when boys have their ceremonies. You can decide then whether you want the test. Some boys do. Some boys don't."

"I want it," Tomek said. "And I want someone to measure the time and someone else to record it."

"Then you'll get it." Julian ruffled his hair.

Tomek pouted. "I'll have to wait a long time."

"Nothing to be done about that," Merlin said. "You'll need to be patient."

Julian straightened. "Welcome to immortality, Sullha. Congratulations."

Then he turned toward the open door. "Sullha is the first of the enclosure ladies to transition. Let's see who is next." He looked at Sullha. "Can you translate?"

"He says I am the first of us. He asks who is next."

There were no volunteers, but that was because the other women did not yet have immortal lovers lined up to facilitate their transition. It was something that Sullha would need to start working on once she was back to her usual level of activity.

The waiting room was still full when she walked out, Tomek's hand clasped in hers.

The women wanted to see her palm, taking turns touching the unmarred skin.

"Congratulations," Tula said. "From all of us."

Anita and Mattie hugged her.

Petrov kissed her on both cheeks and said that they should meet at the bar soon, and that he was buying the drinks.

Then she was through the door, and outside, and the light was too much. Every leaf on the bushes and trees was a different shade of green, and the path itself was made of thousands of individual pebbles, gray and white and brown.

She could hear Tomek breathing beside her, the small, quick rhythm of it, in and out, in and out, and when she listened harder, she also heard his heartbeat.

This would take some getting used to.

26

ANNANI

"The nurse is here to see Master Khiann," Ogidu announced. "Should I escort her in?"

"Of course." Annani put down her teacup. "I thought she would stop by later, but now is good as well." She glanced at Khiann. "If it is all right with you."

"The earlier the better. I have the most energy in the mornings."

Ogidu bowed and, a moment later, escorted Gertrude into the living room.

"Good morning, Clan Mother, Khiann." Gertrude set her bag down. "Thank you for letting me come early. Julian discharged Sullha even before the ceremony, so she left as soon as it was over, and I got to finish my day earlier."

"Everything went well, I presume?" Annani asked.

"Very well. Sullha clocked in at forty-eight seconds from cut to clean skin, and she walked out of the clinic holding her son's hand on one side and her mate's on the other. The young have it the easiest."