Dark Awakening: Echoes of Destiny (The Children Of The Gods #88)

68. Jasmine

68

JASMINE

J asmine's heart soared as she rushed down the podium steps, her eyes fixed on the familiar faces of Margo, Frankie, and Gabi. The sight of her friends was an unexpected and delightful surprise, pushing aside the fatigue, the stress, and the overwhelming nature of the day's events.

"Oh my Goddess!" She threw her arms around all three of them. "What are you doing here? This is amazing!"

Margo laughed, returning the hug with equal enthusiasm. "Did you really think we'd miss your big debut?"

"Gilbert brought us," Gabi said.

"I'm so happy you are here." Jasmine let go of her friends and took a step back. "But I'm surprised Kian allowed it."

Margo threaded her arm through Jasmine's. "Kian gave his permission for all of us to come over whenever we want, as long as we get someone to give us a ride."

That made sense. Only clan vehicles were equipped with self-driving navigation and windows that locked and turned opaque upon approaching the village to preserve its secret location.

"Did you see Rob already?" she asked Margo.

"I did. He looks much better already, and he's made some new friends."

"Female friends?" Jasmine asked.

Margo smiled. "Yeah, but nothing romantic yet."

Jasmine looked around, her eyes scanning for Mia. She found her on the podium with Toven, talking with Ell-rom and a couple of other immortals who looked vaguely familiar.

Ella approached with a warm smile on her face. "Welcome to the village, Jasmine." She pulled her into an embrace. "And may I say, you look stunning. I didn't know you could clean up so nicely."

"Hey!" Jasmine pretended offense. "I dressed nicely on the cruise when I was finally allowed to attend a wedding."

Ella winced. "Sorry, but I didn't pay attention. All those fancy gowns turned into one big blur."

"True." Jasmine ran her hands on the sides of her pantsuit, enjoying the feel of the solidity of luxurious fabric. "I wanted to make a grand entrance so people would remember me."

"Goal achieved." Ella clapped her on her back and then looked at her shoes. "I was wondering how you got so freakishly tall. Can you even walk with these on the grass?"

"I can, with much effort."

"Hello, Jasmine." Bridget joined their little circle. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."

She wondered if Bridget had heard about the mugging and what Ell-rom had done. "It has been exciting over at the keep. I assume that Julian kept you posted."

Bridget nodded. "Indeed. I'm glad that it all ended well."

As they chatted, more people began to approach, and Jasmine recognized many faces from the cruise, but the names blurred together in a whirlwind of introductions. She smiled and nodded, doing her best to keep up with the flood of new information.

Amidst the flurry of greetings, Jasmine's gaze was drawn to a group clustered near the stage. The Kra-ell stood apart, their eyes fixed on Ell-rom, some with curiosity in their eyes, others with trepidation.

The sight sent a chill down her spine.

Leaning close to Margo, she whispered, "I'm worried about Ell-rom. Some of these people thought of him and Morelle as abominations. Is he really safe here?"

Margo followed her gaze, frowned, and then turned to look at her. "They look scary, but the Clan Mother compelled all the residents of the village not to harm one another, and today, she added a compulsion to keep Ell-rom and Morelle's existence a secret. She wouldn't have brought her brother and sister here if she didn't believe that she could keep them safe."

Despite Margo's reassurances, Jasmine couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease. She knew the power of compulsion and had experienced it firsthand, but the intensity in some of the Kra-ell's eyes spoke of deep-seated beliefs that might not be so easily overcome.

As the introductions continued, she became increasingly aware of the strain her choice of footwear was putting on her feet. The spiky heels, while perfect for making a grand entrance, were making things difficult for her. She was putting pressure only on her toes to avoid sinking into the soft ground, and it was tiring.

She needed to sit down, but before she left to look for a bench or a chair, she needed to check on Ell-rom and see if he needed her help.

He was still on the stage, standing with Annani and graciously greeting a seemingly endless stream of well-wishers. Despite the obvious signs of being fatigued, he carried himself with a regal bearing, his back straight as he shook hands and smiled at each new face.

A surge of pride welled up in Jasmine's chest.

Ell-rom looked every inch the prince he was, handling the pressure with an innate grace that belied his lack of experience.

"He's doing great," Margo said, following Jasmine's gaze. "Why don't we let him do his thing for now? You look like you could use a break and maybe get some food."

At the mention of food, Jasmine's stomach gave an appreciative rumble. She realized that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, the excitement of the day pushing aside thoughts of hunger until now.

Margo led the way to a buffet table laden with an array of appetizers. The spread was impressive, and after they all piled up their plates, they found an empty table.

Jasmine sank gratefully into a chair, kicking her shoes off and wiggling her achy toes.

As she popped the first tiny treat into her mouth, she scanned the village square, which was alive with activity, laughter, and countless excited conversations. The atmosphere was joyous, but Jasmine noticed the undercurrents of tension, particularly among the Kra-ell attendees.

Evidently not everyone was ecstatic about welcoming Ell-rom and Morelle.

As for her, Jasmine doubted anyone had particular feelings about her, either positive or negative. She wasn't important enough.

As her gaze landed on Jade, standing off to the side and constantly scanning the crowd like a stern sentinel, Jasmine didn't miss the Kra-ell leader's hand hovering near what appeared to be a sheathed knife.

The sight of her did little to ease Jasmine's concerns.

"Is Jade worried about Ell-rom's safety?" she asked, nodding in the Kra-ell female's direction.

Frankie followed her gaze and shrugged. "Jade is always on alert. It's just her way. But I wouldn't read too much into it. This village is probably the safest place on Earth for Ell-rom or anyone else."

Jasmine wondered whether it was true. The clan had enemies who wanted to annihilate it, and therefore, it was never safe, no matter where it hid. She wondered where on Earth could qualify for the title of the most secure place, but each time she thought of one, she found ways to undermine that security in some way.

Bottom line, there was no such thing, and safety was an illusion.

"So," Gabi said as she pulled Jasmine from her reverie, "how does it feel to be welcomed like the mate of a prince?"

Jasmine laughed. "Honestly? It's a little surreal. I mean, look at all of this." She gestured to the gathering around them.

"You certainly play the part well," Margo said.

"Thank you." Jasmine dipped her head. "I'm always appreciative of hearing praise for my performance."

"Is that all it is?" Frankie asked. "A performance?"

"Of course." Jasmine picked up another salmon roll. "I'm not a real princess. I'm a nobody from nowhere."