Dark Princess: Shadows (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance #89)

52. Ell-rom

52

ELL-ROM

E ll-rom stood at another unfamiliar intersection, frustration mounting as he realized he'd gotten turned around again. The paths in this section of the village all looked the same to him, lined with identical manicured shrubs and the occasional bench.

His mind had been so preoccupied with worry for Jasmine and excitement about Morelle that he'd barely paid attention to where he was going, and his sense of direction wasn't great.

What had happened to the Guardians who were supposed to be watching him? Had Kian dismissed them? Or were they hiding in the perfectly trimmed bushes, amusing themselves by watching him wander in circles?

The sound of gravel crunching under wheels made him step aside to let a golf cart pass, but instead of continuing on, it slowed to a stop beside him.

"Get in," Kian said from the driver's seat. "I was late too, so I grabbed the cart."

Relief flooded through Ell-rom as he climbed in beside his nephew. The relationship still felt strange. He was an uncle to someone who had much more life experience than him and led a community with natural authority. "No bodyguards?"

"Don't need them in the village." Kian guided the cart around a curve.

"What about the Guardians who are supposed to watch over me?"

"There's only one now, and he's trailing you." Kian looked into the shrubs as if he could see a Guardian galloping through them to keep up with the cart.

Ell-rom scanned their surroundings as well, seeing nothing but pristine landscaping and empty paths. "I can't see him. And if he's around, couldn't he have told me I was walking in the wrong direction?"

"He's probably taking a shortcut to my mother's house. He knows that we are heading there. And as for not pointing you in the right direction, he was told to keep his distance. I want to see if anyone tries anything when they think you're on your own. If nothing suspicious happens by the end of the week, I'm going to remove the last Guardian assigned to you. We need them for other things."

"What about my sister? Is anyone watching over her?"

"Same protocol as you, and it will also remain in effect only until the end of this week."

Something dark lurked behind Kian's polite expression, a tension that suggested problems Ell-rom wasn't privy to. He decided not to press. Kian would share what he deemed necessary, and since Ell-rom was not one of his advisors, if he had any, he wouldn't tell him anything even if he asked.

Besides, Ell-rom had enough worries of his own without taking on whatever was troubling Kian.

"How is Jasmine doing?" Kian asked.

"According to Bridget, she's doing well." Ell-rom shifted in the seat. "She's grown a full inch so far, and I know she's not going to be happy about it."

"Why not?" Kian frowned. "She's tall, but not even as tall as Amanda. Another inch isn't going to make much of a difference."

"I know," Ell-rom sighed. "And I don't mind if she grows even five inches taller. I'm just worried that she won't like it."

A knowing smile crossed Kian's face. "Here is what you should do. The moment she wakes up, tell her how beautiful she is and keep saying it until she has no choice but to believe you. She won't even notice the additional inches."

The simple advice struck Ell-rom as profound. Jasmine was always beautiful to him, whether she was dressed up for a formal occasion or just waking up in the morning. He needed to remember to tell her that as often as he could.

"I miss her voice," he admitted. "Her laugh. The way her eyes light up when she's excited about something." He looked up at the sun through the canopy of trees. "She is my sunshine."

"She'll wake up soon," Kian assured him. "The fact that she is growing is an excellent sign and probably the reason she hasn't woken up yet. Can you imagine how hard her body is working to make her grow an inch in just a few days? Not only that but if she had been awake, she would have been very uncomfortable. It hurts to grow so rapidly."

Ell-rom nodded. "Bridget said the same thing."

As Kian stopped the cart in front of Annani's house, Ell-rom spotted Morelle through the large living room window. She was sitting on the couch beside Annani, looking animated as she told Annani something. She waved her hands to accompany her story.

"Morelle retained her memories. I yearn for time to sit with her and talk about our life on Anumati, but I can't leave Jasmine's side, and Brandon is monopolizing Morelle's time. Not that I begrudge him it. She is awake, thanks to him. I just want the opportunity to get to know my twin sister."