Page 14 of Dark Rover's Luck

Annani was sure that the older girls had been told how transition was induced in females. "It is simpler for boys," she said. "They do not need to fall in love with their inducers."

Azadeh shrugged. "Neither do the girls. We are no longer restricted, and I am eighteen, which means that I'm free to choose my inducer."

Annani glanced at Rana, who surprised her by nodding.

"We are in the West now, and I support Azadeh's freedom of choice. I hope she chooses responsibly, but I don't expect her to get married first." She grimaced. "I wish I had had that choice. I would have never married my husband." She took her daughter's hand. "But then I wouldn't have had you, so it was worth it after all."

8

KYRA

After the children had been lured inside by Ogidu with the promise of watching a brand-new animated movie in the living room, the terrace became considerably quieter. Only Cyra remained, still clinging to her mother, and Essa, who also seemed reluctant to leave his mother's side.

"Essa, why don't you join the others?" Yasmin suggested. "We want to talk about grown-up stuff."

The boy hesitated, casting a wary glance at Annani, then turning his gaze to his mother. "Are you sure, Maman?"

"Yes," she assured him. "Go. Enjoy yourself."

With a final concerned glance at his mother, Essa nodded and hurried inside.

Kyra watched the exchange with a mixture of sadness and admiration. The boy had assumed the role of protector since his father's death, a burden no sixteen-year-old should have to bear.

"You have remarkable children," the Clan Mother said when only the adults and little Cyra remained. "Their resilience is extraordinary."

"They've no choice," Soraya said.

Kyra leaned forward. "My sisters have many questions about what the future holds for them and their children here."

"I will gladly answer them all," the goddess promised. "But some answers are better absorbed slowly. There is no rush. You have time."

"We left everything behind." Parisa's voice held an undercurrent of grief. "Our homes, our possessions, my late husband's grave." She glanced at Yasmin. "Yasmin and the children didn't even get to bury Javad. I hope his extended family has given him a proper burial."

"They did," Yasmin said, her voice shaking, but her tears held at bay. "I asked Kyra to check. Javad's older brother took care of the arrangements. Fareed and Hamid went into hiding after what they assumed were the abductions of their families, so they didn't come to the funeral."

"I understand the weight of your loss," Annani said softly. "No place, however beautiful or safe, can erase that pain."

Kyra knew that the Clan Mother was talking from experience. Her own husband had been supposedly murdered by an insane god who had wanted the goddess for himself.

The god Mortdh had been obsessed with wedding Annani, not because he'd loved her but because she was the heir to the throne. As her husband, he would have gotten to rule by her side, and later, after he'd gotten rid of her, as a sole ruler over all the gods.

Kyra had told her sisters about the goddess's quest and what she wanted her to do, so Yasmin knew that the Clan Mother wasn't talking about the pain of loss as an observer but as someone who still bled for her lost love.

"Can we leave if we want to?" Rana asked.

The Clan Mother sighed. "I wish I could tell you that you can leave whenever you feel like it, but that would be a lie. To protect the secret of our existence, no one can leave here with knowledge of us. If you choose to leave right now, you still can because your memories of this place are fresh and can still be erased. That window of opportunity usually closes within two weeks."

"Why would you want to leave?" Kyra asked her sister.

"I don't." Rana waved a dismissive hand. "I just wanted to know if I've traded one prison for another, and apparently, I did, but at least this one is much nicer than the old one and comes with fringe benefits like immortality and all living expenses paid."

Kyra didn't know what possessed her sister to say such things in front of the Clan Mother. She was a sarcastic type, but that was just rude.

"I think you owe the Clan Mother an apology. Her people saved you from Doomers who would have forced you into becoming a breeder, and you know what that would have entailed. They almost did that to your daughter, and if not for this community mobilizing its resources and risking its fighters, they would have succeeded. These people welcomed you with open arms and offered you a cushy lifestyle with immortality as a bonus. The last thing you should be doing is complaining about your lack of freedom."

Rana hung her head. "I apologize, Clan Mother. I realize that I've become a sharp-tongued and unpleasant woman because I was bitter and hated my life, but you saved me, and I'm grateful." She grimaced. "I guess I need reprogramming."

The goddess smiled benevolently. "I understand. You need time and counseling." She swept her gaze over Kyra and her sisters. "All of you can benefit from talking to Vanessa. I know she is extremely busy, but she might be able to squeeze in a video call here and there. It is not as good as talking face to face, but it is better than nothing, and perhaps it is easier in a way."

---