Page 39 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
The stone bench near the cliff's edge had become her sanctuary over the years, even before Carol had arrived at the harem like an angel of freedom, attempted to rescue her, and realizing that Areana didn't want to be rescued, provided the means of communication with Annani that gave Areana the gift of a window into the world.
Before that, she'd been isolated, learning about global affairs years after they were no longer relevant. Navuh sought to shield her from the ugliness that he had a big hand in creating.
As she sat down on the sun-warmed stone, she allowed herself a moment to simply exist and gather her courage. Calling Annani from here while workers and guards werecrawling all over the place was an act of bravery she usually was too timid to attempt, but she had to let Annani know that she was okay.
Well, she was alive and unharmed, but she wasn't truly okay.
Areana had always wished she could live outside the harem as Navuh's official mate in his main mansion, the other ladies set free to find their own mates. But when she'd gotten part of her wish, she realized that she had been better off in the harem.
Perhaps it would have been different without the ladies living with them in the mansion, but then she wouldn't have anyone to talk to while Navuh was busy.
With a sigh, she casually glanced around to check if anyone was close enough to see what she was doing. A gardener was working in the distance, but he was human, and he wouldn't notice details from where he was. Otherwise, it seemed that she was alone. The cliff area was mostly rocky terrain and didn't require maintenance except for cleaning the benches of bird droppings from time to time. It was also out of the way and noisy because of the waves crashing on the rocks below.
It was a perfect spot to contact her sister.
Her purse was resting in her lap, and she reached into the hidden pocket. Her fingers brushed against the tiny earpiece that was her lifeline to the outside world, to Annani, to her sons.
She needed to do this quickly. Just to let Annani know thatshe was okay and not to engage in the fifteen- to twenty-minute conversation as she usually did.
Under normal circumstances, Tula would be with her, and if anyone overheard Areana talking, they would assume she was talking to Tula.
She should have brought her with her, but Tula had seemed so desperate for those few minutes with Tony that Areana hadn't had the heart to tear her away from him. If she didn't know better, Areana would have thought that Tula loved the man.
Hopefully, she only needed his solace because she was distraught about the displacement and everything else that was going on. It was incredibly foolish to fall for a human, and Tula was not a fool.
Areana pulled out the earpiece and put the device into her ear. Her long hair hid it from view, and the second part of the device, which was a pendant, was hidden inside the bodice of her dress. She touched the pendant, activating the connection.
"Lady Areana," William's voice came through clearly and wonderfully familiar. "I'm so glad you called. We were all worried when you missed your scheduled call."
"I don't have much time," Areana said softly, her lips barely moving. Years of practice had taught her to speak without being obvious about it. "I need to speak with Annani immediately."
"Of course. I'm patching you through."
The brief pause felt endless. Then?—
"Areana!" Annani's voice burst through the earpiece, full of barely controlled emotion. "Thank the merciful Fates! I've been beside myself. Are you hurt? Has anything happened? We were?—"
"Annani, please," Areana interrupted. "I don't have much time."
"I am sorry. Please go on."
"There was a flood in the harem." She kept her voice down, and her head was bent low so her hair was blocking the view of her face. "The underground structure was compromised. Everyone survived, but we've been relocated temporarily, and I couldn't get to the cliff. The place is crawling with workers and guards, so I'm taking a huge risk talking to you."
"Just tell me if you are safe."
"I'm safe," she assured her sister. "We all are. The ladies, everyone. Navuh has moved us to his primary residence while repairs are made."
"That must be difficult for you and the others."
Trust Annani to understand immediately. The harem, for all its restrictions, had been their domain. The mansion was Navuh's territory.
"It's temporary," Areana said. "I'll contact you when I can, but it may be weeks between calls." She felt a prickle of awareness, as if someone was watching her from behind. "Don't worry if you don't hear from me."
"How can I not worry? You are asking me to?—"
"I have to go." The prickle had intensified. "I'll be in touch when possible. Give my love to the boys."
She ended the call, removing the earpiece with the same casual movements she'd used to insert it. Into the purse it went, hidden once more in its secret pocket. Her fingers were already reaching for her embroidery, pulling out the long black ribbon she'd been working on for weeks.
