Page 45 of Dark Destiny: A New Thread in the Tapestry

Probably not.

Family events usually lasted longer than that, and with Sari and David present after so long without a visit, the stories would run late into the night.

Her children would understand if she excused herself early, though. They all knew how difficult it was to stay away from a truelove mate in time of need.

She glanced at Khiann, willing him to wake up, and when he did not, she rose to her feet and went down the row of beds.

She started at the far end, the way she always did, with the guard Esag had possibly identified. He was awake now, which did not surprise her because he was awake more often than the other three.

"Good afternoon," she said. "In case you have forgotten who I am since the last time I introduced myself, I am Annani, daughter of Ahn and Nai. You are among friends, you are safe, and your name might be Adaluh."

Nothing moved in his face. He stared at her as if she was talking in a foreign language.

"Do not worry," she said, forcing a smile. "In time, you will remember and tell me your name yourself."

She went through the motions with the second, the third, and the fourth.

John Doe Number Four had begun making sounds again, and Julian had raised the back of his hospital bed to encourage him. He was working his mouth with real determination, but what came out was still not a word in any language she had ever heard. It was baby talk spoken in an adult voice, but at least he was capable of making sounds.

Khiann still could not do that.

Behind her, the machine beside his bed changed its rhythm, indicating that he was waking up, and her heart rate accelerated as it usually did when he returned to her.

She reached his bed right as his eyes started to open, and as they found her, the expression on his face was the best part of her day.

It was recognition, but not the kind she had been hoping for. He recognized her as the female who sat by his side and told him stories, not the truelove mate who had been waiting for his return for thousands of years. And yet, it seemed as if everything in him settled every time he saw her, as if everything in his world was good when his eyes found her, and that was enough.

"Good morning." She took his hand. "It is three-thirty in the afternoon, but I promised to call every waking a good morning."

He raised his eyebrows.

He had learned that only yesterday and was using it constantly now.

She loved it.

"Did you sleep well?"

One squeeze.

"Did you have good dreams?"

Two squeezes.

It was her turn to frown. "Did you dream at all?"

Two squeezes.

She let out a breath. "That is good. I was afraid you had a nightmare." She sat down in her chair with his hand still clutched in hers.

"Bridget asked me to run a test, so we will start with that. Do you remember the visitor you had yesterday?"

One squeeze.

Annani felt her glow intensify.

"Do you remember his name?"

Two squeezes.