Page 90 of Dark Destiny: A New Thread in the Tapestry

"Would you like some tea?" Areana asked in a deceptively calm tone.

"If you are having some, I will join you," Navuh answered in the same way, pretending he wasn't rattled by Kian's sudden visit.

Daniel had told them on the way back from the pool that the regent planned to see them later that day, but he couldn't say exactly when or why.

They were probably doing that on purpose to keep him off balance, and it was working.

A surprise visit from Kian after weeks of nothing from him or his mother could mean only one of two things. Either the clan wanted something from him, which was unlikely, since they had long since stopped believing he had anything worth taking. The other possibility was that they had news they wanted to watch him receive, and naturally, that news wasn't good, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered.

Thankfully, he could rule out anything happening to Lokan or Kalugal because Areana would have been told. He would never admit that it mattered to him what fate befell those two traitors, but it did. For better or worse, they were his blood, his and Areana's, and he couldn't stop caring even if he tried.

He could keep pretending, though.

"Sit with me," he told Areana when she served him tea. "And don't look so worried. Whatever this is, it probably has to do with the island, and Kian wants to gloat."

"I worry about the people on the island." She took the chair beside his. "You know that."

"Yes, I do. And I also know Kian wouldn't gloat over civilian deaths, so stop worrying."

She let out a breath, and the haunted look in her eyes dissipated. "You are right. He wouldn't."

"I'm always right."

Navuh shifted his legs beneath the blanket. The pool exercises were helping, and he was slowly regaining strength. He no longer bothered to hide it because there was no one left to hide it from. At first, he had guarded the secret like a coin to be spent when the moment came, but no one was asking how he was doing. Bridget had handed him to Areana and moved on to her other patients, and the great Lord Navuh had been filed away and forgotten in a converted cell covered with drawings of Annani's beautiful daughter.

When the door finally opened, and Kian entered with his two bodyguards, Navuh was surprised to feel excitement rather than dread. He was so isolated, deprived of contact with anyone but Areana and Daniel, that even the son of his enemy was a welcome break from the tedium of his existence.

The enormous red-haired bodyguard smiled and dipped his head to Areana, while the pale, silent one didn't acknowledge either of them.

"Kian." Navuh inclined his head the precise degree that acknowledged the regent's station and mocked it at the same time. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"I thought you would like an update about what is happening on the island." He pulled out a chair next to the table and glanced at Areana. "May I?"

"Of course." She set her cup down and rose to her feet. "Forgive me for forgetting my manners." She smiled at the two guards. "Please, make yourself comfortable on the couch."

The redhead inclined his head again and sat down, spreading his thighs as if he owned the place. The blond sat next to him with such economy of movement that it seemed to cost him.

"May I offer you some tea?" Areana asked.

"No, thank you. I'm not much of a tea person."

"Your mother is."

"I know." Kian smiled. "And my sisters share her enthusiasm for it, but I'm more of a coffee guy."

"I can brew coffee," Areana said. "I learned how."

Navuh wanted to roll his eyes and tell them both to drop the polite act and get down to business.

"I'll have some," Kian agreed. "Thank you."

As Areana started fussing with the coffeemaker, Kian leveled his gaze at Navuh.

"This morning, on the island, eighteen of the Brotherhood's senior command died in a single strike. Five of them were males you called sons. Shavek, Mazlen, Horek, Koshan, and Bokev."

All juniors he didn't care much for. They were mediocre at best and not fit to occupy positions of power.

"I see," he said. "Not a great loss, but I'm curious to hear how you did that."