46. Ell-rom

46

ELL-ROM

A t the mention of Annani, Ell-rom felt tension creep back into his shoulders. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, realizing how close it was getting to her visit. "We should clear the table, and I should brush my teeth again."

Jasmine reached across the table, placing her hand over his. "Relax and finish your dinner. I'll take care of clearing up while you clean your teeth."

"We don't have much time, and this room now smells of the food. I should have thought of that beforehand, and we should have eaten out in the reception room."

Jasmine's eyes suddenly lit up. "I have an idea. There is no reason for you to meet your sister here. You are no longer bed-bound, and you can meet her in a much more dignified manner." She waved a hand over him. "Especially since you look so suave."

"That is a great idea. We can all fit in the reception area."

Jasmine shook her head. "I have something better in mind. Kian has an office in the underground, and it has a nice conference table. We can all sit around the table, drink coffee and tea, maybe even get desserts from the café if it's still open." She reached over and took his hand. "You'll feel much more comfortable talking with your sister while sitting in a chair instead of lying in bed."

The idea of meeting Annani in a more formal setting appealed to him. After all, wasn't that the reason he had gotten dressed up?

Ell-rom wanted to look dignified, to be considered more as an equal, even if it was an illusion. He had nothing to offer Annani except his loyalty and friendship, and there was so much that he needed from her.

There was nothing equal about them.

"I like your idea."

Jasmine grinned. "Today it's the office, and tomorrow it's the penthouse. I convinced Bridget to let you go tomorrow. We will come back for rehab sessions and checkups a couple of times a day, but you can spend the rest of the time on a beautiful rooftop terrace, breathing the questionable city air and admiring the blue, cloudless sky." She gave his hand a light squeeze. "But most importantly, we will get to spend our nights in a big, comfortable bed." She gave him a sultry look that had the blood heat up in his veins.

"I can't wait." He squeezed her hand back. "But please refrain from making suggestive comments until after my meeting with the Clan Mother."

Her laugh sounded a little evil, which made it doubly sexy, and as he rose to his feet and reached for his walker, he was already sporting quite the bulge in his pants.

He shook his head. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Think of something else," Jasmine said as she collected the empty dishes and put one tray on top of the other. "Think about what Annani told you about the history of the gods on Earth."

That was good advice. He needed to remind himself of the things his sister had already told him so he wouldn't ask them again, and by doing so, he would distract himself from thinking about spending the night with Jasmine in a big bed and without a surveillance camera overhead.

Frankly, it was terrifying.

He had no idea what he was doing.

After brushing his teeth and making sure that his clothing was still clean, Ell-rom walked out of the bathroom, leaning only lightly on the walker. His leg muscles were still underdeveloped and weak, but he was gaining confidence in their ability to support his weight and enable his mobility.

When he emerged from the bathroom, Jasmine was waiting for him with a big smile on her face. "I asked Bridget to text Kian with my idea of meeting in his office, and he loved it. He and Annani are heading straight there, and since we need to allow more time for the walk over there, we should leave right now."

Ell-rom nodded. "Do you know the way?"

"I've been there only once." She wrapped her arm around his torso. "Before the Clan Mother came to see you, I was summoned to Kian's office for an official introduction. She probably didn't want me to start hyperventilating in front of you when I saw her. There is no mistaking what and who she is."

Ell-rom slanted her a glance. "But you've met gods before. You traveled with Aru and his companions to look for my pod. It shouldn't have been such a shock to meet Annani."

Jasmine chuckled. "Your sister is not like Aru and his friends. First of all, she glows, and they don't. Annani looks like what I imagined an angel would look like." She canted her head. "How does the word angel translate in your language?"

"Emissary, messenger, guardian spirit."

"That's about right. Anyway, she was very nice and welcomed me into her clan even though they can't be sure I can become immortal. The Clan Mother believes that I am a Dormant because of my witchy powers."

"I have no doubt that you will turn immortal."

By the time they arrived at a set of glass doors, he was a little out of breath, and the nice shirt was clinging to his back.

"Hold on," he said to stop Jasmine from going in. "I need to catch my breath."

"Of course." She smiled encouragingly. "You look so good that I keep forgetting that you are still recovering."

It was a very nice way to say that he was still weak without actually saying it and, at the same time, adding a compliment on top. It occurred to him that Jasmine had a natural knack for making people feel good about themselves.

He was so lucky to have her.

After a lifetime of misery, the Mother of All Life had rewarded him with a female who promised an eternity of joy.