74. The Prince

74

THE PRINCE

E ll-rom had so many questions.

When the assassins killed the exiles, what happened to the gold mining operations and the other gods that had been on Earth before their arrival?

How had Annani alone survived while all the other gods had perished? Perhaps she wasn't the only one, and other gods had survived as well?

He was about to voice his questions when he noticed Kian glaring at his mother. Why was he angry at her?

What had she said that he objected to?

Going over her story in his mind, the realization dawned on him like a crack of lightning. After Ahn's death, Annani, Ahn's only daughter from his official mate, became the only legitimate heir to the Anumati throne, which put her in great danger.

That was why Kian was so angry. He did not want her to reveal her status.

But who would Ell-rom tell? It wasn't as if he posed any threat to Annani or anyone else. He was a helpless male who had miraculously survived in stasis for far longer than should have been possible.

He wanted to tell Kian that he had nothing to worry about, but the anger and suspicion that flashed in his nephew's eyes gave him pause.

Wariness and mistrust radiated from Kian in palpable waves. He did not trust and did not welcome Ell-rom into their community with the same open arms as his mother.

Ell-rom did not blame Kian for his animosity. Annani, Kian's beloved mother, was a possible challenger to the Eternal King's throne, which put her in grave danger.

He, of course, would stand with Annani and defend his sister even if his loyalty came at the price of making an enemy of the most powerful being in the known universe.

So be it.

He and Morelle had been saved thanks to Annani's determination to find them. She had earned their loyalty.

Besides, what she offered them was priceless.

Annani offered them a family, a community that accepted him and Morelle as they were without passing judgment or discriminating against them, while on their home planet they were considered abominations and would have been killed if discovered.

He could not comprehend a world in which people believed that it was okay to murder others just for being different. The ugliness, the cruelty, and the barbarism of such beliefs were abhorrent and unnatural. He was proud of his parents for starting a rebellion and trying to change that.

He was also proud of Annani and what she had accomplished practically on her own.

He had to wonder, though. Was Annani so happy to have found him and Morelle because she had lost her family in the assassination? Or did she think that they could assist her against the Eternal King?

Ell-rom did not know if he and his twin could help in any way, but he would do what he could, and hopefully, so would Morelle.

The truth was that he did not know how his sister would react. Was she like him? Motivated by the same things he was? Why couldn't he remember even that?

"I am so sorry for all you have lost," Ell-rom said at last. "Did you have any siblings?"

"I did, and I do. My older sister Areana also survived."

Ell-rom released a relieved breath. "So, you are not the heir."

She smiled. "I am. Areana's mother was a goddess my father had a short dalliance with. She was not his official wife. She is very dear to me, but regrettably, she is not around. She mated my archenemy."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "How could she do a thing like that? And who is that enemy? Is he another god who survived?"

Unexpectedly, Annani laughed. "Those are excellent questions, Ell-rom, but that is not the story I want to tell you. Are you not curious about what happened to your ship and why it was delayed for seven thousand years?"

"Jade and Kian told me the settler ship had malfunctioned, probably because it was sabotaged. But I'm more interested in hearing about you and your enemies. I thought I only had to worry about the Eternal King, but now you are telling me that you have a local enemy and that your sister is mated to him."

Annani nodded. "I will give you the shortest version I can. The long version can wait for another time."

He nodded. "I will accept whatever you are willing to offer."

"You are so agreeable, Ell-rom." She put her hand on his and gave it a light squeeze. "Mortdh, the god we believed killed all the other gods, was my intended. Ahn thought he could appease and maintain peace by promising him my hand. Mortdh was much older than me, had countless concubines and scores of children, and did not care about me. I knew that once we were wed, he would get rid of me as soon as I gave him a child. None of his children were gods. They were all immortals. Naturally, I did not want to mate Mortdh, and when I found my truelove mate, it was my right to dissolve the engagement because to deny true love was to anger the Fates, and not even Ahn or Mortdh would dare do that. As an alternative, Ahn offered Mortdh my sister Areana, who was a widow. Mortdh reluctantly accepted her, but he did not want her. He left his son Navuh to escort her to his stronghold in the north. That was why she was away from the assembly when Mortdh bombed it and died along with the other gods.

"Navuh is just an immortal, but he is more powerful than many gods, and by the Fates' will, he and Areana are truelove mates. Nevertheless, he harbors great hatred for me, blaming me for his father's death and that of all the other gods. He also disapproves of my role in continuing Ahn's work and encouraging humans to do better. He and his army of immortal minions would see humanity enslaved, and me and my clan eradicated."