Page 10 of Dark Destiny: The Fates' Bargain

"Where are you going to house the scientists?" Annani asked.

Kian's mouth twisted. "If I had my way, I would put them down here as well, where I could watch them. But we don't have enough converted cells. The Russians and their ladies go to one of the penthouses, and we build their laboratory in one of the empty spaces we have down here." He glanced at her. "Petrov and Volkov need to keep the Eight supplied with their compound, so the lab is the first priority. That is why I'm flying them out before the women and children. The clock is ticking for them."

The door to the clinic hissed as it was opened from the inside, and the four of them squeezed into the cramped space between the inner and outer doors.

Surrounded by three large males, Annani felt more petite than usual. "Are you going to put them up in your old penthouse?"

"I can, since Carol and Lokan have moved into the village, or I can put them in the one Areana is currently occupying, since she's going to be living in the dungeon apartment with Navuh."

"She will still need the penthouse," Annani said as the inner door swung open and they entered the clinic proper. "She will need a place where she can meet her sons and her grandson. She is not a prisoner, and you cannot turn her into one just because she needs to take care of her mate. She will be with Navuh because someone must be and because she loves him, the Fates help her. But she does not need to be at his side every hour of every day. Leave her in Amanda's penthouse and put the scientists in the other one."

Kian shook his head. "It is a waste of a penthouse for a woman who will be sleeping most nights in the dungeon apartment."

Annani gave him the look.

"Fine." He sighed. "Areana can keep her penthouse. For now."

"Good. We need to talk to her first, before we talk to Navuh."

"But we are already here."

"It is just a short elevator ride to the penthouse." Annani smiled at Hildegard, who had come out to see them. "We will be back in an hour. Do not tell Navuh we are coming. I want it to be a surprise."

Hildegard's mouth lifted on one side in a wicked smile. "Not a word from me, Clan Mother."

As they turned around, Annani pulled out her phone. "I shall let Areana know we are coming up." She dictated a text to her sister, giving her a few minutes' advance notice.

When they reached the penthouse level, Areana stood at the open door of her temporary lodging.

"Annani," she said cheerfully. "What a pleasant surprise. And Kian, Magnus, and Brundar." The smile slid off her face when she realized that this was not a social visit. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Annani pulled her sister into a warm embrace and kissed her on both cheeks, one at a time. "Everything is hopefully all right, but some changes are coming, and I wanted to talk to you about them.”

Areana nodded and led Annani to the couch.

Kian sat in one of the oversized armchairs, pulled out his phone, and started going over his correspondence, perfectly content with Annani doing all the talking.

"We need to move Navuh out of the clinic." Annani went straight to the reason for the visit and told her sister that Navuh was to be moved to a dungeon apartment because the medical staff was needed in the village. "Someone needs to care for him, and that someone is you."

Areana shook her head. "I am not a nurse. I don't know how to care for him."

"According to Bridget, his care from now on is simple. He can use the facilities himself as long as someone helps him there, and Bridget has prepared a therapy manual for you to follow."

"Navuh said that he was getting a physical therapist."

Annani smiled. "We can only get him a human. Do you think it is a good idea to have a human tell Navuh what to do?"

Areana winced. "No. He will not listen."

"That is what I thought. But he will listen to you." She reached for Areana's hand and clasped it between hers. "I know it is a little scary to undertake a new task, but you have always been good with taking care of others, and you are probably the only one who has the patience for Navuh. His recovery will be faster with you in charge of it."

Areana sighed and nodded. "What happens after? Once he is back on his feet?"

"We have not decided what to do with him yet," Annani said honestly. "I leave that to Kian and to your sons to decide. Butuntil a solution is found, he stays in the dungeon apartment, and you tend to him."

"I understand." Areana pulled her hand out of Annani's. "Did you tell him?"

"Not yet. We are heading to the clinic next."