Amanda regarded them both with curious eyes. “Don’t leave us in the dark. Who is Jonah, and what’s his story?”
As David cleared his throat and readied to answer, the door opened and Ojidu came in, rolling a cart in front of him. Kalugal and Jacki were right behind him.
“Congratulations.” A big grin spreading over his face, Kalugal walked up to David and offered him his hand. “I knew that you would make it. How are you feeling?”
“A little dazed.”
“Congratulations,” Jacki said. “To both of you.” She smiled at Sari. “I can imagine how relieved you are.”
Kian pulled out two chairs for the newcomers. “Take a seat. David was just about to tell us an interesting story.”
“Before I do that, I hear that congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you,” Jacki said.
How was he going to tell them that he believed his brother was going to be reborn as their baby?
It was only a feeling, which could be more like wishful thinking than a premonition. He had no proof, and if he told them what he believed, they might get upset.
“So, what’s the story with Jonah?” Amanda asked again. “And how is he connected to Jacki and Kalugal’s baby.”
Damn. Now he had no choice.
“Jonah was my twin brother, and he died five years ago. I’m hoping that he will reincarnate in the clan. Perhaps even as your baby.”
“Was he a good man?” Jacki asked.
“He was charming, brilliant, and driven.” He didn’t add that Jonah had lacked compassion and had been arrogant and self-absorbed. His brother might be different the next time around.
“My kind of guy,” Kalugal said. “I’m not sure I believe in reincarnation, though.”
“What I’m about to tell you might convince you.” David clasped Sari’s hand. “Jonah came to me while I was in a coma. He told me that we have reincarnated many times as brothers, or good friends, or as father and son.” He looked at Annani. “The Clan Mother knew us as Gudbrand and Olek.”
Annani’s eyes widened. “Jonah was Olek?”
“No. Jonah was Gudbrand. I was Olek.”
Those who knew the story looked just as stunned as he’d expected them to be, and the goddess seemed doubtful.
“How can that be? You have dreamt about me. I had very little contact with Olek.”
“The strong connection Jonah and I shared extended to dreams. As Gudbrand, he was obsessed with you, and as Jonah, he dreamt about you. I don’t remember Jonah telling me about his dreams, but maybe he did. My spin on them was influenced by a book I read, so they weren’t the same. I was embarrassed by those dreams, so I didn’t tell Jonah about them either. After he visited me during the coma and told me the entire story, there is no doubt in my mind that I was Olek, and he was Gudbrand.”
Annani nodded. “Unless you remembered your past life, you could not have known those names, so that is a definite proof that reincarnation is real. And as for you being Olek, I have to admit that your character matches his much better than Gudbrand’s.”
“I hope that you don’t hate me for what I did.”
“Hate you? Why would I? You saved me from him. I hope that you do not hate me for making you kill your brother.”
“Hold on,” Amanda interjected. “I’m tired of hearing bits and pieces of the story and never getting the entire picture. Can someone tell me what really happened from start to finish?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Annani.
The goddess sighed. “It was a very long time ago, when I was still young and inexperienced, but that does not excuse my actions. I could have handled things better and prevented a lot of heartache.”
62
Sari
After Annani finished telling the story, a somber mood descended over the gathering.
It had been a sad tale, with even sadder consequences. The way Sari saw it, what had happened had been everyone’s fault and no one’s.
“If I may.” Kalugal was the first one to speak. “I think that the guilt the Clan Mother and David carry is misplaced. I don’t see how the situation could have been handled differently.” He turned to David. “Olek did not intend to kill his brother, he was only defending the priestess because she thralled him to do that.” He looked at Annani. “You were defending yourself, Clan Mother. If you hadn’t thralled Olek, forcing him to protect you, either he or Gudbrand would have struck you down, and the entire world would have been worse for it.”
Annani sighed. “I just wish it had not come to that. But I can never be sure that it would have. When I could not get ahold of Gudbrand’s mind, I panicked. I might have acted too soon. Perhaps Gudbrand was only bluffing, and he said that he wanted to end me to get Olek to stand down. And as for Olek, I doubt that he would have killed me. He was stricken with grief, and he was not thinking straight, but he was not a murderer.”
David shifted so he could face Annani. “Jonah said that Gudbrand would have done it, and he didn’t blame you for defending yourself. If he can forgive you, I think it’s time that you forgave yourself, Clan Mother.”
“I second that opinion,” Amanda said.
“And so do I.” Alena looked at Kian for some reason and not at their mother. “We helped Olek, aka David, transition into immortality, and the Fates rewarded his suffering with the best mate any man can hope for. If there was a debt, it has been paid.”
“I agree,” David said. “I count myself the luckiest man.” He took Sari’s hand and kissed the back of it. “This was my final destination.”
“When is the wedding?” Jacki asked.
Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “Marriage is a human tradition. David and Sari are obviously fated mates. They don’t need a ceremony to reaffirm their commitment to each other.”
David shifted again, so his mouth was next to Sari’s ear. “Nevertheless, I would like to marry you. If you’ll have me, that is.”
Amanda snorted. “You know that we can hear you, right? Whispering in a room full of immortals is an exercise in futility.”
Smiling, Sari cupped his cheek. “Your proposal is accepted. I will marry you.”
Amanda threw her hands in the air. “That wasn’t a proposal.”
“She is right.” David slid off the armchair and went down on one knee. “I don’t have a ring, but I promise to buy you one as soon as I can. For now, all I have to offer is my heart. Will you marry me, Sari?”
What had possessed him to do a silly thing like that? It was so damn embarrassing.
“On one condition.”
“Name it.”
“That you get up right now and come back to sit next to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You are both nuts.” Amanda pushed to her feet. “What’s your hurry? You’ve known each other for less than a week.”
“So what?” Kian crossed his legs at his ankles. “I knew that Syssi was the one for me the moment I saw her.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t marry her right away.”