Din shrugged, looking as puzzled as she felt. He lifted his finger to his lips, indicating she should stop talking.
Fenella wondered if there was some sort of secret passage beneath the village green, but it seemed absurd to have an elaborate tunnel system just so the Clan Mother could make dramatic entrances at parties.
More likely, the goddess employed some mind trick to divert everyone's attention from her as she approached, making herself visible only when she wished to be seen.
Either way, it was impressive.
"My beloved children," Annani's melodious voice carried across the green without the help of amplification. "We gather today to celebrate a most joyous occasion—the two thousand and first birthday of my son Kian, and the first birthday of my granddaughter, Allegra. The actual birthday date passed a while ago, and we are celebrating a little late because emergencies kept popping up, forcing us to postpone the party. Thankfully, today we are all here, the sky is clear, and we are finally ready to celebrate."
The crowd broke into cheers and applause, their faces upturned to the goddess with fond, happy expressions. They truly loved her, and Fenella understood the sentiment. The Clan Mother was warm and friendly, and once Fenella had gotten used to the glow, the unearthly beauty, and the power emanating from the tiny female, she'd become comfortable in her presence.
"Two thousand and one years ago, I was blessed with the birth of a strong, beautiful boy," the goddess said. "When I held him for the first time, I felt a love so encompassing, so overwhelming, that I knew I would move mountains, part seas, and challenge the heavens themselves to keep him safe. After the birth of my first daughter, I thought that I could never feel a love so strong again, but a mother's heart has no limits. I love all of my children with the same intensity."
Fenella's gaze drifted to Kian, who stood at the edge of the stage with Allegra in his arms. The clan's leader appeared almostembarrassed by his mother's effusive praise, though there was no doubting the affection between them.
"That same love now extends to my precious granddaughter." Annani's voice softened as she looked at Allegra. "And to each of you. Love is what drives all that we do. It binds us and guides us, and it is the force that sustains us. Without love, there is nothing."
Fenella stifled the urge to roll her eyes. Love might play a part, but she doubted it was the only motivation for the goddess's actions. From what she'd learned since arriving at the village, Annani had been manipulating global politics for thousands of years, playing a chess game against the forces of darkness represented by the Brotherhood.
Still, she couldn't deny the emotion in the goddess's voice when she spoke of her family. That, at least, was sincere.
The goddess continued, "As we celebrate these two milestones today, I ask you all to reflect on what truly matters in this existence. Not power, not wealth, not even the gift of life itself—but the connections we forge with one another, the love we give and receive."
Her luminous gaze swept across the crowd, and for an unsettling moment, Fenella felt as if those ancient eyes paused on her briefly. A shiver ran down her spine.
"Even I, who have lived for thousands of years, continue to learn this lesson," the goddess said. "Joy can be fleeting and pain can feel overwhelming, but every ending brings with it a new beginning, every loss an opportunity for growth."
Fenella felt a tightness in her chest at these words. They struck too close to her own experiences—the constant reinvention ofherself, the severing of connections for safety's sake, the walls she'd built to survive.
"Look around you." The Clan Mother spread her arms wide. "See the family we have built together, the haven we have created. This is what we fight to protect. Together we stand against the darkness."
As the word 'darkness' triggered images of a dingy cell and a monster who called himself a doctor, the festive village green receded, and the goddess's voice faded.
Then Din's arm slipped around her waist, anchoring her to the present. "You okay?" he whispered.
Fenella nodded, grateful for his steadying presence.
"—into this new year with hope and purpose," Annani was concluding her speech. "May Allegra grow strong and wise, surrounded by love. May Kian continue to lead with compassion and vision. And may all of you, my cherished family, find the peace and happiness you deserve."
A thunderous round of applause broke out as the Clan Mother raised her hands in blessing over the crowd. Fenella clapped along, her mind still churning with conflicting emotions.
Part of her wanted to believe in Annani's vision of family and security, and to accept that after decades of running, she could finally stop, could belong somewhere. But another part, the survivor who'd learned to trust nothing and no one, remained wary of pretty words and shining promises.
"Let us honor Kian and Allegra." The goddess gestured to the side of the platform, where Kian stood with Allegra in his arms.
The little girl was dressed in a fluffy confection that mirrored the doll atop the cake, her blond curls adorned with a tiny tiara. She stared wide-eyed at the crowd, her small arm wrapped around her daddy's neck.
"She's adorable," Fenella whispered.
"She is," Din agreed.
As the applause died down, Kian stepped forward with Allegra, who seemed upset, and murmured something to his mother, who nodded with a smile and waved her hand. Music began to play from hidden speakers, and as the goddess announced that it was time to feast, the crowd's attention shifted to the buffet tables where the Odus were beginning to serve food.
"Hungry?" Din asked.
Fenella nodded. "I could eat."
As they joined the line forming at the buffet, Fenella scanned the crowd, spotting Kyra and Max near the cake. Jasmine and Ell-rom were swaying to the music, two tall and striking figures who stood out even among this extraordinarily good-looking crowd.
