“Those were Sarvari. Wolves gifted to the Mah by the Anubis during its first incarnation.”
A tick jumped in Nash’s jaw. “First?”
“You’re the second to be contaminated by the ichor, giving it form, and enabling it to walk the earth.”
“When was it here?”
“A thousand years ago, give or take.”
Conversation filled in the silence. A breeze tossed the edge of a napkin. Sparrows sang.
When Nash spoke, it was in the voice of a man and none of the Anubis. “Do you know where it’s from or what it is?”
“All I can tell you is the ichor created it when it took possession of a dead Varu. When it resurrected him, what had been a wolf, was something else.” Evil. Death. Agony.
The sorrow of so many lost lives.
A crack formed in Nash’s stone expression catching Isaiah off guard.
“When it came into being, the Mah went to it, and it gave them the Sarvari.”
“What are the Mah?” Luca said.
“When a Varu committed an unforgivable crime, they were stripped of their wolf. It left them helpless.” With no will to live. “And they were released.” To wander and die alone. “That’s who the Anubis chose.”
Cassie came to the table carrying slices of cake. “Alpha, Cana, I thought you might like desert.” She set down two plates in front of Isaiah and one in front of Luca.
“Thank you.”
Cassie gave a small bow to Luca.
Isaiah offered Nash one of the slices, and he surprised Isaiah by taking it. “Thanks.”
Luca watched Cassie return to the others. Most of them had turned in their seats enough to watch him without obviously staring. The rest made no attempt to hide their fascination.
Isaiah couldn’t even reprimand them because he shared their joy and their fears.
“The man named Jelani, he called me Cana too. Why?”
“It’s what you are.”
“You said I was like you.”
“Cana are Varu, but instead of one wolf, they all know you, hear you, and answer to you. Your ability to speak with them allows you to call them across the Varana so they can reach the one they’ve chosen.” While Isaiah had survived centuries, he wasn’t sure he could keep going. Especially if they lost Luca. His heart couldn’t take failing another innocent life.
Luca pressed a crumb of cake flat on the rim of his plate. “I think you’ve made a mistake. I’m just a guy. I’m not anyone special.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re the only one sitting at this table who believes that.”
“He’s right. You’ve never been ordinary.” Nash brushed back Luca’s bangs and ran a knuckle down his cheeks. “Never.” And there was so much more in that touch.
Real affection. Real love.
Things the Anubis wasn’t capable of. So somehow, Nash Kelli remained. How long before the Anubis consumedwhohe was.
“Who you are, is why you’re the only one who can help us,” Isaiah said.
Luca sat straighter. “I can’t do whatever it is you think I can.”