by I. T. Lucas
“Welcome to the village,” Kian called from the next cart over.
“Thank you. It is lovely.”
“Wait until you see the rest of it,” Jin said.
The carts moved barely at jogging speed, with Kian’s in the lead, theirs in the middle, and Turner’s closing the procession.
“This is the village square,” Jin pointed. “To the right are the office building, the café, and the clinic. To the left are the playground, the pond, and the large grassy area where parties are held.”
In the café several people waved at them, and even though Kalugal wasn’t sure that they were waving at him, he smiled and waved back.
“The café is the center of the social life in the village,” Jin continued. “That’s why Carol loved working there.”
The place was beautiful, perfect for raising children, except there were none. No couples were strolling down the pathways holding hands, and no one was pushing strollers.
It was disappointing, but naturally he didn’t comment on that. Kian hadn’t volunteered information about how many of his clan members had been blessed with a partner or a child, but it seemed that the number was small.
As they entered the residential area, they stopped to drop Bridget and Turner off, but everyone else continued to the house that had been reserved for them.
“Your house is in the new phase of the village,” Arwel said. “It’s a little farther away from the center, but it’s still just twenty to thirty minutes on foot from the café.”
“Where is yours?” Jacki asked.
“Also, in the new phase. We are going to be neighbors.”
68
Jacki
As Kian’s golf cart stopped in front of a house decorated with balloons, Jacki pointed. “Are those for us? Who did that?”
“Vivian with Ella and Kri’s help.” Jin smiled.
So she had known about it, and that was why she’d been so eager to accompany them to the house.
It was a nice surprise.
As Arwel parked their cart, Jin jumped out. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Her friend was full of energy as if she wasn’t feeling the effects of her transition, but that wasn’t the case for Jacki. She’d started hers a day later than Jin and was feeling pretty crappy, but neither of them had the severe symptoms that Bridget had warned about.
Were they just lucky? Or was the worst still to come?
Jacki had a feeling that it was the latter.
As Kalugal got out and offered her his hand, she gratefully accepted it, but even with his help, she swayed on her feet.
“You should be resting.” He lifted her into his arms.
“Put me down,” she whispered in his ear. “I can walk if I lean on you.”
“Nonsense. Isn’t it a human custom to carry the bride over the threshold?” He walked up the stairs to the front porch.
“Yeah, but this is not our home.”
“It is for the next week or two.”
“Welcome to your temporary abode.” Anandur opened the door and stepped aside to let them through.
Inside, there were more decorations, including a banner that said ‘Congratulations Jacki and Kalugal.' Someone had also prepared lunch and left it on the counter.
Probably Vivian. But where was she?
As Kalugal put Jacki down on the couch, the rest of their party filed in, and a few moments later, Vivian came in with a teenage boy who Jacki assumed was her son Parker, Julian, and Ella.
“Jacki, I’m so happy that you are also transitioning.” Vivian sat next to her and Kalugal on the couch. “It’s wonderful that you and Jin are transitioning together.”
“Yeah, we can be miserable together,” Jin said.
Vivian waved a dismissive hand. “Ella and I transitioned at about the same time too, but it took me longer.” She shrugged. “Which wasn’t surprising since I’m twice Ella’s age.” She reached for Jacki’s hand. “I’m so sorry about what happened at your wedding. Once you’re up to it, we should have another party right here.”
“Already in the works,” Amanda said. “Annani decided that they should have a proper wedding in the village with her officiating over it.”
Kian lifted a hand. “Let’s wait until Jacki transitions and then talk about parties.”
“Yeah, we don’t want to jinx it.” Syssi sat on an armchair across from Jacki. “You look tired. We should all go and let you rest.”
Kian shook his head. “William is on his way. I need to wait for him to put the cuffs on Rufsur and Hivak, and then we can go.”
“I want to introduce my son.” Vivian motioned for the boy to come forward. “This is Parker.”
“Hi.” He offered Jacki his hand while looking at Kalugal with open curiosity.
“Nice to meet you.” Jacki shook it.
“Hello, young man.” Kalugal took Parker’s offered hand. “I’m Kalugal, Kian’s cousin.”
“I know. And you are a compeller like me.” Parker smiled shyly. “But I’m not as good as you. You can compel immortals, and I can only compel humans.”
“That’s a rare ability, and it will get stronger as you get older. Who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be able to compel immortals?”
“Don’t boost his ego. It’s already too big. I’m Ella.” She offered Kalugal her hand. “Vivian’s daughter.”
“I know. I’ve heard about what my brother had planned to do to you and your mother, and I apologize for it.”
“No need to apologize. It all ended well, and I forgave him.” She smiled. “I had no choice. Lokan is mated to my best friend.”
Kalugal looked at Julian. “What about you? Did you forgive him?”
“It took me longer than it has taken Ella, but eventually, I did.”
“It was all fated to happen that way,” Syssi said. “While we are waiting for William, would you like me to show you the house?”
Kalugal glanced at Jacki. “Are you up to it?”
She nodded. “The house isn’t big, so it’s not going to take long.”
He helped her up and then wrapped his arm around her waist. “Lean on me.”
She didn’t argue.
Syssi motioned for Rufsur and Hivak to follow her as well. “This is a three-bedroom house, and you each get a room.” She opened one door and then the one across from it. “It’s not fancy, but cozy.”
“It’s more than enough.” Rufsur walked into one of the rooms. “It’s nicer than the one I have in Kalugal’s mansion.” He waved a hand in a circle. “There is art on the walls, and an area rug and all the colors match.”
“We have a wonderful interior designer,” Syssi said. “I should introduce you to her.”
Jacki shook her head. “Is there a reason Ingrid gets dibs on all the new single guys? If I were one of the other clan ladies, I would get upset.”
Syssi grimaced. “You are absolutely right. It’s just that I feel sorry for her. It must be difficult to be passed by for the second time.”
“Ingrid didn’t get passed on by Richard. She bailed on him.”
“That’s true. But enough about that. Let me show you the master bedroom. It’s on the other side of the house.”
As they returned to the living room on their way, Hivak and Rufsur stayed behind, which Jacki was glad about.
Syssi opened the door. “That’s the master, it has a very nice bathroom and a good size walk-in closet, for most people that is. Amanda had to convert one of the bedrooms into a closet.”
Kalugal arched a brow. “Her home is the same size as everyone else’s?”
“Most of the houses in the village have only two bedrooms. Amanda has a three-bedroom house like this one, and so do Kian and I.”
Kalugal seemed puzzled. “I would have thought that as Annani’s children, Kian and Amanda would get something fancier than the other clan members.”
“We did. Ours and Amanda’s have small guesthouses for our Odus, and Kian and I also have a lap pool in our back yard. That�
��s the one luxury Kian allowed himself. Swimming relaxes him.” She smiled. “And believe me, if asked, every clan member would be in favor of anything that can do that.”
Kalugal frowned. “I don’t understand. Would there have been resentment from the other clan members if Kian and Amanda resided in more luxurious homes?”
“I don’t think so. We just preferred to have a home that is cozy and comfortable. Why build a huge mansion for two people? Or three.” She rubbed her tummy. “But if we are blessed with another child before Allegra moves out to start her own life, we would have to build an addition.”
“I really like this house,” Jacki said. “I think it’s the perfect size for a family, and given immortals’ exceptional hearing, I especially like that the living room separates the master from the secondary bedrooms.”
Syssi smirked. “I hear you. But the insulation in these houses is so superb that an immortal can stand outside the closed door and barely hear anything. A human would hear nothing at all.”
“I would like to test it.” Kalugal walked out into the corridor. “After I close the door, say something in a loud voice, normal speaking voice, and then a quiet voice.”
When the door closed, Jacki lifted a finger. “Can I do that?”
Syssi waved a hand. “Be my guest.”
“I love you!” Jacki yelled. “But I don’t like your bossiness,” she said in a normal voice. “But I forgive you because you are so damn sexy,” she whispered.
69
Vlad
Bowen hadn’t said anything about the damn condoms, and it had taken Vlad most of the day to gather enough courage to ask, which was probably the game Bowen had been playing.
Let’s watch the twenty-year-old virgin blush.
The guy had been incredibly helpful, but he was also an asshole.
Vlad just needed a moment alone with Bowen without Wendy or Richard around, but that was easier said than done. The cabin was small, the five of them did almost everything together, and either Wendy or Richard was always within hearing range.
Inspiration came when he noticed that the haircut Wendy had given Richard was uneven in the back.
“You should really fix that.” Vlad pointed at his neck. “The left side is a full inch longer than the right.”
“I’ll do it right now.” Wendy pushed to her feet.
Richard waved a dismissive hand. “No need. It’s not like there are any ladies for me to impress here.”
Not good. Vlad needed to persuade the guy to go for it. “Now that I’ve noticed how crooked it is, it will keep bugging me.”
“Fine.” Richard pushed to his feet. “Let’s do it.”
As Wendy and Richard stepped out onto the front porch, Bowen smiled. “Clever way to get rid of both of them at once. Do you want to talk about last night?”
Vlad frowned. “What?”
“It’s okay if you don’t. But I thought that’s the reason you got rid of them.”
“I just wanted to ask if you got the condoms.”
Bowen lifted a brow. “I left them in the motorhome. I thought that was obvious and that you put them to good use last night.”
Vlad’s face got hot. “We just talked, and then we fell asleep.”
“Did you tell Wendy about us?”
“Yes.”
“How did she take it?”
“Good. Better than I expected. It’s like she was relieved to find that there was a logical explanation for all the things that didn’t add up for her. I think that subconsciously, or even consciously, it bothered her that we weren’t telling her the truth and that contributed to her feelings of mistrust.”
“Could be.” Bowen nodded. “Are you going to induce her?”
“Not yet. Kian told me that I need to be absolutely sure that Wendy is the one before I even tell her about her potential dormancy. And until I do, he wants me to use condoms.”
Leon, who up until now had pretended to be a part of the furniture, looked over his shoulder at Vlad. “Do you know how to put them on?”
Vlad shook his head. “How would I? I’m a damn virgin, remember?”
“Nothing to be embarrassed about, kid. I think it’s nice that your first girl is going to be your last. But if you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of Wendy, I suggest that you practice in private.” He looked at Bowen. “I hope that you bought him enough.”
Bowen chuckled. “I bought plenty. You can go to the motorhome and practice in private. I’ll keep Wendy busy.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” Bowen clapped him on the back. “By the way, how is your sex education? And I don’t mean Bhathian’s class. Did you watch any porn?”
“I had enough trouble keeping my fangs from showing up at inappropriate times without adding extra stimulation.”
Bowen nodded in approval. “That’s actually good. Porn gives a distorted view of what sex should be like. Just go with what feels right and remember to take care of your lady’s pleasure first.”
Leon snorted. “The only way you’ll manage that is by keeping your pants on, and there is a good chance that you’ll mess them up.”
Vlad groaned. “You are not really helping, guys.”
Perhaps he should ask Wendy to find the hentai she’d said was nice and romantic. The server in the cabin did not have any anime, but his phone had a satellite connection, and she could use it to stream from any service.
But first, he needed to get to the motorhome and practice putting a condom on.
“How are you going to distract Wendy while I practice?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll keep her busy for at least an hour.” Bowen stepped out to the porch.
Leaving the door open, he leaned and whispered something in Wendy’s ear.
She nodded and then patted Richard’s shoulder. “You’re all done. Bowen and I are going for a walk.” She waved and smiled at Vlad. “See ya later.”
Dusting off the hair clippings, Richard got up and walked back inside. “Is it even now?” He showed Vlad his neck.
“Perfect.”
“Itchy.” Richard scratched his back. “I’m going to hit the shower.”
70
Wendy
Bowen’s offer of a walk and talk had been unexpected.
Just one day ago, Wendy would have found an excuse to decline. It wasn’t safe to be alone with a guy whose motives weren’t clear. Usually, an invitation for a walk was the code name for a make-out session, but Bowen knew she and Vlad were serious about each other, and his intention was probably to warn her not to hurt Vlad again.
Besides, he was a policeman of sorts, and he was really old. Did that make him safe, though?
Not really. But her senses hadn’t picked up on any malevolent intentions. On the contrary, she sensed that Bowen was amused.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
“Vlad told me that he shared our secrets with you.”
“He got permission from Kian.”
“I know. I just want to make sure that you are okay. You seem too calm for someone who’s just learned that humans are not at the top of the food chain.”
She shrugged. “What did you expect me to do?”
“Maybe freak out a little?”
“If I had never been exposed to people with paranormal talents and seen all the shit they can do, I probably would have freaked out. But after the program and the escape, nothing really surprises me anymore. Maybe I’m numb from too many changes?”
“It could be. Not too long ago, though, you still wanted to go back to the program. What I want to know is whether you changed your mind about it because the director is dead and you have nowhere to go, or did you do that because you fell in love with Vlad?”
So that was what this was all about. Bowen was still suspicious of her motives, and she couldn’t blame him for it. She’d acted all lovey-dovey before. And although it hadn’t all been an act, enough of it had.
&n
bsp; “Frankly, it’s both. I think that the director’s death was the push I needed to make my decision. As long as that door was still open, I kept one foot there and one foot here with Vlad.”
“Do you love him?”
“I do. Vlad is the best person I’ve ever met. I just hope that he never changes.”
“He’s twenty. Of course, he will change.”
Wendy sighed. “That’s what scares me. What if he becomes possessive? Controlling? Unreasonable? What if he becomes violent? He said that immortals are aggressive by nature.”
“We are. But that aggression is mainly aimed at our enemies. No one gets into fistfights in our community.”
“Really? Even when people get drunk?”
Bowen smiled. “The worst you can expect from a drunken clansman is belting out lewd Scottish ballads and making crude jokes.”
She laughed. “That actually sounds like fun. Do you know any?”
He cocked a brow and looked at her down his nose. “Of course I do. But even though you won’t understand the words, I won’t sing them in the company of a lady. At least not when I’m sober,” he added with a wink.
“I’m glad that you think of me as a lady.”
“You are not a dude.”
“You know what I mean.”
He shrugged. “Everyone makes mistakes. Some are more stupid than others, but luckily for you, no harm was done.”
“That’s not true. Because of me, the director believed that the people who helped us escape were all paranormally talented, and that’s why he launched the attack on Jacki’s wedding.” Wendy cringed. “Jacki is never going to forgive me for ruining her special day.”
Bowen stopped, turned to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. “The director failed, and now the program will probably get shut down, so stop beating yourself up. You are starting a new life. Don’t bring guilt and remorse into it.”
She let out a breath. “I wish there was a way for me to atone for what I did.”
“There is. Be good to Vlad. That kid is golden, and he deserves to be happy.”
