Dark Power Unleashed (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Book 51)

by I. T. Lucas

  Leon and Anastasia, who had arrived a couple of minutes earlier, were waiting for them as well.

  “Everyone I need is here.” Margaret’s voice quivered.

  Wendy opened the passenger door and offered her mother a hand up. “Welcome to the village, Mom.” She chuckled. “Well, you need to get out of the parking garage to actually be in the village, but that’s what everyone says.”

  Bowen walked over to the trunk and pulled out the folding wheelchair. “The walk to Wendy and Vlad’s house is long. It would be too difficult for you to traverse with the crutches.”

  “We brought a golf cart,” Wendy said. “But it can be used for the luggage. If you’re okay with the wheelchair, I can show you more of the village on the way, and maybe even introduce you to some people.”

  Margaret paled. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  Wendy helped her into the wheelchair and then leaned and kissed her cheek. “I just want you to see where I work and to meet Wonder. Are you okay with that?”

  “I guess so. But what about the other people in the café?”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Wendy patted her shoulder. “I’ll take care of them. You only need to smile and wave.”

  Cradling the front of her neck, Margaret still looked as if she had a frog stuck in her throat, but she nodded.

  As Vlad helped with the luggage, taking some of the load from Leon and Bowen, Anastasia joined Wendy behind Margaret’s wheelchair.

  “Don’t forget that I’m here as well.” She put a hand on her friend’s slim shoulder. “And people are going to want to say hello to me too. I’ll deflect attention from you.”

  Margaret blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  “Before I forget,” Wendy said. “Syssi and Amanda apologize for not being here to welcome you both. They are having a family lunch with the bride and groom outside of the village and will try to stop by tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Who are Syssi and Amanda?” Margaret asked.

  “Amanda is the goddess’s daughter, and Syssi is married to the goddess’s son,” Wendy said. “They usually welcome the new Dormants and newly-turned immortals.”

  When Bowen’s phone started buzzing the same time Leon’s did, they exchanged worried looks, put the luggage down, and pulled out their devices.

  “What’s going on?” Vlad asked.

  “It’s a group message,” Leon said. “All rescue missions are canceled until next Monday, and we are to report to the keep tonight at eight-thirty for an orientation.”

  “Did something happen?” Anastasia asked.

  Onegus was doubling security at the newly converted building, but he hadn’t elaborated on why. Hopefully, it wasn’t because a new cause for alarm had presented itself.

  “It’s probably about additional security for the wedding,” Leon said. “With the entire clan gathering in one place, Kian must be freaking out.” He put the phone in his back pocket and lifted the two suitcases. “I, for one, am happy.” He glanced at Bowen. “My mother is arriving tomorrow. I’d rather spend time with her than go out on rescue missions.”

  Bowen groaned. “I completely forgot. I don’t even know when my mother’s flight is landing.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his emails. “She’s arriving tomorrow morning.” He let out a relieved breath.

  “What time?” Leon asked.

  “Ten-fifteen.”

  “Then she must be arriving on the same flight as my mother. We can pick them up together.”

  Bowen shook his head. “We might get assigned a post at the meeting tonight. Besides, Turner has the entire transportation of arriving clan members nailed down. He doesn’t want us to collect anyone from the airport.”

  “Right.” Leon’s smile wilted. “I guess we will have to wait to see our mothers after they arrive at the building.”

  10

  Margaret

  Margaret felt her throat constricting again, and this time it wasn’t Emmett’s compulsion that was causing it.

  “Your mother is coming to the village?” she croaked.

  “She’s going to stay in the clan’s building downtown, but I’m sure she’ll want to visit.”

  “That’s awesome,” Wendy said. “Bowen’s mother can meet you, and Leon’s mother can meet Anastasia.” She leaned over Margaret’s shoulder. “I never expected to have an extended family. Isn’t it wonderful?”

  Margaret forced a smile. “Yeah, it is.”

  It wasn’t.

  Bowen’s mother was going to hate her, and rightfully so. She didn’t deserve a guy like him, and if she had a son who was dating a woman like herself, she wouldn’t have liked it one bit either.

  “By the way.” Wendy stopped in front of the elevators and pressed the button. “Vlad’s mother and her boyfriend are at the house, waiting to meet you.”

  Margaret tried to swallow, but her throat was so constricted that she started to cough.

  In an instant, Bowen was at her side, crouching in front of her. “Look at me, Margaret.”

  She tried, but the coughing was getting worse, and she couldn’t catch a breath.

  “Everything is going to be alright.”

  His words penetrated the haze of panic like a wave of calm waters, and suddenly, she was able to breathe. Had he thralled her?

  “Better?” He cupped her cheek.

  She nodded. “Did you thrall me?”

  “Just a smidgen. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Thank you.” She covered his hand with hers. “I’m sorry for falling apart like that over nothing. Everything is happening so quickly, and I feel overwhelmed.”

  “I bet. It’s too much.” Bowen lifted his eyes to Wendy. “Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to cram everything into one day. Your mother needs time to adjust.”

  “I can tell Stella and Richard to come some other time.”

  “It’s okay.” Margaret turned around to look at her daughter. “I’ll be fine.” She forced a smile. “I need to adjust to this new reality, and the sooner the better.”

  As the elevator door opened, Wendy wheeled her inside, and the others followed. It was cramped, but having them there, surrounding her, felt comforting. Everyone she cared for and who cared for her was in that elevator.

  “You are going to love Stella,” Wendy said. “She’s so creative. She designs costumes for theater productions, and now she’s also working on a fashion line. Richard is awesome too. I met him in the government program, and he was always nice to me even though I was a drag back then. When we escaped, and I betrayed everyone to the director, he stayed with Vlad and me in the cabin and was still nice to me despite that. Then we moved into the village, and he was our roommate for a while, but then he and Stella fell in love, and he moved out to be with her.”

  Apparently, Wendy talked up a storm when she was nervous, but Margaret didn’t mind it in the least. She loved hearing her daughter’s voice, and she was thirsty for every little bit of information about her past. They had so much catching up to do.

  As the elevator doors opened, Wendy wheeled her out, and the others followed.

  “This is the entry pavilion,” Wendy explained. “The artifacts behind the glass belong to Kalugal, who’s an archeology buff. I would have taken you on a tour, but Stella and Richard are waiting for us at the house.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Ana gasped. “Just look at how green everything is.” She followed Vlad out the sliding doors.

  “What do you think, Mom?” Wendy pushed the wheelchair out.

  “It’s paradise.” Margaret wasn’t referring to the lush greenery. “The place is beautiful, but what makes it special is that it’s your home.”

  “It’s your home too, Mom.”

  When the men were done loading the luggage onto the golf cart, Vlad hopped behind the wheel. “I’m going to drop off Leon and Anastasia’s things at Leon’s house first.” He looked at Bowen. “Where should I take your and Margaret’s things?” />
  “To my place.” Bowen pulled out his phone. “I’ll just let my roommate know that we are here.”

  “I thought that you were staying with us,” Anastasia said. “What is Margaret going to do all alone in the house when you go to work?”

  “Good point,” Bowen agreed without argument. “I called Ingrid about getting us a place of our own, but she won’t have time to take care of it until after the celebrations.”

  Anastasia shook her head. “Even when she gets you a place, you can’t move in there until Margaret is independent.”

  Wendy looked conflicted. “I thought that you and Bowen would stay with us, but I’m working at the café, and Vlad is working at the bakery and attending classes in college. So maybe Mom can spend the days with Anastasia but come to our house in the evenings? Your place is in the new phase, right?” she asked Leon.

  He nodded. “It’s only a few minutes' walk away from yours. Even with the crutches, your mother can handle such a short walk.”

  Margaret cleared her throat. “Is no one going to ask me what I want?”

  “Nope.” Ana crouched next to her. “I know you. You’ll say that you can manage on your own and argue that you don’t want to be a bother. But I don’t want to hear it. Leon is going back to work as well, and I don’t want to be alone in the house either. You and I will brave this new world together.”

  11

  Cassandra

  Throughout the day, Cassandra’s snowflakes had been sneaking curious glances at her. She hadn’t chewed anyone out, hadn’t criticized their work or lack thereof, and had been giving out more smiles than, well, ever.

  They were probably whispering behind her back that she must have gotten laid, which wasn’t far from the truth.

  But it was much more than that.

  Onegus, the most amazing guy she’d ever met, was serious about her. The invitation to his family wedding was the best proof she could have asked for. In fact, it was more than she’d ever expected. Getting invited to his home to meet his roommate or a dinner out with a couple of his friends would have sufficed.

  Was she ready to meet his family?

  Talk about intimidating.

  Onegus seemed like a down-to-earth kind of guy. He wasn’t a snob, didn’t flaunt his family’s wealth, and didn’t act like a spoiled rich guy. That didn’t mean, though, that his entire family was like him.

  They might look down their noses at her, and she would have to smile and pretend not to notice for Onegus’s sake. The problem would be reining in her temper. Perhaps she should take one of those relaxants that she’d experimented with a while ago. The problem was that they were probably expired, and it was too late to make an appointment with her doctor to get a new prescription.

  Positive thinking would have to do.

  She would have to focus on Onegus and how wonderful he was, reaffirm her self-confidence by reminding herself of all that she’d achieved and ignore any snide remarks or disapproving looks, or just not let them get under her skin.

  Easier said than done, but not impossible.

  When Cassandra’s phone buzzed with Onegus’s number on the screen, a happy grin spread over her face, and her heart gave a little flutter.

  Did he miss her?

  In the morning, he’d said that he would be busy until Saturday and wouldn’t be able to see her.

  “Hello, Onegus. What a nice surprise. I didn’t expect another call from you today.”

  “I hope that I’m not interrupting, but frankly, I don’t care. I need to hear your voice. When can you get away from the office?”

  “At around seven. Why?”

  “We could meet for a cup of coffee or a very quick dinner, and I mean fast-food quick. I can get away for half an hour.”

  He really missed her.

  “I was resigned to not seeing you until the wedding. What changed your mind?”

  He chuckled. “Do you want to hear me say that I can’t stay away from you and that I need to see you?”

  Switching the phone to her other ear, she crossed her legs and leaned back. “Only if it’s the truth.”

  “Every word. I feel like a junkie who has to get his fix.”

  She arched a brow even though he couldn’t see her. “Are we talking about a quickie or a coffee?”

  He was silent for a long moment. “I won’t lie. If a quickie was on the menu, I would have taken it. But seeing you, smelling you, and hearing your voice, that’s all I need to tide me over.”

  Cassandra wanted to say that she felt the same, and that not seeing him until Saturday would be a torment, but that would reveal too much too soon and give him too much power.

  Besides, Onegus was a man, and he would take sex over mushy declarations any day and twice on Sunday. Well, probably twice on any day. The guy had some stamina.

  Heck, Cassandra would take sex with him over coffee or dinner anytime as well. She’d never craved a guy with such intensity.

  “I can meet you at the apartment we spent the night in.”

  The groan he emitted sounded pained. “That’s the best offer I could have hoped for, but, regrettably, that place is not mine exclusively, and right now there are at least three other people in there. Besides, I have a meeting at eight, and my mother arrives at eleven tonight, and she will expect me to spend time with her.”

  “Your mother?” Cassandra squeaked.

  She’d never squeaked before.

  “My mother is coming to the wedding.”

  “Are you going to introduce us?”

  “Of course.”

  “Isn’t it too early for that?”

  “Why would you think that? I met your mother. It’s only fair that you meet mine.”

  Oh God. She’d dug that hole for herself and had no way out of it. Could she fake a sudden sickness?

  “Why so quiet all of a sudden?” Onegus sounded amused. “No snarky, witty comments?”

  “Frankly, I’m speechless. It should have occurred to me that your mother was coming to the wedding, but it didn’t, and I don’t feel ready to face her. What if she doesn’t like me?”

  “She’s going to love you. And even if she doesn’t, which I can promise you is not going to happen, I’m a big boy, and I don’t need my mother to approve of my choices.”

  “You might think so, but we all want our parents' approval. It means a lot to me that my mother likes you. Even though Geraldine has memory problems, she has good instincts about people, and I trust her opinion.”

  “Well, what’s not to like, right? I’m every mother’s dream guy for her daughter.”

  Cassandra laughed. “I’m sure that your modesty is what impresses them the most.”

  “It’s only one among my many other exceptional qualities, but I will be more than happy to list them to you one by one when we meet. Can you get off a little earlier?”

  “Six is the earliest I can manage. Does that work for you?”

  “Have you eaten lunch already?”

  “I never do. I live on coffee and candy until I get home.”

  “That’s not good. Can you take a break and meet me for a late lunch around three o’clock?”

  “That would actually work better for me. I can return to the office after we are done and finish what I need to do with no rush.”

  “If you don’t mind, it will have to be somewhere close to where I am.”

  “No problem. Text me the address.”

  “I will. Until we meet again, my queen.”

  Long after ending the call, Cassandra was still grinning like a fool, but then she remembered that Onegus’s mother would be at the wedding and her good humor evaporated.

  Onegus might be every mother’s dream guy for her daughter, but she wasn’t every mother’s dream for her son.

  She would have to be on her best behavior, rein in her snarky comebacks, and definitely avoid making anything explode.

  12

  Margaret

  “We should go.” Bowen put his beer down. “Margar
et needs to rest.”

  “I’m fine.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I can stay a little longer.”

  The truth was that Bowen was right, and she was tired, but Margaret wasn’t ready to part with Wendy yet, or with Vlad, whom she was starting to adore, or even his quirky mother and her mate.

  Vlad was a sweetheart, and his love for Wendy was evident in every glance, every touch, and every word, and the same was true for Wendy.

  Stella was an interesting character. She was the typical creative type, a little flamboyant, a little dramatic, but she’d raised a really good man all on her own, and that spoke volumes about her character.

  Richard, who was also a recently transitioned immortal like Wendy, was oddly protective of both Vlad and Wendy, and he acted fatherly toward them even though he was only thirty-four and hadn’t known either of them long.

  “We haven’t talked about the wedding yet,” Stella said. “Now that you are here, I’m sure you would like to take part in the planning.”

  Margaret shook her head. “I don’t want to interfere. Whatever Wendy and Vlad decide is fine with me.”

  “You will need a nice dress,” Wendy said.

  “There is plenty of time for that. When is the wedding?”

  “In about three months,” Vlad said. “Annani is going to preside.”

  Wendy’s eyes widened. “You are so lucky, Mom. Annani is presiding over Sari’s wedding, and you’ll get to see her even before your transition. That’s such a rare treat.”

  Margaret still felt like she’d been cast into a fantasy novel. All that talk about the gods from mythology being real was difficult to believe, and the prospect of meeting one of the only two remaining goddesses made her nervous.

  “Did you get to meet her?” she asked.

  Wendy nodded. “Annani is indescribable. Prepare to be awed.”

  “Is she terrifying?”

  “The opposite of that,” Richard said. “Annani is powerful, but she uses her power for good, and you can actually feel it. Being in her presence is like being bathed in love.” He chuckled. “But it takes a few minutes to get over the shock. She doesn’t look human.”