by I. T. Lucas
He had no intention of soiling his hands with such a dirty business. A chosen underling could learn what needed to be done and head that project while Losham spent his time more productively. He would supervise and suggest improvements as needed, but he would do this hands-off.
It wasn’t that he cared for the humans. They were an inferior species and needed herding by their betters. And it wasn’t even about whoring, he had no problem with that either. In fact, Losham loved a good whore as much as the next male. But pimping was for thugs—an occupation most unbecoming of someone of Losham’s caliber.
“Choose whomever you want. I give you a free hand. Just remember that the days of lavish spending are over. No fancy hotel suites and no expensive dining.”
Disappointing.
“Naturally, it does not apply to you, or any of my other sons, just to everyone else.”
That was a relief. “Thank you, my lord.”
“That being said, don’t overdo it.”
“No, my lord.”
33
Kian
“It truly is a beautiful place, Kian. You have done a marvelous job.”
He and Annani headed a small procession as he showed her around the village, with Anandur and Brundar close behind them, followed by Annani’s three Odus.
Okidu and Syssi were at their future village house, preparing a small family celebration for Annani.
“Thank you. A lot of people contributed their creativity and hard work to make it what it is.”
She threaded her slim arm through his. “But you came up with the concept.”
“No, not really. It was also a group effort.”
Annani laughed, the beautiful sound sending birds into a chirping frenzy. “I am trying to pay you a compliment but you are making it difficult. How about organizing everything and making sure that it actually got built? Can you take credit for that?”
“I can. Thank you.”
“Finally. Can we stop by Nathalie and Andrew’s? I want to kiss that adorable baby of theirs.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re not the kind of guest who can show up unannounced.”
With a sad smile, his mother nodded. “That is what I do not like about my status. All that formality and procedure creates a distance between my family and me. I would have liked to just walk in and say hello.”
Kian leaned so he could whisper in her ear. “It’s not like you discourage all the fuss. You thrive on that.”
Annani shrugged. “I need to entertain myself somehow. Life can become very boring after so long.”
“True. But you never seem to be bored or restless.” He waved a hand. “You’re regal and awe-inspiring.”
Her smile was radiant as she lifted her face to look at him. “Thank you. I think that is the nicest thing you ever said to me. Except for I love you, that is. Those are the words I appreciate the most.”
Before she had a chance to lay the guilt trip on him, Kian teased, “You’re also stubborn, irrational, and impulsive, and I worry about what you will do next every time you visit.”
Annani pouted. “Why did you have to spoil it? You were always so contrary.”
“You call it contrary. I call it responsible.”
She waved a hand. “Life is all about balance. If all you have are responsibilities, you are not really living. And if you never take any risks, you remain stuck in one place. I think I am very reasonable regarding my balancing act. I am cautious but not overly so. Not everything that you consider risky, actually is.”
“True. But it’s enough to make me lose sleep.”
“We cannot have that. You are cranky enough as it is.”
Kian arched a brow. “Why? Did Amanda complain about me?”
“She did not have to. You are one big stress ball. I can see it in your shoulders and your posture. You should take another vacation.”
It was true that he was tense, but for once it had nothing to do with his workload. He was still trying to figure out how to ask Annani to donate her blood for Turner. It had been difficult to do so for Andrew, whom Annani considered close family. Turner was nobody to her.
On top of that, Kian and Annani were never alone, and it wasn’t something he could talk about in front of other people. He needed to figure out a way to do it with no witnesses to overhear them.
The problem was that they were staying in the village for the duration of her visit, and he couldn’t ask her to come to his office without it looking suspicious. Annani could shroud their conversation, but Syssi would feel the barrier. Maybe he could send her on some errand.
The Odus could stay. Their loyalty to Annani was absolute. Their programming made sure of that.
The other problem he was trying to solve was how to keep the blood chilled until he could find an opportune moment to inject Turner. It wasn’t as if he could ask Bridget to provide him with a medical cooling unit, and sneaking one into the village would not be easy either.
Did he even need specialized equipment for that? Maybe a simple home appliance would do? That was another thing he needed to research.
Lucky for him, this was the age of the internet, and one could learn almost anything online, even how to build a nuclear bomb.
“Why are you frowning, my son? Is the prospect of another vacation with your wife so disturbing to you?”
“What? No, of course not. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Care to unload? This is what mothers are for, you know.”
Hmm. That could be just the opening he needed. “In fact, I could use some of your sage motherly advice.” He leaned closer and whispered, “But a conversation of this sort should be private, and there is not much privacy to be had here.”
Annani waved a hand. “It could be easily arranged.”
“How?”
“I would just tell Syssi that I need a little alone time with my son.”
“She’ll feel offended.”
“No, she will not. I want to discuss with you a problem I am struggling with, and I require privacy. I am not obligated in any way to share my troubles with my daughter-in-law.” Annani hadn’t bothered to say any of that quietly. The whole point was for his bodyguards to hear her.
“True.”
And he was not obligated to reveal his mother’s secrets either. That could work. Not that it would make him feel any less guilty about hiding things from Syssi, especially not after the big fuss he’d made about her keeping secrets from him. But at least her feelings wouldn’t get hurt.
“When do you want to discuss your problem?”
“As soon as possible.” She smiled. “I am not known for my patience.”
“No, you’re definitely not.”
“I am tired, Kian. Let us go home,” Annani said when they finished touring the property.
“Of course, Mother.” He bowed his head before leading her back to his and Syssi’s home.
“You’re dismissed for tonight,” he told the brothers. “Go home and rest. Tomorrow you need to show up early and start preparing the site.”
The opening ceremony was going to be held outside in the village square. Chairs had to be brought in and arranged in rows, tables needed to be covered with tablecloths and decorations. The brothers were on chair duty, while the other Guardians, old and new, were in charge of driving the guests in. The Odus were going to be busy preparing food and setting the buffet tables.
The brothers bowed to Annani.
“Goodnight, Clan Mother,” Brundar said.
“Say hello to Callie for me, and tell her to come see me tomorrow after the ceremony.”
“I will, Clan Mother.” He bowed again.
“Goodnight. See you tomorrow bright and early,” Anandur said with much less formality than his brother.
“Goodnight.” Annani waved them off.
34
Eva
“What seems to be the problem?” Amanda walked into Eva’s bedroom, or rather her future bedroom once she and Bhathian moved into the
village.
The story Eva was feeding everyone was that Nick needed to transition before she moved, but the truth was that she had no plans on moving until the baby was born. The idea of living in a village where everyone knew each other, and everyone was in each other's business didn’t appeal to her. She was a private person.
Besides, she was still doing detective work, and living in the village meant a longer commute. Once her belly grew too big to hide, she would have to stop doing fieldwork.
Perhaps she should speed up Sharon’s training and have the girl take her place in the field, while Eva took over the prep work Sharon was doing now. That was the only way she could keep the agency going. Otherwise, she would be forced to close it, which she really didn’t want to do. Sharon and Nick and Tessa would have to seek other employment, and her little family would disperse completely.
Amanda gave her a onceover. “You said it was an emergency. I guess it has to do with your wedding dress?”
“It’s too tight,” Eva complained.
After all, it was all Amanda’s fault. She’d pushed for the speedy wedding, and she was also the one who had recommended the style and brought the seamstress to make it.
Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “You’re probably bloated from eating a large dinner. The last fitting was two days ago. There is no way you grew bigger since then.”
That made perfect sense, but it didn’t help with what she saw in the mirror. After decades of enjoying a slim, defined waist, she thought that her protruding belly looked huge.
“I should have chosen a different design, something less clingy. Do you think the seamstress can add a swathe of fabric in the front?”
“Like a sari?”
“Yeah. Wow, a sari type dress could have been perfect—a traditional red sari. I would have looked amazing in it. Red is a good color for me.”
That was why rushing a wedding was never a good idea. If she had more time to plan, Eva might have come up with the red sari idea sooner.
Amanda put a hand on her hip and regarded Eva in the mirror. “Other than the fact that you’re not Indian, I agree. This off-white color makes you look pale.”
“Well, it’s too late to do anything about it. The wedding is tomorrow.” Eva plopped on the bed, the dress’s seams groaning under the pressure. “I’ll suffer through it in the uncomfortable dress and the uncomfortable shoes.”
“What’s wrong with the shoes?”
“They pinch my toes.”
Amanda sat next to her on the bed. “Are you sure it’s about the dress and the shoes? Maybe you’re uncomfortable about the whole thing?”
“I didn’t expect Annani to show up. It’s entirely your fault. You planned the wedding to coincide with the opening ceremony so she could preside over it, and you didn’t tell me.”
“I thought you’d be happy. It’s a great honor she is bestowing upon you.”
“Ugh.” Eva groaned. “I didn’t want a ceremony to start with, only a party. Then I agreed to what I thought would be the equivalent of civil marriage. I don’t want a religious wedding, and certainly not a pagan one. I’m a Catholic.”
Amanda wrapped her arm around Eva’s shoulders. “Think of Annani as a queen rather than a goddess, and you have a civil ceremony. There is nothing religious about the way she does it. She talks about love and undying devotion and stuff like that.”
Someone knocked on the door. “Can I come in?” Sharon asked.
“Yes, you can come in.”
The girl opened the door only wide enough to slide through and quickly closed it behind her. “Bhathian is trying to sneak a peek.” She glanced at Eva. “What’s the matter? You look unhappy.”
“She doesn’t like the dress,” Amanda said.
“It’s too tight and makes me look pale.”
Sharon joined them on the bed. “Why didn’t you say something before? It’s too late unless we make a store run tomorrow morning and buy a readymade dress.”
Amanda perked up. “That’s a fabulous idea.”
“I’m not going to run around town looking for a dress the morning of my wedding.” The event was scheduled for eight in the evening, but the opening ceremony was at six, and she didn’t want to miss it.
Amanda huffed. “Of course not. We go internet shopping, and order express overnight delivery. A sari doesn’t have to fit perfectly. Worst case scenario, if it looks bad, you can wear the dress you have.”
A timid knock on the door announced Tessa. “Is everyone decent?” She opened the door and poked her head in.
“I’m never decent, darling, but you can come in,” Amanda said.
“I thought I heard talk about buying a new dress.” Since there was no space left on the bed, Tessa leaned against the dresser.
“Darn it,” Eva whispered. “I keep forgetting that there is no privacy with immortals around.”
Tessa and Jackson were staying with them in the house as well as Sharon and Robert. Eva didn’t mind that the girls had heard her talking with Amanda, but she didn’t want the guys to hear. “If I’m getting a sari for the wedding, I want to surprise Bhathian with it. I don’t want him to overhear us talking about it.”
“I didn’t hear anything about a sari. Only that the dress was too tight,” Tessa whispered.
“Where is your laptop?” Amanda asked.
“I’ll get it,” Tessa offered.
A few minutes later she rushed in with the device.
“Let’s go shopping.” Amanda took charge of the laptop. “Oh, wow, look at this.” She turned it around so everyone could see. “Traditional wedding saris,” she added in a whisper.
“They are gorgeous,” Sharon said. “You should totally go for it.”
“We all should go for it. The bridesmaids’ dresses we have are not going to work now.”
Eva could picture it in her head, and she loved what she saw. “There are so many to choose from.” Most of the designs were a bit on the gaudy side, but that was the beauty of saris. It kind of worked with the style.
“I like this one.” Tessa pointed at the one that had caught Eva’s attention.
“I like it,” Sharon said.
“Girls.” Amanda handed Eva the laptop. “Let Eva choose. I take the blame for talking her into a dress she didn’t like. Let’s not repeat the same mistake.”
35
Kian
“Syssi, my dear, I need a few moments of Kian’s time,” Annani said when Okidu served after dinner coffee. “Would you mind if I borrow him for a short walk?”
“No, of course not. I’m sure the two of you have a lot to talk about.”
Kian watched Syssi’s expression closely, looking for any signs of her taking offense at Annani’s request, but there were none.
His mate was the best.
“We won’t be long,” he said as he leaned to kiss her cheek.
“Take all the time you need. You don’t spend enough quality time with your family.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too. Now go.” She gave him a little push.
One of Annani’s Odus helped his mother with her cloak, draping it over her shoulders. It was getting chilly, and although Annani belonged to a race of beings who preferred cooler places, her thin silk gown provided no protection against the elements.
Besides, a cloak with a hood worked well to diminish her natural glow, so she wouldn’t have to spend her mental energy on suppressing it.
Annani eyed his dress shirt. “You should wear a jacket over this, Kian.”
“I’m fine, Mother.”
“As you wish.” She walked out the door, her Odu holding it open for her with a deep bow.
As they walked in companionable silence, Kian wracked his brain searching for the best way to present his request to Annani. On the one hand, his mother was a romantic and might be moved by Bridget and Turner’s plight. On the other hand, she was a diva with an attitude and might view his request as presumptuous.
“
So what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked after a few moments. “I am incredibly curious. I could barely eat anything and could not wait for dinner to be over.”
“Do you remember the human who helped us find Carol?” Kian decided to start with a reminder of their debt of gratitude to Turner.
The man had been paid handsomely, and Carol had ended up rescuing herself, but the fact remained that Turner had provided a service to the clan no one else could have.
“Yes, of course. Turner, right? Bridget’s newest fling.”
It seemed the keep’s rumor machine was working as well as ever, and Annani had heard the latest gossip.
“He is much more than a fling. Bridget loves him, and he loves her back.” Maybe. As much as the guy was capable of love.
“Oh, my.” Annani put a hand over her heart. “How sad for her. It is tragic to fall in love with a human.”
“It gets worse. Turner has cancer, and he wants to attempt transition even though he is too old, in addition to being sick.”
“Does he have any Dormant indicators?”
“It’s unclear. He is so bright that the tests come out skewed. Just by using logic and his deductive powers, he can predict a lot of the outcomes.”
“Interesting.”
“Before allowing him to go for the transition, Bridget convinced him to try chemotherapy. She hoped the treatments would send the cancer into remission. But he didn’t react well to it.”
“That is double tragic. Is there anything that can be done for him?”
Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “Funny that you'd ask.”
She looked up at him with a puzzled expression. “What are you suggesting, Kian?”
It was the moment of truth. He had a feeling she knew what he was about to ask but was refusing to make it easy on him.
“I know it’s highly irregular, and I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t have a strong gut feeling that this is the right thing to do, and not only for Bridget. Turner is one of a kind, and he could be a real asset to the clan.”
