Dark Prince's Dilemma

by I. T. Lucas

  51

  Carol

  Carol walked out of Bridget’s office in a daze. Sitting on a bench outside the clinic, she dropped her head back and let the sunshine warm her face.

  What the hell was she doing?

  Why was she taking such an incredible risk?

  Was she an adrenaline junkie?

  What would she gain by doing this?

  She’d always been an attention seeker, which had been one of the reasons she’d become a courtesan. Carol liked doing things others wouldn’t or couldn’t and then boasting about them, getting a rise out of people.

  It wasn’t a positive quality, but it wasn’t bad either. She wasn’t harming anyone except maybe herself, but since she was an immortal, the risks had never been all that terrible.

  At least she was interesting.

  But this time the stakes were infinitely higher, and it occurred to her that she should be rewarded for such a monumental mission with more than just praise and admiration.

  If she got Areana out of Navuh’s harem, could she bargain for Lokan’s freedom?

  Carol wanted a life with him that was not confined to the keep’s underground. They didn’t necessarily need to live in the village, but they could go somewhere that was outside the Brotherhood’s sphere of influence as well as that of the clan.

  Perhaps a town in some small country in South America? Or maybe a remote village in Tibet? As long as they were together, free to live their lives, she didn’t care where they settled down.

  The time for bargaining, however, was now and not after the fact.

  She needed to talk to Kian about the test Bridget had suggested. But even before that she had to tell him about Lokan’s phone and his ability to compel humans on the island into helping her by using a video chat application. And while she was at it, she could also start bargaining.

  The problem was that Kian didn’t work from his office on weekends, and she would have to trouble him at home, which he wouldn’t appreciate. But time was not on their side, and she couldn’t wait for Monday.

  Pulling out her phone, she typed up a text. Congratulations on the happy news. I hate to bother you, but after talking with Bridget, there are a few things I need to discuss with you. Can you meet me at the café? She pressed send.

  His answer came a couple of moments later. Come over to the house. Syssi is making cappuccinos.

  Carol smiled. Syssi was her exact opposite and one of the nicest people she knew. She deserved all the happiness coming her way.

  Their house was less than a five-minute easy stroll from the clinic, and the door was open when she got there.

  “Come on in,” Syssi shouted over the thumping noise that her cappuccino contraption was making.

  Carol walked up to her and gave her a one-armed hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thank you.” Smiling, Syssi shook her head. “Did someone already post the news on the clan’s virtual board?”

  “I don’t think so. I came here after visiting Ella. She didn’t tell me it was supposed to be a secret.”

  “It’s not. I was just surprised that you knew so soon. Kian is outside.” She motioned to the living room sliding door. “I’ll be there in a minute with the cappuccinos.”

  “Thank you.”

  Carol found Kian reclining on a lounger and smoking a cigarillo.

  “Good morning. Take a seat.” He motioned at a rocker chair.

  “Good morning.” She eyed the small cigar. “You shouldn’t smoke around Syssi. She is an immortal, but the baby isn’t. Not yet.”

  “I’m well aware of that. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Several things. The most pressing one is Lokan’s phone. Did William try to get into it?”

  Kian grimaced. “Yes, and all the information was infected.”

  “Can you retrieve what was lost?”

  “William and Roni tried. It’s gone.”

  So Lokan had been right about that. He would be glad to know.

  “He needs his phone to make the call to the island. First of all, because he doesn’t remember the number, and secondly, because humans and the lesser personnel of the island can only be reached by using the special issue phone. Luckily, Lokan has a backup in a safe in his Washington apartment. Someone will have to get it for him. I have the address and the combination for the safe.”

  “What about the keys to his place?”

  “Whoever took his things when he was captured should have them. I assume his laptop suffered a similar fate to the phone?”

  “It did.” Kian stubbed out the remainder of his cigarillo in the ashtray. “I can’t help thinking that Lokan is setting up a trap. Touching his safe might trigger an alarm.”

  Carol shrugged. “We need that phone. Whoever goes to retrieve it will have to be very careful.”

  “I’ll ask Turner to send human professionals. He knows all the best operators. In fact, he can probably find someone in Washington to do it and save us the time of sending people from here. But that means that they would have to break into Lokan’s place. There won’t be time to send them the keys.”

  “Here are the cappuccinos.” Syssi stepped out with a tray. “Can I join you, or is it hush-hush spy stuff?”

  “I have no secrets from you.” Kian got up and took the tray from her.

  Carol could have sworn that she’d smelled a little bit of guilt accompanying that statement. Was Kian hiding something from the love of his life?

  If he was, it must be something of vital importance. Her curiosity was piqued, but she was probably never going to find out.

  Kian put the tray down on the table, pulled Syssi to sit with him on the lounger, and wrapped his arm around her before turning his attention back to Carol. “Anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”

  “Yes. When I talked with Ella this morning, she told me about Parker removing Lokan’s compulsion using a video chat, and it gave me an idea. If Parker can do it, I’m sure Lokan can do it too, which means that he can compel his people from here using his phone. It will provide me with an additional layer of security. If anything goes wrong, he can pull strings from here.”

  “We need to test it.”

  “Of course. Once he gets his phone back, we can have him instruct someone on the island to do something atypical and see if the guy does it.”

  Kian narrowed his eyes at her. “Did Lokan suggest this?”

  “I haven’t spoken to him about it yet, and I doubt he knows it’s even possible.”

  Letting out a breath, Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t trust him.”

  This was getting annoying, and with an attitude like that, Kian was not likely to be open to bargaining.

  “Yeah, you keep saying that over and over again. But he hasn’t done anything to justify your mistrust.”

  “Not yet.”

  “What does he have to do to prove himself to you?”

  Kian pinned her with a hard stare. “Let’s put it this way. If he helps you to complete your mission, and if we get Areana out, and she proves to be his mother, I will be more inclined to trust him. But we will need to check how he feels about her, and what he will be willing to do to keep her safe.”

  That was progress.

  “If all those conditions are met, would you let him go?”

  “I’ll consider it. But I won’t welcome him into the clan, if that’s what you are asking for.”

  “No, I didn’t expect you would. But if Lokan and I chose to settle somewhere else, would you be okay with that?”

  “If all of my conditions were met, and no new damning information came out, I would consider letting him go.”

  Syssi shook her head. “I don’t want to lose you, Carol. You are like the heart of the village, the hub everyone hovers around.”

  Carol chuckled. “The café is the central hub that the village life revolves around, not me, and it’s doing perfectly well with Wonder at the helm.”

  52

&n
bsp; Kian

  “Would you like a canapé, master?” Oridu bowed, holding the tray up for Kian to choose one of the artfully prepared sandwiches.

  “Thank you.” Kian took one and headed outside, where Syssi, Amanda, and Alena were fawning over Phoenix while Annani was chatting with Nathalie.

  The little ball of energy was talking up a storm, sounding like someone five times her age. Andrew would have his hands full with this one.

  He wondered what Allegra was going to be like. Was she going to be shy and reserved like Syssi or bossy and demanding like him?

  Or maybe she was going to be calculating like Andrew, or dramatic like Amanda, or serene like Alena, or entrepreneurial like Sari? Or Fates forbid a daredevil like her grandmother. He wouldn’t have a moment’s peace.

  Over the last week, Annani had taken full advantage of her temporary residence, inviting people over for lunches and dinners and afternoon teas. Today’s lunch, however, was only for the family, which provided a perfect setting for his and Syssi’s announcement.

  Glancing around the backyard, Kian searched for Andrew and Dalhu, finding them standing under a tree and laughing over something on Andrew’s phone.

  He walked over. “Did Anandur post new jokes?”

  Andrew shook his head. “It’s a meme that has gone viral. Here.” He handed Kian the phone.

  Kian didn’t find it all that funny, but that was probably because his head was someplace else. He smiled and handed Andrew his phone back.

  With everyone accounted for, it was a good time to make the announcement.

  It would have been better to do it after lunch, but rumors spread lightning-fast through the village, and he didn’t want his family to find out about it on the clan’s virtual bulletin board, or read a congratulating text from someone who had visited Ella that morning.

  Walking over to Syssi, Kian offered her a hand up, and then leaned to whisper in her ear. “Now?”

  She nodded. “You do it.”

  No surprise there. Syssi didn’t like being the center of attention and found it much more comfortable to have him as her champion, a role he embraced wholeheartedly.

  “If I may have everyone’s attention for a moment, Syssi and I have an announcement to make.”

  Amanda turned around with a big grin spreading over her face and clapped her hands, which Phoenix mimicked right away, clapping her chubby little hands with glee.

  Her hand over her heart, a beatific smile spread over Alena’s gentle features.

  Annani glided over and hugged Syssi. “I am so happy.”

  Kian shook his head. “We didn’t make the announcement yet.”

  His mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Get on with it already so I can hug you too.”

  “In about thirty-seven weeks, Syssi and I are going to become parents.” He bent down to make it easier for his mother to embrace him.

  “I could not be happier.” She glanced at Amanda. “Maybe if I got some great news from you too, Mindi…”

  “Not likely.” Amanda put her arms around Syssi and Kian. “I’m satisfied with being the cool aunt. I hope you are having a girl.”

  Syssi nodded. “I have a feeling that I am.”

  “Then it’s a girl for sure. Your feelings are as good as a promissory note.”

  Next it was Andrew’s turn. “In case you’re wrong, and it’s a boy, I would like you to consider Jacob as his name.”

  “Of course.” Syssi teared up and hugged her brother.

  It was good that they were having a girl because Kian didn’t like the idea of naming a child of his after someone who had died tragically. He’d lost a brother too, but as much as he’d loved Lilen, he would not name his son after him.

  Alena gave them each a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek. “When the time comes, you need to travel to the sanctuary. That’s the safest place to deliver your baby.”

  Syssi nodded, but he knew she wouldn’t want to leave him behind, and there was no way he could take such a long vacation, especially since his mother would insist that they stay a few weeks after the delivery.

  Except, he might be able to work from there. Most of what kept him busy was done in the office, and if he couldn’t avoid meetings, he could fly in for the day and come back at night.

  Yeah. That was a good plan. This baby was going to get every advantage and safety measure possible. He shouldn’t let his work jeopardize even one hair on her precious head.

  Next was Dalhu, who shook their hands and congratulated them, and lastly Nathalie, who’d been wiping tears from her eyes from the moment he’d made the announcement.

  “I’m so happy that I can’t contain it. You give us hope for the future.” She embraced and kissed Syssi, then hesitantly gave Kian a quick hug.

  “Let’s have a toast,” Andrew said, waving one of the Odus over. “Do you have champagne in the house? “

  The Odu bowed. “Of course, master. Should I bring it out with wine flutes for everyone?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Once that was done and everyone was holding a flute, Andrew raised his. “To Syssi and Kian. May the next thirty-seven weeks pass easily and uneventfully, and may they welcome their healthy child with joy and love in their hearts.”

  When everyone was done cheering, Andrew continued. “May this child be the first among many more to come. I want that playground to get so overrun with kids that we will have to double its size.”

  Everyone drank to that too.

  “To the future of the clan.” Annani lifted her flute. “May all my children and their children and their children’s children find true-love mates, and may their unions be fruitful.”

  53

  Annani

  As Annani looked at the long table loaded with platters of food, surrounded by her family, her heart swelled with love and gratitude. Still, like every other happy moment in her life, this one was tinged with sorrow as well. Her happiness could never be complete without all her children and her beloved husband gathered around her.

  Sari could have been there, but Lilen and Khiann…well, there was no way to bring back the dead.

  Not in the flesh, anyway.

  Nathalie could converse with spirits, but she could not call them to her. They had to find her.

  Secretly, Annani had hoped that her loved ones would find the conduit Nathalie provided and communicate through her, but they had either passed beyond the veil or had forgotten her.

  After many months of hoping to hear from Nathalie that either Lilen or Khiann had communicated with her, Annani had to accept that it was not going to happen.

  The disappointment had been devastating, but as always, Annani had hidden her anguish behind a cheerful mask and kept on going because there was no other choice.

  Life went on.

  Instead of dwelling on what could not be, she should focus on her blessings. In thirty-seven weeks, a new grandchild was going to brighten her days, and if the Fates were willing, she would soon get her sister back.

  Lifting her goblet, Annani leaned back in her chair. “Kian, how are things progressing with the plan to save Areana?”

  “We are still working on the details, but it seems that we have at least the part about getting Carol onto the island nailed down. What we don’t have is a way to get Areana out, but Turner is working on it.”

  “How are you going to get Carol in?” Andrew asked.

  Kian glanced around the table, his eyes stopping on Nathalie, the only one who he believed was out of the loop. Except, Annani was sure that she knew more than Kian would have liked because there were no secrets between mates. If Kian had not explicitly forbidden it, Andrew had most likely shared the news with her.

  “Please keep everything I’m going to tell you to yourselves. I don’t think we have spies in our midst, but as always, I’d rather be careful.”

  “Of course.” Nathalie nodded.

  “We are going to use the Russian mobster who had held Ella captive. Lokan has damning i
nformation on Gorchenco that should be enough to get him to cooperate with us. He’s been a client of the island for many years, so he’ll have no problem booking another vacation, but this time he will arrive with his new girlfriend, Carol. They will pretend to have a lovers' quarrel, and he is going to leave her on the island. Lokan is going to use his connections to get her working in the harem, and she is going to dream-share with him her findings. If Areana is there, we will communicate with Carol via Lokan and give her instructions on how to proceed. Regrettably, we don’t have that part figured out yet.”

  Andrew rubbed his hand over the back of his head. “Did you figure out how Carol is going to fake her death yet?”

  Annani gasped. “What is he talking about?”

  “The only way Carol can get out of the harem is by faking her death. Gorchenco will come back for her, and demand to take her body for burial back home. Bridget is working on rigging an insulin pump with a deadly dose of toxin. To humans, that is. We know it can’t kill Carol, but it can put her in stasis, which they will assume is either death or coma. In both cases we believe that they will have no problem handing her over to Gorchenco. He is an important arms supplier to the Brotherhood, and they will want to keep him happy.”

  Amanda crossed her arms over her chest. “You are making an awful lot of assumptions.”

  Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “You don’t need to tell me that. The good news is that in case something goes wrong, Lokan might be able to bail Carol out. Just as Parker removed Lokan’s compulsion from his mother and sister via a video chat, Lokan can compel humans on the island, specifically the pilots. They can help get her out.”

  Annani did not understand the difficulty. “You can just fly a helicopter in, hover over the harem and drop a ladder. Now that we know where the island is, it should not be difficult.”

  Kian chuckled. “I wish it were that easy. First of all, they have anti-aircraft missiles and can shoot the helicopter down before it even gets near the target. Secondly, the island is blanketed in dense tree cover, so hovering low enough to drop a ladder is not possible. Third, Areana is not a trained commando, and even they have trouble climbing a ladder into a hovering helicopter. And fourth, her guards are going to follow her and drag her down. She is a goddess, and stronger than a human female, but I’m sure she has many human guards surrounding her at all times. She can’t outrun and overpower them all.”