DARK GUARDIAN CRAVED (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 12)

by I. T. Lucas

  He reached down, threading his arm around the backs of her knees to pick her up, but she stopped him with a hand to his chest. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.” She took off, running out of the apartment as if someone was chasing her.

  What the hell?

  A few moments later she came back with a big grin on her doll-like face. “It worked. The perfume covered the scent of my arousal. Syssi confirmed it.”

  “You could’ve asked me. Who the hell can smell anything with that overwhelming scent you sprayed on? What happened? The bottle broke?”

  She slapped his arm. “No, silly, it was a test to see if a heavy perfume could mask my special scent—the one that identifies me as an immortal female.”

  Suspicious, he narrowed his eyes. “Why are you suddenly worried about that? Are you planning on going clubbing again?”

  She shifted her eyes away, a sign she was uncomfortable about something and was most likely to lie. “Yeah. The girls invited me to join them to a club that has an erotic dance show, and I was worried we would get excited and that our scent could identify us to Doomers.”

  The story sounded plausible enough. But even though Carol was going with several other immortal females, it didn’t mean that having witnesses was going to stop her from flirting with the human males, or worse.

  “You don’t need to worry about Doomers. None have ever met any immortal females. The males have no idea what scent to search for. But nevertheless, I don’t like you going to a place like that. Who else is going? Because I can’t see Kian letting Syssi go without him. Was it Amanda’s idea?”

  Dalhu and he weren’t friends. The guy wanted nothing to do with him, but Robert had eyes. Amanda did whatever she pleased with no regard for her mate. Dalhu should’ve felt shamed by her outrageous behavior. Some of the things Robert had heard her say in public made his ears turn red.

  But the guy seemed fine with that. As a warrior of some repute and a male who grew up on the teachings of Mortdh, Dalhu shouldn’t have been so lenient with his female. Even Carol, who didn’t consider Robert her mate, was more respectful of him and their status as a couple. She never told crude jokes, or remarked on the fine posterior of that actor or another and what she would’ve done to said posterior if she were to get her hands on it.

  “No.” Carol turned around and headed for the bathroom.

  He followed. “So whose?”

  She stepped into the shower and turned the water on. “No one’s. I made it up.”

  “What?” Was she planning on going by herself? And seducing a fucking mortal? He’d been afraid the day would come when she told him it was over and kicked him out.

  “I’ll tell you after I’m done showering. I want to wash the perfume off.” She started undressing.

  “No. You’ll tell me right now.”

  Nude from the waist up, Carol put her hands on her hips. “Fine. I’m training to become a special kind of Guardian. A spy. Part of my training is to pass for a human among immortals.”

  “Spy on whom?”

  Carol arched a brow.

  “Doomers?”

  “Who else?”

  Robert shook his head. “I don’t get it. The Doomers’ local base was destroyed, and as far as we know, no new one has been established.”

  “Eventually they will come and build a new base, and besides, I’m not ready yet. It will take time before I can go on an assignment. I’m just starting my training.”

  Something was missing from her story. Carol had been going to self-defense classes regularly, but she hadn’t been taking them too seriously and hadn’t said anything about plans to become a Guardian. He’d assumed she was treating it as a form of exercise. Besides, the woman was never going to make it through real training. She had the guts and resilience of a lioness but the lazy attitude of a spoiled house cat.

  A spy, though, needed a different set of skills than a warrior. Maybe she had what it took for that. Was she cunning? Not so much. Could she lie convincingly? Hell, yeah.

  Still, how was she going to spy on Doomers? How was she going to get close enough? The only contact they had with human females was—

  “Over my dead body!” he yelled, fisting his hands as his anger rose to boiling. “You’re going to fuck them? Is that the kind of spying you’re gonna do?”

  Carol took a step back and put her hand up to stop him from advancing on her. “Please calm down. You’re scaring me. Go back to the living room and wait for me to finish showering. We’ll talk then, like two rational adults.”

  The last thing he wanted was to leave before getting an answer, but she was right about his need to calm down. The fear in her eyes was real.

  “Don’t take too long,” he managed to hiss through elongated fangs.

  Robert poured himself a tall Lagavulin, emptied it and refilled the glass. The thirteen minutes it had taken Carol to shower had been the longest in his life.

  Stepping into the living room, she pointed to the sofa. “Let’s sit down.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  Carol sat and patted the spot next to her. “Come on, Robert, let’s be adult about this.”

  Reluctantly, he did as she asked, sitting on the edge, and tapping his foot. “Start talking.”

  Carol sighed. “The training is going to be intense and long. I’m talking months or even years. So none of the stuff you’re worried about is going to happen any time soon. Eventually, though, it will. That’s what I’m good at. More so than anyone I know. It may not be the most respected ability, but it is mine. I can seduce and manipulate males like no other.”

  “I can’t believe Kian would whore you out like that.” He was going to have a talk with the regent, and give the guy a piece of his mind. Not only was it despicable to use Carol like that, but it was also irresponsible. Kian was putting her in danger of the worst kind. Eternal hell. That was what awaited her.

  Carol's eyes narrowed in anger. “Let’s be clear about one thing. Kian is not making me do anything I don’t want to do.”

  Robert pushed up to his feet and glared at her. “How can you even consider falling into Doomers’ hands again? After all you’ve been through?”

  “I’m doing it because of what I’ve been through, not despite it. I’ve proven to myself that I’m strong, and enduring the worst without breaking lessened my fears instead of intensifying them. I also experienced what the women endure whom the Doomers capture and keep. I got away. The ones who are delivered to the island are imprisoned for life. I’m their only hope.”

  Carol had given away more than she’d intended, and Robert felt his blood freeze in his arteries. “Did all of you go insane? This thing is about infiltrating the island? It’s suicide! You’ll be dead or wish you were before your feet ever touch the island’s ground!”

  Carol’s eyes flashed in anger. “Don’t twist my words around. Anything I discover will help liberate the women. I don’t have to be physically there to do it.”

  Robert’s arteries began to defrost, and he let out a relieved breath.

  Anything was less dangerous for Carol than going to the fucking island. Even if she weren’t discovered right away, she would be trapped there forever and eventually her secret would get out. It was a death sentence either way.

  “You have no idea how glad I am this is not on the table. I don’t want you to die.”

  A guilty look ghosted over Carol’s features so quickly Robert wasn’t sure it had been there at all. Had she been lying?

  He sat back down and took her hands in his. “Tell me the truth, Carol.”

  With a sigh, she nodded. “The island is on the agenda. I don’t know if anything will come out of it, there are no definite plans, but it’s a possibility.”

  The prickling ice was back. “I can’t watch you do it. I just can’t. I was there when you screamed, Carol. I threw away my life to stop it. That time you were taken against your will, there was nothing you could’ve done to avoid that fate. But now you’re going to hell
willingly, intentionally.” He shook his head. “I know you’re not going to listen to me, and I can’t watch you sign yourself up for an eternal nightmare.”

  Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she pulled out one hand from his to wipe them away. “I’m not crying because I feel sorry for myself, or because I’m suddenly afraid. I’m crying because I know I’m hurting you. I don’t want to cause you pain, Robert, and yet no matter how hard I try I always do. You’ll be better off without me. Find yourself an immortal female who will adore you, and forget about me.” She chuckled through her tears. “I think the best thing I can do for you is to kick you out. If I don’t, you’ll just keep trying and keep hurting. One of us needs to be strong and cut the twisted string that binds us to each other.”

  Chapter 26: Bhathian

  With Eva out of town and nothing to do, Bhathian fell back on old habits. He hadn’t had an evening gym session in a while. Having no wish to outgrow his new custom-made suit, he’d been limiting himself to his two-hour-long morning workout.

  The problem with going to the gym in the evening, though, was that it was overtaken by civilians who worked regular nine-to-five jobs. None of them was strong enough to act as his spotter, which wasn’t all bad. It would force him to do cardio, which he needed but hated because it made him feel like a gerbil on a spinning wheel. Running outside would’ve been much more pleasant, but his unnatural speed would’ve attracted attention. Kian had ordered special treadmills for them, designed with Guardians in mind. Faster and stronger.

  As he walked in, most people pretended not to see him, his perpetual frown warning them off. A few made eye contact, and he nodded at them. No reason to be rude. His mood improved when he saw Dalhu in the heavy weights area. The guy could spot him, and even better, no civilians loitered in that section of the gym.

  “Dalhu, my man, am I glad to see you.”

  Dalhu arched a brow.

  That probably wasn’t a sentence the guy heard often. Except for the Guardians who had witnessed his bravery and dedication to Amanda and the clan, most of the others were still wary of him and kept their distance.

  “I need a spotter.”

  Dalhu nodded. “You got it. But it will cost you.”

  “Name your price.”

  “You spot me in return.”

  “Good. I would hate to owe you a favor.” Too late he’d realized how offensive it must’ve sounded to Dalhu. “I like to repay my debts on the spot. The last guy who did me a favor took my daughter as payment. I have to be careful. I have no more offspring to barter.”

  The joke softened Dalhu’s hard expression, and he smiled. “You never know. Maybe Eva will give you another one.”

  “I should be so lucky.” Bhathian sat on the bench. The barbell was loaded with weight plates totaling six hundred pounds, enough for a warm-up.

  “Do you need me now or later?” Dalhu eyed the light weights.

  “Later. After the warm-up.”

  “Good.” The guy took the next bench over and started his routine.

  “I’m surprised to see you here again. You’ve done quite a workout this morning.” The Guardians, as well as Kian, Michael, and Dalhu preferred the early morning hours when there was no one else besides them in the gym. Bhathian thought that he was the only nutcase to go again at night.

  “Amanda stayed late at work.” Dalhu offered an explanation.

  That explained it. “Eva is out of town.”

  “I’m used to spending the days alone,” Dalhu said. “But in the evening, the place seems empty without her.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. We spend our entire lives alone and everything is fine, until a woman takes over our world and suddenly we can’t be without her. A piece of us goes missing when she’s away.”

  “Exactly.”

  Bhathian chuckled. “I’m glad no one is here to hear us. We sound like a couple of chicks.”

  Dalhu placed the barbell back on the rack. “I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. Except for Amanda, that is.” He frowned. “Kian and Annani too. But that’s it. Only three people whose opinion I value. Everyone else, I can take it or leave it.”

  “You’re your own island.”

  “Precisely. Spending most of my life in the company of morons, I’ve gotten used to keeping to myself.”

  Bhathian put the barbell back and sat up. “The Doomers can’t be all dumb. There must be at least a few who can think for themselves.”

  “Sure. Robert and I are examples of that. But flapping my gums to the wrong people could’ve led to deadly consequences. My strategy was to remain silent and listen. A man can learn a lot more if he keeps his mouth shut and his ears and eyes open.”

  Bhathian nodded. “Smart.” Dalhu’s comment got him thinking. Maybe he’d heard rumors about Doomers who’d deserted Navuh’s camp. The immortal who’d turned Eva had most likely been one.

  “I wonder if you’ve ever heard of other Doomers deserting? I’m sure you and Robert are not the only ones.”

  Dalhu pinned him with a hard stare. “Why do you want to know?”

  For a guy who claimed not to care what anyone thought of him, Dalhu sure was touchy. Bhathian considered giving a vague reason, that he was just curious, but if he wanted the guy to answer honestly, so should he.

  “I guess it’s not a secret that Eva was turned by a mystery immortal. I questioned every male clan member, but none remembered her. I doubt very much that any immortals other than us and the Doomers survived. If any had, we would’ve found them. We’ve been searching for centuries. So the only logical explanation I can come up with is that it was a Doomer. But as far as we know, back then the Doomers had no presence in the States. A deserter, however, could’ve chosen to hide here precisely for that reason.”

  “I’ve never heard of anyone jumping ship, but that doesn’t mean anything. All missing men were presumed dead.”

  That made sense. An organization like that would want to keep a lid on what would have been perceived as failure. “Did it happen often? Men not coming back from missions?”

  “Not as far as I know. But I was just a lowly commander of a small unit. I wasn’t told anything that wasn’t necessary to my missions. You should talk to Robert. As Sharim’s assistant, he would’ve been exposed to much more information. Sharim was pretty high up in the organization. The only ones above him were Navuh’s sons.”

  “How many does he have?”

  “There are the five older ones that run the organization, and several younger that are not as prominent. I’m not sure how many of them there are. They don’t get any special treatment. Not unless they’ve proven they are better than everyone else and can be useful to their father. You should ask Robert about it too. He may know more about Navuh’s progeny. Or not.”

  “I will.”

  Once Bhathian had finished his workout and spotted for Dalhu, he headed straight for Robert’s office. Most likely the guy was still there. Managing the supply side of the Malibu project was keeping him busy.

  A shower would’ve been a good idea, but Bhathian preferred to avoid the one in the gym. A little sweat, or a lot in his case, should not bother a warrior, and especially not an ex-Doomer. Those guys were not known for their attention to hygiene.

  Bhathian knocked on the door before pushing it open all the way. “Can I bother you for a moment?” he asked as he stepped in.

  Robert looked surprised. “Any time. Please, take a seat.” He motioned to the only spare chair in his office. Bhathian had been there only once before, and he didn’t remember seeing the couch that was crammed into the small space. A neatly folded blanket covered a pillow.

  Had Carol kicked Robert out?

  That was probably what had happened, but Bhathian wasn’t going to say anything about it.

  It was none of his business.

  “I want to ask you a few questions about your past in the Doomer camp.”

  Robert’s face darkened. “What would you like to know?”

  Da
mn it. Bhathian wished he had better communication skills. It seemed he offended people left, right and center. “It’s not about you. I’m trying to figure out if the immortal who’d turned Eva was a Doomer deserter. I asked Dalhu about it, but he said he didn’t know of any and suggested that I come to you since you were higher up in the organization and therefore better informed.”

  That seemed to mollify the guy, and he straightened in his chair. “No one ever dared to suggest that warriors deserted. But I always suspected that some of the soldiers who were presumed dead faked it and ran. Especially if an entire unit was lost. When one or two died while the rest came home, it was for real because their comrades would not have covered for them. But not when a whole platoon went missing.”

  Bhathian whistled. “An entire platoon of immortals? How could that have happened?”

  “World War II, Hiroshima.” Robert leaned forward as if he was sharing a secret. “Not only that, the platoon was headed by one of Navuh’s sons. Back then he was the youngest, and there was talk that he was going to rise in the organization. Not all of them do. If they are not exceptional, Navuh doesn’t even acknowledge them. Out of shame, most try to hide their parentage, which isn’t all that difficult since they are raised like the rest of the Dormant kids by the other Dormant females and not their actual mothers.”

  “What the hell was he doing in Japan during WWII? Did Doomers mess with things there too?”

  Robert snorted. “Of course. But to perish in the nuclear explosion, he and his men must’ve been close to the epicenter. Seems to me like the perfect cover to make a run for it.”

  “Do you remember what he looked like?” It was illogical to assume that out of a group of forty to fifty deserters the one who’d turned Eva was the leader, but Bhathian was going with his gut instinct.

  Robert leaned back in his chair. “I do, vaguely. But they all share the same build and dark coloring.” He chuckled. “Either Navuh’s genes are dominant, or all the females in his harem look the same.”

  “You never saw them?”

  “None of the soldiers do. Total seclusion. Not even the sons themselves get to know their mothers. They are raised by the Dormants in the larger harem.”