by I. T. Lucas
“I hope not.” Vlad opened the door and walked into his mother’s open arms. “Thank you for coming to welcome us.” He kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear, “Be nice to Wendy. She’s nervous.”
“Of course.” His mother let go of him so he could open the door for Wendy.
“Come on.” He offered her his hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I know.” She let out a breath and took his hand.
“Hello, and welcome!” Stella pulled Wendy into a fierce embrace. “Finally, we meet.”
“Hi,” Wendy answered in the same fake cheerful voice. “I’m looking forward to seeing your workroom and the beautiful costumes you make. Vlad told me so much about them. And I love your outfit. Did you make it yourself? It’s so unique.”
This time, Stella’s smile was genuine. “I did, and I can make one for you as well.”
“Oh, I couldn't impose on you like that. You probably don’t have time for it.”
“In fact, I do.”
As Wendy and Stella chatted about making clothes, Vlad glanced at what was happening with Richard and Ingrid.
They embraced more like friends than lovers, said a few polite words to each other, and then walked over.
“Hello, I’m Richard.” Grinning like a Cheshire cat, the guy offered Stella his hand. “It’s good that I have the scoop now because I would have never believed that you are a day over twenty-five, or that Vlad is your son.” He glanced at Vlad and winked. “A fine young man you’ve raised, Stella. He is a standup guy.”
Smooth, which was unexpected from Richard, the guy who had a tendency to blurt out the most inappropriate things.
“Thank you.” Stella cast Richard a coquettish smile that made Vlad want to turn around and puke. “If I knew you were such a charmer, I might have come up to the cabin at least for the weekend.”
“Let’s get moving, people.” Bowen handed Vlad his and Wendy’s luggage. “I want to get home.”
Richard lifted Stella’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Bowen and Leon offered me the use of their couch, so I guess I need to go with them.”
“About that,” Ingrid said. “There was a change of plans. The three of you are getting your own place.”
That was a surprise. Vlad had thought that he and Wendy would be staying at his mother’s. After all, they weren’t a mated couple yet, and giving them their own house was premature.
“I’m glad.” Richard smiled sheepishly. “As much as I enjoy Bowen and Leon’s company, Vlad can cook, and they cannot.”
“You offend me.” Leon put a hand over his heart. “You told me that my steaks were the best you ever had.”
“And I meant it, buddy.” Richard clapped the Guardian on the back. “But nothing compares to Vlad’s bread and baguettes and muffins. Just thinking about waking up to those fabulous smells makes me salivate.”
47
Wendy
Meeting Vlad’s mother wasn’t as awkward as Wendy had feared. The compliments she’d prepared worked like a charm, and when Richard had arrived, Stella had forgotten that she was even there.
What hurt, though, was that none of her friends had shown up to welcome her. She’d hoped Jin and Mey would come, and maybe even Jacki, since she was in the village as well. Wendy had even dared to fantasize about Edna and Vanessa coming to greet her.
Oh, well. Evidently, she was still persona non grata.
It would take time before people forgot and forgave her betrayal, and she would have to work super hard at convincing everyone that she’d changed.
Instead of feeling hurt, she should be thankful that Kian had invited her to the clan’s secret village at all. It was kind of him to give her a second chance.
Or was it the third?
Sending her to the cabin with Vlad had been the second one.
So yeah, gratitude was what she should be feeling.
“Where is the house we are getting?” Vlad held the elevator door open.
Ingrid waited for Stella and Richard to enter before going in. “It’s not far from Kian and Syssi’s house.”
“Who moved?” Bowen asked. “There are no vacant houses in the main section of the village.”
“Theo, Alfie, and Jay.” Ingrid leaned against the elevator wall. “Since Kalugal is staying in the new phase, Kian didn’t want Annani to be near him and asked the Guardians to switch places with her. Then the wedding got postponed, and Annani decided to leave and come back later. That’s why the house the Guardians vacated is available for grabs. You can have it for a month.” She looked at Wendy and smiled. “And if everything goes well and you transition, you will get a permanent place in the new section of the village.”
As they exited the elevator, Wendy looked around the glass pavilion and then through the sliding doors to the outside. “It looks like Hawaii. Not that I’ve ever been there, but that’s how I imagine it.”
Vlad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I think it looks more like Switzerland.”
“Have you been there?”
He nodded. “I’ve seen most of Europe. When my mother and I go to visit my grandmother, we usually add one more destination to the trip.”
He’d led such a privileged life. They’d really come from two different worlds, and not only because Vlad grew up as an immortal and she as a human.
Stella chuckled. “That way, I don’t waste my entire vacation on visiting family, which I do more out of obligation than for fun.”
As Richard and Stella chatted about trips abroad, Wendy focused on absorbing the sights.
The village was beautiful, but there weren’t many people out and about. The few they’d passed either waved or said hello, but no one asked questions about the newcomers. Would she and Richard get ignored until they transitioned?
It was offensive, but it made sense to wait with introductions until they were immortal. There was no point in getting to know new people if their memories were going to be wiped out in two weeks. If they transitioned, they would stay, and only then would the villagers acknowledge them.
“Is that the house?” Richard pointed at the one with balloons tied to its porch railing.
“That’s the one.” Stella threaded her arm through his. “It’s our tradition to welcome newcomers with balloons and other decorations.”
That was nice of Ingrid and Stella.
“Did you do that, Mom?” Vlad asked.
“I helped. But most of the work was done by the Odus.”
“I see.” Vlad smiled as if he had just been told a secret.
As Wendy climbed the stairs, she didn’t hear any sounds or see anyone through the windows, but the excited vibe coming from the house was so strong that it wasn’t hard to guess that the place was packed.
A surprise party?
That was nice, but they were probably doing it for Richard, not for the traitor girl.
She stopped in front of the door and ran her fingers through her hair. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful as usual,” Vlad said. “Why?”
She glanced at Richard and decided not to ruin the surprise for him. “No reason. I just wanted to hear you say that.”
“That’s sweet.” Stella gave Richard a little shove. “Open the door. It’s unlocked.”
Wendy expected everyone to jump up and scream 'surprise' as soon as the door opened. But there was no one in the living room, just more balloons, and a small sign taped to the fireplace mantel that said Welcome to the Village.
As soon as they all entered, though, the sliding door to the backyard opened, and Jin came in together with Jacki. “Welcome to your new home.” Jin pushed the drapes aside, revealing the crowd outside.
As everyone started cheering and clapping, Wendy’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There is nothing to say. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry.” Jacki wrapped her arm around Wendy’s waist, while Jin wrapped hers around Richard’s, and together they stepped out into the crowd.
<
br /> “Let me introduce you to my husband,” Jacki said. “Or mate, as they refer here to a significant other.”
Floating in a semi dazed state, Wendy smiled and shook hands, and got hugs and claps on her back, kisses on her cheeks, and enough well-wishing to fill the many empty spaces in her heart.
48
Edna
Edna lifted another martini glass from Onidu’s tray and tried to blend into the background.
If she had known that Rufsur was going to be at the party, she wouldn’t have come. Large gatherings were not her thing, and the only reason she’d come was because of Wendy.
The girl was such a tortured soul.
Even though she had used her troubled past to hide her nefarious intentions during the probe, everything Edna had felt, Wendy had experienced, and it had been awful.
That knowledge was what had made it easy to forgive Wendy. If anyone deserved a second chance, it was her.
Casting furtive glances around, Edna wondered whether she could sneak out through the side gate. She’d already welcomed Wendy and Richard, so there was no reason to stay.
Except, that was such a cowardly thing to do, and Edna was no coward. She could face Rufsur and not succumb to his charms again.
Right.
The man was too sexy for his own good. Everything about him appealed to her, from the way he carried himself with the confidence of a man who knew his worth, to the way he smiled and laughed with ease, the way he looked at her…
Other than Robbie, no one had gazed upon her with so much desire in his eyes, such longing. It pulled at her heart, but that wasn’t the worst of it. The memory of the one evening they’d spent together made her tingle all over with need. If she didn’t get out of there, she was going to invite him to her bed without even waiting for the party to be over.
“He’s a fine specimen.” Amanda invaded Edna’s hiding place in the shadow of a tree and leaned against the trunk. “I heard that he paid you a visit yesterday.”
“Where did you hear that?”
Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “You know how it is in the village. A rumor starts before anything even happens. People have nothing better to do than gossip.” Casting Edna a sidelong glance, she smirked. “Come on, judge, confess your crimes.”
Even though she was furious, Edna shrugged. “What I do in my off time is my business and no one else’s, and it’s definitely not a crime.”
“Sheesh, Edna, have another martini and loosen up. I was just joking.” She waved Oridu over and lifted a glass off his tray. “Here you go.” She took Edna’s empty one and handed her the new.
Edna sighed. In her own overbearing way, Amanda was just trying to be friendly.
Besides, she was right about her being too uptight. After all, this was a party, not the courtroom or her office, and Amanda was a friend, not just a fellow council member.
“Rufsur is charming, handsome, and honest to a fault, which I find very appealing. But he is Kalugal’s second-in-command, and I’m who I am. A romance is not on the cards for us.”
Amanda nodded. “I admit that this is a difficult situation. But perhaps that’s the beauty of it. Everything worth having is worth fighting for.” She looked at her mate. “Can you think of a more improbable pairing than Dalhu and me? Or the challenges that we had to overcome to be together? You helped me then, and I’m going to repay the favor.”
Edna looked into Amanda’s deep blue eyes. “Promise me that you won’t do anything crazy.”
“Me?” Amanda pointed at herself. “When do I ever? I don’t know how I’ve gotten this reputation, but I assure you that I always think things through before I act.”
“Oh, really? Like it took you more than ten seconds to run off to Alex’s yacht.”
“It took longer than that, and you can’t hold it against me. I was desperate. Kian detested me, and I hated myself for wanting Dalhu despite knowing that he was in charge of the unit that killed Mark. Running away seemed like the best option. Besides, it gave me the distance I needed to realize that I couldn’t live without Dalhu and that I had to find a solution for us to be together. You helped me with that. It was a terrible one, but nothing short of that would have counted as redemption for what he did.”
“Dalhu was a soldier following orders. The incredible price he paid was to prove to you and Kian that he would do anything for you and to earn the clan’s forgiveness.”
“I know.” Amanda sighed. “I still feel guilty about that. But I couldn’t reconcile myself to having him as my mate without that sacrifice. Does that make me a bitch?”
“No, it just proves that you have feelings. You loved Mark. We all did.”
Taking a shuddering breath, Amanda nodded. “I miss him so much. But on the upside, I can talk to him through Nathalie.”
“He hasn’t moved on yet?”
Amanda shook her head. “He says that he has more work to do, but he doesn’t say what.” She took a sip from her drink. “Hey, maybe he’s going to help you and Rufsur find a solution.”
Edna groaned. “I don’t know what’s worse, getting you or a ghost meddling in my affairs. I’m not a young immortal, Amanda, and I’ve dealt with so much through my life, both in the human world and ours. I know which battles are worth fighting and which ones are lost causes, and I’m afraid that Rufsur and I belong to the latter. It was fun while it lasted, but it was a one-time thing. I’m not going to set myself up for heartache by pursuing this any further.”
“We shall see.” Amanda took a sip from her drink. “I believe that for every problem there is a solution, it’s just a question of how difficult it is to do. If Mark can come back from beyond the grave to offer Nathalie dating advice and to help Turner transition, then anything is possible.”
49
Rufsur
“You look tense.” Jacki patted Rufsur’s arm. “Relax. No one is going to attack you or your boss here. We are among friends.”
He forced a smile. “I’m here to protect Kalugal, and I’m not taking anything for granted. It’s different when he is in the house. I trust Theo and Jay as well as the other two on the night shift to protect you and Kalugal. But this place is teeming with people. Most of them might indeed be friendly, but all it takes is one guy with a different agenda and a sword.”
Jacki snorted. “You know nearly everyone here. Who is going to attack Kalugal, Vlad?”
Rufsur glanced at the lanky young immortal. “You can never know. That long black jacket he’s wearing is perfect for hiding a whole arsenal of weapons.” He leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “The radicals are usually young. They are the ones you should be wary of. He might harbor resentment toward former Brothers or be part of an underground resistance that plans to overthrow Kian.”
She laughed. “Oh, Rufsur. I didn’t know you were a conspiracy theorist. Vlad is a sweetheart, everyone can see that just from watching him interact with Wendy and his mother.” Jacki leaned closer. “If you want to know what a man is made of, watch how he acts toward his mother, his wife, or his girlfriend. If he’s respectful and loving toward the women in his life, he is a good man. If he’s offensive, dismissive, controlling, or overly demanding, then he is not someone you want to be friends with.”
“That’s a very astute observation that I would have never thought of on my own. The men I hang around with don’t have mothers or wives or girlfriends. But I see Kian and the other clan males and the way they are with their mates, and if what you are saying is true, then I should be friends with all of them.”
“Precisely. That’s what I opened with.” She patted his arm and then walked away to join her mate.
Apparently, Kalugal hadn’t been bullshitting when he’d claimed to need Jacki’s human perspective on things. Despite her young age, she knew stuff.
Maybe she could help him understand Edna.
Like why the hell was the woman hiding in the shadows and pretending not to see him?
The evening of passion they had spent togethe
r was unforgettable, and even if she never wanted to speak with him again, she shouldn’t pretend that it had never happened. It had been spectacular, and even though she’d made it clear that it had been a one-time deal, they had parted on friendly terms.
Perhaps he should just walk over and talk to her. She wouldn’t be able to ignore him if he was right there in her face.
Except, Amanda had beat him to it, and given Edna’s pinched expression, the two were discussing something important, like a legal issue, or some grave transgression a clan member had committed.
Perhaps someone had thrown an empty wrapper on the ground and had failed to pick it up. That seemed to be the extent of possible crimes in the utopian community Kian had created for his people.
Still, beneath the surface not everything was peachy in the clan, and the things he’d told Jacki were all possible. No matter how good of a job Kian did, some people were never going to be happy with him at the helm. It was the nature of things. There was always someone who thought that he could do better, either for the benefit of others or his own.
It could be as simple as resentment for allowing Kalugal’s men to court clan females, or as complicated as wanting to overthrow Kian and the goddess in the name of democracy or some other ideology or just self-interest.
When Amanda walked away, leaving Edna alone in her shady corner, Rufsur grabbed two appetizer plates from one of the butlers circulating with trays and headed her way.
“Hello again.” He handed her one. “I’ve seen you drinking aplenty, but you haven’t eaten anything.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you been spying on me, Rufsur?”
He leaned down, so his face was aligned with hers. “I’ve been watching out for you. There is a difference.”
“I don’t need a keeper.”
“I know. And I don’t need one either, but I would have loved for you to notice whether I’ve eaten or not, or anything else for that matter. You were doing your best to ignore me.”