Dark Overlord’s Clan (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 40)

by I. T. Lucas

  Kalugal’s arm around her tightened, and he smashed her against his body. “Now, I’m doubly glad that I didn’t let you drive to the hotel.”

  “Yeah, I’m glad too. Callie told me and Jin her story as a warning not to drive until after we transition.”

  “Wait a minute.” Kalugal’s hand on her back paused. “Did you say that Jin is growing venom glands?”

  “Yes. And it has never happened before. Mey’s canines fell out during her transition, and she grew a pair of cute little fangs, but they don’t elongate, so it’s not a big deal. Bridget said that Jin might get fully functional ones.”

  “That’s interesting.” His hand on her back resumed the slow caressing. “I wonder whether it’s a genetic mutation or did they inherit it from a deviant ancestor. Does Bridget know?”

  “If she does, she didn’t say anything, and Mey didn’t offer an explanation either.”

  “Their talents are also very different. I don’t know of any immortal that can do what they do. But on the other hand, I’ve been away from the island for over eighty years. Perhaps some of the new generation were born with new talents.”

  “Lokan should know that, right? He is still part of the Brotherhood.”

  “He is, and I will try to persuade him to jump ship like I did. It’s too dangerous for him, especially since he is living with Carol. Our father has spies everywhere, and he will become suspicious.”

  “Is there a way to detect that she is immortal? Because she and the other women look like regular humans.” Jacki scrunched her nose. “Except for Amanda. She is just inhumanly beautiful, and so is Kian.”

  Rolling on top of her, Kalugal affected a scowl. “More beautiful than I am?”

  “No way. You are the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met or seen or even dreamt about.”

  He smirked. “That’s the correct answer, my Jacqueline.” Dipping his head, he kissed her lips. “Are you ready for another round of fabulous lovemaking?”

  “Always, my love.”

  47

  Kalugal

  “That coffee smells wonderful.” Jacki walked out of the bedroom in her night robe.

  “What are you doing up so early?” Kalugal pulled her into his arms. “I was sure that you were going to sleep until noon.”

  Jacki smiled impishly. “Oh, so that was your plan. You wanted to exhaust me with nonstop lovemaking, so I’d forget about visiting Jin. But it didn’t work.” She kissed him on the lips. “Your venom is like a shot of energy. I feel as if I slept the whole night.”

  She hadn’t.

  There had been the five o’clock in the morning lovemaking, then a short nap, and then another one at seven.

  Frankly, he was tired. Not because of the sex, of course, he could go on many more times, but because of the lack of sleep. Except, there was no way Kalugal was going to admit it.

  He was a demigod, and he had a reputation to uphold.

  Cupping her lush ass, he smirked. “If that’s true, after three injections, you should be ready for the fourth.”

  “Again, nice try. I know that Kian is going to get here around ten, and that’s in less than fifteen minutes.”

  “That’s long enough.” He lifted her and started walking toward the bedroom.

  Jacki laughed. “Put me down. I want to have a cup of coffee with you before Kian gets here.”

  “Coffee can wait.”

  “No, it can’t.”

  With a resigned sigh, he let her slide down his body, making sure that she felt how hard he was, just in case she was wondering if he could go for another round.

  “That’s not going to work either.” She slapped his arm.

  He tapped his nose. “It did work.”

  “Ugh. That sense of smell of yours is so annoying. I can’t hide anything from you.” Jacki sat on the couch and rearranged her robe, covering her beautiful, long legs.

  “You can hide plenty, just not your arousal.” He walked over to the coffeemaker, poured her a cup, added cream and sugar, and stirred.

  “What can I hide?”

  “Your thoughts.” He handed her the cup. “Your intentions.”

  “But not if I get excited by them. Then you will smell it.”

  “Only if the excitement is the result of naughty thoughts. I can also smell when you are sad or anxious or frightened. But I won’t know the cause unless you tell me.”

  She tilted her head. “Isn’t that strange for you? You are so used to just reaching into someone’s head and getting what you need.”

  “I don’t do that unless the information is vitally important and I can’t get it by just asking or compelling them to reveal it. Very rarely, I encounter a person who doesn’t respond to compulsion but can be thralled. Besides, I only have access to recent memories or very vivid imaginings. I see them as movies. Thoughts are different, too jumbled and racing all over to paint a coherent picture. If someone has a thought when I’m right there and it’s very visual and linear, I can read that.”

  “Is it the same for all immortals?”

  “For most. A very strong telepath might tune into thoughts, and a strong empath can tune into emotions. But those are specific talents that I don’t possess.”

  “But all immortals can thrall, right?”

  He nodded. “There are degrees of that too. Most can also shroud, but only themselves and only for a few minutes. Yamanu, who can shroud an entire city block for hours, including sounds and smells, is one of a kind. He can also thrall an entire city block, which is unique.”

  Frowning, Jacki took a sip from her coffee. “Maybe Yamanu is a demigod too?”

  “He is not one of Annani’s children. So, no. He is just a very talented immortal.”

  “Maybe his father was a demigod?”

  “Not possible. Up until recently, the children born to the clan were all fathered by humans, and although an immortal can thrall a human female to forget his fangs, he can’t thrall an immortal female. If any of the clan females had encountered a male of our species, they would have remembered it.”

  “What if the father was like you? He could have compelled Yamanu’s mother to forget his fangs.”

  Smiling, Kalugal wrapped his arm around Jacki’s shoulders. “There is no one like me. I’m one of a kind.”

  “Not true. Your father can do the same things that you can.”

  “Don’t remind me. I don’t like to think about him and the genes I inherited from him and my grandfather.”

  “You are a good man, Kalugal. You’re not like them.”

  “Ah, but what if the crazy gene lies dormant, just waiting for some trigger to bring it out? Perhaps my father and grandfather were decent men until they were hit over the head with some calamity that loosened the screws in their otherwise brilliant minds?”

  Jacki put the cup down and took his hand. “I don’t believe that being bad is genetic.”

  Lifting their entwined hands, Kalugal kissed the back of Jacki’s. “Unfortunately, you are wrong. Genetics play a greater role in shaping who we are than anything else. I just hope that the genes I inherited from my mother are pure enough to offset the bad ones that I inherited from my father.”

  48

  Jacki

  “Why are you crying?” Jacki rushed in and hugged Jin.

  Jin put a hand over her mouth. “I’m not.”

  She was, and Jacki didn’t need immortal senses to see that her friend’s eyes were red.

  Behind her, Phinas and Chad stood at the entrance to the hotel suite, unsure of what they were supposed to do next.

  “Hi, Jacki.” Arwel walked in from the balcony. “Phinas, Chad, why don’t you join us on the terrace?”

  It seemed like all the men were outside, giving Jin room to be miserable with her sister and girlfriends, or just hiding from the tears. Except, even though Arwel closed the French door, they could probably hear everything.

  Freaking immortals.

  But at least they couldn’t smell anything from out there.
<
br />   “Your eyes are red.” She took Jin’s hand and cradled it between hers.

  Still covering her mouth with the other, Jin sniffled. “I cried before. I’m not crying now.”

  “Okay. Why were you crying before?”

  Jin opened her mouth, pointing to the gaps where her canines were missing. “They fell out during the night. I was lucky I didn’t swallow them. I’m growing freaking fangs, my gums hurt, my throat hurts, and I’m miserable.”

  Jacki glanced at Arwel through the glass door. The guy’s usual expression was tinted with a shade of suffering, but today there was an additional layer of guilt to it.

  Was Jin blaming him for what was happening to her?

  “Hey, no need to panic. You might grow cute little fangs like Mey’s. They are adorable, and I’m sure Arwel will find them sexy.”

  “That’s what he keeps saying, but it’s just talk.” Jin leaned closer to Jacki’s ear. “If they end up being long like his, it will be like me having a dick. Arwel will feel like he is having sex with a dude.”

  Unable to help herself, Jacki laughed. “Not the same, sweetie. Definitely not the same.” She leaned to whisper in Jin’s ear. “You are still the sheath, and he is still the sword. It just happens that both are decorated with thorns. If you grow really big ones, I mean.”

  “I like the analogy,” Amanda said. “I told Jin that she is overreacting. Transitioning wreaks physical and emotional havoc.” She cast Jin a pitying look. “It’s just your hormones talking, darling.”

  “Oh, yeah? How would you like to have elongating fangs and venom glands like the men?”

  Amanda put the magazine she’d been flipping through down on her knees. “I would love that. I don’t think it’s fair that we don’t have them. Fangs are weapons that the guys always have at their disposal. We, on the other hand, have to rely on pepper spray, or a handgun, or on our men. All are fine, but in some instances, there is no substitute for fangs that can inflict real damage.”

  “I agree,” Syssi said. “Although, in my case, I don’t think I could use fangs even if I had them, and the same goes for a handgun. Maybe I could use pepper spray because it’s nonlethal.”

  Amanda snorted. “A so-called nonlethal weapon had us all writhing on the ground, helpless. If not for Roni, we would be in the government facility in West Virginia by now. In our case, those are more dangerous than conventional weapons.”

  “Kian had his earpieces in,” Syssi said. “And so did Anandur and Brundar. The three of them could have overpowered Simmons, Roberts, and their hired goons.”

  “They were wearing earpieces only because Kian is paranoid, and the same is true for the drones. Imagine what would have happened if Kian trusted Kalugal and didn’t take all of these precautions.”

  Jacki shivered. “I’m so glad about that. I mean, not for Kian mistrusting Kalugal, I think he should have realized by now that Kalugal means him no harm. I’m talking about the safety measures.” Another shiver rocked her body.

  Jin frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” Jacki rubbed her arms. “It’s a little cold in here. And apparently, I’m more tired than I thought I was. I didn’t get to sleep much last night.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Jin flashed her a gap-toothed smile. “Your hubby kept you awake?”

  Jacki nodded. “The venom is like a wonder drug. But I guess the effect is only temporary.”

  Amanda leaned forward. “It’s not cold in here. We’ve turned the heating on for Jin. Maybe you have a fever?”

  Jacki put a hand on her forehead. “I feel a little warm.” Her eyes widened. “Could it be the start of the transition?”

  Jin laughed. “You’ve had sex for two days. That’s not nearly enough to trigger it. And as far as I know, the transition is not contagious, so you couldn’t have gotten it from me.”

  “Yeah, you are probably right. Maybe I caught a cold, or maybe it’s just exhaustion.”

  “I wish Bridget was here,” Syssi said. “At the least, she could have checked your fever.”

  “Maybe she left the thermometer behind?”

  Syssi shook her head. “She took her doctor’s bag with her to your place. She needs to check on Roberts. They plan on sending him home today.”

  Jacki shivered again. “I hope their plan works. What if Marisol can remove Kalugal’s compulsion from Roberts?”

  “Lokan is going to test it. His compulsion is more powerful than Marisol’s. But if he can remove Kalugal’s compulsion from Roberts, then there is a chance she can too.”

  Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “Roberts is going to fire her ass before she realizes that he is under compulsion.”

  “Yeah, but the first thing she’ll do will be to compel him to keep her,” Jin said. “She’s making way too much money from recruiting paranormal talents to just tuck her tail between her legs and leave. The bitch is going to fight.”

  “I hope Kalugal’s compulsion holds,” Jacki said. “So much is riding on it.”

  “Life is funny that way.” Syssi sighed. “Sometimes, the things we dread the most turn out to be a blessing and not the curse we believed it was. We were all so worried about Kalugal’s ability to compel other immortals, but it might just save us all. If the program was allowed to continue as is, it could have potentially led to our exposure. But that’s still nothing compared to the upside of possibly locating more paranormally talented people who might be Dormants. Our clan, as well as Kalugal’s people, need them to thrive. Maybe even to survive.”

  Jin dropped her head back on the couch pillows. “What I dread at the moment are the freaking fangs and saying goodbye to my bestie. If everything works out well with Roberts, we will leave tomorrow morning. Bridget wants me to be near the clinic.” She turned to Jacki. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

  With tears welling in her eyes, Jacki wrapped her arms around Jin and held her tightly. “Promise that you will come to visit me after your transition. I want to see those fangs.”

  “I promise. As soon as I’m back on my feet, I’ll grab Arwel, and we will come to see you.”

  “Ahem.” Syssi cleared her throat. “Kian might not allow that.”

  Jin shot her a glare. “Let him try to stop me.”

  “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just saying that he might forbid it, and you know why.”

  49

  Kian

  “Stage two is done.” Kian walked out of Roberts’s room.

  The guy’s heart was a ticking bomb, and after the amount of pressure Kalugal and then Kian had used on him, Bridget stayed with the guy to make sure he didn’t conk out.

  During the intense compulsion and then intrusive thrall, Roberts had suffered from heart palpitations, and Kian wondered whether they weren’t wasting their efforts on someone who wasn’t going to last long.

  Kalugal opened his office door. “Now, all that remains to be done is for Lokan to try to remove part of my compulsion.”

  “I could use a drink,” Kian said. “What do you have here?”

  “Take a look.” Kalugal motioned to the bar. “Whatever you choose, pour one for me too.”

  “How about you two take a seat, and I’ll serve you,” Anandur offered. “Both of you could use a rest.”

  “Fine by me.” Kian dropped next to Kalugal on the couch.

  They were both exhausted.

  Kalugal had gone first, compelling Roberts to do all the things they’d agreed upon. And Kian had taken it from there, performing a thralling job on Roberts with the intricacy of complicated brain surgery.

  Roberts wouldn’t remember that he was under compulsion, but it was firmly embedded in his mind.

  That had been the easy part. The difficult part was erasing the entire plan to capture them from the guy’s head and the events themselves.

  First, Kian had had to check who else knew about it, like the guy who’d loaned Roberts the long-range acoustic device, and the pilot who’d flown them into San Francisco.

  Luckil
y, what Simmons and Roberts had been planning to do was illegal, so they hadn’t gotten approval for any part of it, and they hadn’t shared details with anyone either. Even Marisol hadn’t known what they’d been up to.

  If she had, that would have been a serious complication since she couldn’t be thralled or compelled to forget it.

  Anandur handed Kian a drink. “Tell us the story that you put in Roberts' head.” He handed the other to Kalugal.

  Kian took a sip. “That was the most creative work I’ve done in a while. Syssi would be proud of how imaginative I was.” He leaned back and took another sip. “The story had to fit with their trip to San Francisco, explain the missing long-range acoustic device, and Simmons’s demise. And it had to be plausible.”

  “I can’t wait to hear it.” Kalugal crossed his legs at the ankles.

  “Some of the story is even based on the truth, which makes it more believable to Roberts. What I learned from Roberts’ memories, is that Simmons had a thing for very young women, and he liked to play out forced scenarios. At his age, the only way he could get that was to pay for the privilege. He’d bragged about his latest escapade to Roberts less than a week ago, so the memory was still fresh in Roberts' mind.”

  Kian paused to take another sip from the excellent bourbon. “So far, we are still dealing with facts. Here is how I embellished the story. One of his prior service providers had been underage at the time, but he didn’t know that, thinking that she was over eighteen. It had been a trap. The entire thing had been recorded, and she threatened to go to the police with the tape and also spread it online. Simmons asked Roberts to help him get rid of the problem.”

  Kalugal chuckled. “I can guess where you went with that. Simmons made a deal with the girl or her pimp to bring cash money to them. But instead of money, the suitcase contained a long-range acoustic device. They were going to use the device to stun her and her boyfriend, aka pimp, and take the evidence without paying. Except, that’s not believable since the girl and her guy would have kept a copy.”