by I. T. Lucas
Annani sat on an armchair and crossed her legs. “Extreme emotions affect the intensity of the glow.” She grinned. “That is why I never allow myself to get depressed. I always fear that my glow is going to get snuffed out for good. It happened to my sister. Well, almost. The one time I’ve seen her emit any light at all was when she talked about your father, Lokan.”
His eyes widened. “She loved him?”
“I would not use as strong a word as love, but he awakened her femininity, which had lain dormant ever since Areana had lost her true-love mate. She mourned her beloved for seven decades, ignoring all the suitors that came calling until they gave up on her.” The goddess leaned forward as if to tell them a secret. “They were all gods, but the one to awaken her spirit was just an immortal, albeit a very powerful one.”
“Did Navuh love Areana?” Carol asked.
“He was certainly taken with her.” Annani sighed. “But he was a different man back then. There was decency in him. I do not know what made him change. Perhaps it was losing his father, or perhaps it was misplaced guilt for what his father had done, or maybe he just inherited Mortdh’s insanity and it has taken many years to manifest.”
“Is there a point to this story, Mother?” Kian asked.
She waved a dismissive hand. “I am just reminiscing, that is all. I came here to hear from Lokan what he thinks about the plan to rescue Areana.”
Lokan’s arms tightened around Carol. “I think it might work, but I don’t want my mate to risk her life for it. Not even to save my mother. I know it is selfish of me, but I just found her, and I don’t want to lose her. My life is worthless without her.”
Annani nodded. “I understand perfectly. When my Khiann decided to embark on a trading expedition, I did not want him to go either. We were newly mated, and I loved him with intense passion. But loving him also meant accepting him the way he was and respecting his wishes and his choices. He would have felt stifled by palace life, and in time he would have grown to resent me for keeping him by my side. I had to let him go, and there has not been a day since that I have not regretted it. But I keep reminding myself that if he had stayed with me, both of us would have perished with the rest of the gods. So, in a way, by going away he saved me.”
A tear slid down Annani’s face, and she wiped it off with the back of her hand. “After all these years, I still get emotional.” She took a fortifying breath. “What I am trying to say is, that we cannot shield our loved ones from every danger, and we cannot smother them with our love either. There is this silly saying that if you love someone you need to let them go. I think it should say that if you love someone you need to give them space to breathe.”
Carol nodded. “The Fates have been working long and hard to bring us to this point. I don’t know what their end game is, but I know that going to the island is my destiny. Everything is pointing in that direction.” She turned to Lokan and cupped his cheek. “And I also know that the Fates are not cruel enough to bring us together and then tear us apart. We are meant to be together, and we will be. I promise you that.”
To be continued…
COMING UP NEXT
The Children of the Gods Book 31
Dark Prince’s Agenda
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Recommended reading before
book 31 in The Dark Prince Trilogy
1: Annani & Khiann’s story
Goddess’s Choice
2: Areana & Navuh’s story
Goddess’s Hope
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THE PERFECT MATCH SERIES
Perfect Match 1: Vampire’s Consort
Perfect Match 2: King’s Chosen
Perfect Match 3: Captain’s Conquest
The Children of the Gods Series
READING ORDER
THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS ORIGINS
The origins duo can be read independently of the main series, but I recommend reading Goddess’s Choice before book 20 in the Children of the Gods series, and Goddess’s Hope before book 31.
1
Goddess’s Choice
When gods and immortals still ruled the ancient world, one young goddess risked everything for love.
2
Goddess’s Hope
Hungry for power and infatuated with the beautiful Areana, Navuh plots his father's demise. After all, by getting rid of the insane god he would be doing the world a favor. Except, when gods and immortals conspire against each other, humanity pays the price.
But things are not what they seem, and prophecies should not to be trusted...
THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS
1
Dark Stranger The Dream
Syssi's paranormal foresight lands her a job at Dr. Amanda Dokani's neuroscience lab, but it fails to predict the thrilling yet terrifying turn her life will take. Syssi has no clue that her boss is an immortal who'll drag her into a secret, millennia-old battle over humanity's future. Nor does she realize that the professor's imposing brother is the mysterious stranger who's been starring in her dreams.
Since the dawn of human civilization, two warring factions of immortals—the descendants of the gods of old—have been secretly shaping its destiny. Leading the clandestine battle from his luxurious Los Angeles high-rise, Kian is surrounded by his clan, yet alone. Descending from a single goddess, clan members are forbidden to each other. And as the only other immortals are their hated enemies, Kian and his kin have been long resigned to a lonely existence of fleeting trysts with human partners. That is, until his sister makes a game-changing discovery—a mortal seeress who she believes is a dormant carrier of their genes. Ever the realist, Kian is skeptical and refuses Amanda's plea to attempt Syssi's activation. But when his enemies learn of the Dormant's existence, he's forced to rush her to the safety of his keep. Inexorably drawn to Syssi, Kian wrestles with his conscience as he is tempted to explore her budding interest in the darker shades of sensuality.
2
Dark Stranger Revealed
While sheltered in the clan's stronghold, Syssi is unaware that Kian and Amanda are not human, and neither are the supposedly religious fanatics that are after her. She feels a powerful connection to Kian, and as he introduces her to a world of pleasure she never dared imagine, his dominant sexuality is a revelation. Considering that she's completely out of her element, Syssi feels comfortable and safe letting go with him. That is, until she begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. Piecing the puzzle together, she draws a scary, yet wrong conclusion...
3
Dark Stranger Immortal
When Kian confesses his true nature, Syssi is not as much shocked by the revelation as she is wounded by what she perceives as his callous plans for her.
If she doesn't turn, he’ll be forced to erase her memories and let her go. His family's safety demands secrecy – no one in the mortal world is allowed to know that immortals exist.
Resigned to the cruel reality that even if she stays on to never again leave the keep, she'll get old while Kian won’t, Syssi is determined to enjoy what little time she has with him, one day at a time.
Can Kian let go of the mortal woman he loves? Will Syssi turn? And if she does, will she survive the dangerous transition?
4
Dark Enemy Taken
Dalhu can't believe his luck when he stumbles upon the beautiful immortal professor. Presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to grab an immortal female for himself, he kidnaps her and runs. If he ever gets caught, either by her people or his, his life is forfeit. But for a chance of a loving mate and a family of his own, Dalhu is prepared to do everything in his power to win Amanda's heart, and that includes leaving the Doom brotherhood and his old life behind.
Amanda soon discovers that there is more to the handsome Doomer than his dark past and a hulking, sexy body. But succumbing to her enemy's seduction, or worse, developing feelings for a ruthless killer is out of the question. No man is worth life on the run, not even the one and only immortal male she could claim as her own…
Her clan and her research must come first…
5
Dark Enemy Captive
When the rescue team returns with Amanda and the chained Dalhu to the keep, Amanda is not as thrilled to be back as she thought she'd be. Between Kian's contempt for her and Dalhu's imprisonment, Amanda's budding relationship with Dalhu seems doomed. Things start to look up when Annani offers her help, and together with Syssi they resolve to find a way for Amanda to be with Dalhu. But will she still want him when she realizes that he is responsible for her nephew's murder? Could she? Will she take the easy way out and choose Andrew instead?
6
Dark Enemy Redeemed
Amanda suspects that something fishy is going on onboard the Anna. But when her investigation of the peculiar all-female Russian crew fails to uncover anything other than more speculation, she decides it's time to stop playing detective and face her real problem—a man she shouldn't want but can't live without.
6.5
My Dark Amazon
When Michael and Kri fight off a gang of humans, Michael gets stabbed. The injury to his immortal body recovers fast, but the one to his ego takes longer, putting a strain on his relationship with Kri.
7
Dark Warrior Mine
When Andrew is forced to retire from active duty, he believes that all he has to look forward to is a boring desk job. His glory days in special ops are over. But as it turns out, his thrill ride has just begun. Andrew discovers not only that immortals exist and have been manipulating global affairs since antiquity, but that he and his sister are rare possessors of the immortal genes.
Problem is, Andrew might be too old to attempt the activation process. His sister, who is fourteen years his junior, barely made it through the transition, so the odds of him coming out of it alive, let alone immortal, are slim.
But fate may force his hand.
Helping a friend find his long-lost daughter, Andrew finds a woman who's worth taking the risk for. Nathalie might be a Dormant, but the only way to find out for sure requires fangs and venom.
8
Dark Warrior’s Promise
Andrew and Nathalie's love flourishes, but the secrets they keep from each other taint their relationship with doubts and suspicions. In the meantime, Sebastian and his men are getting bolder, and the storm that's brewing will shift the balance of power in the millennia-old conflict between Annani's clan and its enemies.
9
Dark Warrior’s Destiny
The new ghost in Nathalie's head remembers who he was in life, providing Andrew and her with indisputable proof that he is real and not a figment of her imagination.
Convinced that she is a Dormant, Andrew decides to go forward with his transition immediately after the rescue mission at the Doomers' HQ.
Fearing for his life, Nathalie pleads with him to reconsider. She'd rather spend the rest of her mortal days with Andrew than risk what they have for the fickle promise of immortality.
While the clan gets ready for battle, Carol gets help from an unlikely ally. Sebastian's second-in-command can no longer ignore the torment she suffers at the hands of his commander and offers to help her, but only if she agrees to his terms.
10
Dark Warrior’s Legacy
Andrew's acclimation to his post-transition body isn't easy. His senses are sharper, he's bigger, stronger, and hungrier. Nathalie fears that the changes in the man she loves are more than physical. Measuring up to this new version of him is going to be a challenge.
Carol and Robert are disillusioned with each other. They are not destined mates, and love is not on the horizon. When Robert's three months are up, he might be left with nothing to show for his sacrifice.
Lana contacts Anandur with disturbing news; the yacht and its human cargo are in Mexico. Kian must find a way to apprehend Alex and rescue the women on board without causing an international incident.
11
Dark Guardian Found
What would you do if you stopped aging?
Eva runs. The ex-DEA agent doesn't know what caused her strange mutation, only that if discovered, she'll be dissected like a lab rat. What Eva doesn't know, though, is that she's a descendant of the gods, and that she is not alone. The man who rocked her world in one life-changing encounter over thirty years ago is an immortal as well.
To keep his people's existence secret, Bhathian was forced to turn his back on the only woman who ever captured his heart, but he's never forgotten and never stopped looking for her.
12
Dark Guardian Craved
Cautious after a lifetime of disappointments, Eva is mistrustful of Bhathian's professed feelings of love. She accepts him as a lover and a confidant but not as a life partner.
Jackson suspects that Tessa is his true love mate, but unless she overcomes her fears, he might never find out.
Carol gets an offer she can't refuse—a chance to prove that there is more to her than meets the eye. Robert believes she's about to commit a deadly mistake, but when he tries to dissuade her, she tells him to leave.
13
Dark Guardian’s Mate
Prepare for the heart-warming culmination of Eva and Bhathian's story!
14
Dark Angel's Obsession
The cold and stoic warrior is an enigma even to those closest to him. His secrets are about to unravel...
15
Dark Angel's Seduction
Brundar is fighting a losing battle. Calypso is slowly chipping away his icy armor from the outside, while his need for her is melting it from the inside.
He can't allow it to happen. Calypso is a human with none of the Dormant indicators. There is no way he can keep her for more than a few weeks.
16
Dark Angel's Surrender
Get ready for the heart pounding conclusion to Brundar and Calypso's story.
Callie still couldn't wrap her head around it, nor could she summon even a smidgen of sorrow or regret. After all, she had some memories with him that weren't horrible. She should've felt something. But there was nothing, not even shock. Not even horror at what had transpired over the last couple of hours.
Maybe it was a typical response for survivors--feeling euphoric for the simple reason that they were alive. Especially when that survival was nothing short of miraculous.
Brundar's cold hand closed around hers, reminding her that they weren't out of the woods yet. Her injuries were superficial, and the most she had to worry about was some scarring. But, despite his and Anandur's reassurances, Brundar might never walk again.
If he ended up crippled because of her, she would never forgive herself for getting him involved in her crap.
"Are you okay, sweetling? Are you in pain?" Brundar asked.
Her injuries were nothing compared to his, and yet he was concerned about her. God, she loved this man. The thing was, if she told him that, he would run off, or crawl away as was the case.
Hey, maybe this was the perfect opportunity to spring it on him.
17
Dark Operative: A Shadow of Death
As a brilliant strategist and the only human entrusted with the secret of immortals' existence,
Turner is both an asset and a liability to the clan. His request to attempt transition into immortality as an alternative to cancer treatments cannot be denied without risking the clan's exposure. On the other hand, approving it means risking his premature death. In both scenarios, the clan will lose a valuable ally.
When the decision is left to the clan's physician, Turner makes plans to manipulate her by taking advantage of her interest in him.
Will Bridget fall for the cold, calculated operative? Or will Turner fall into his own trap?
18
Dark Operative: A Glimmer of Hope
As Turner and Bridget’s relationship deepens, living together seems like the right move, but to make it work both need to make concessions.
Bridget is realistic and keeps her expectations low. Turner could never be the truelove mate she yearns for, but he is as good as she’s going to get. Other than his emotional limitations, he’s perfect in every way.
Turner’s hard shell is starting to show cracks. He wants immortality, he wants to be part of the clan, and he wants Bridget, but he doesn’t want to cause her pain.
His options are either abandon his quest for immortality and give Bridget his few remaining decades, or abandon Bridget by going for the transition and most likely dying. His rational mind dictates that he chooses the former, but his gut pulls him toward the latter. Which one is he going to trust?
19
Dark Operative: The Dawn of Love
Get ready for the exciting finale of Bridget and Turner’s story!
20
Dark Survivor Awakened
This was a strange new world she had awakened to.
Her memory loss must have been catastrophic because almost nothing was familiar. The language was foreign to her, with only a few words bearing some similarity to the language she thought in. Still, a full moon cycle had passed since her awakening, and little by little she was gaining basic understanding of it--only a few words and phrases, but she was learning more each day.
A week or so ago, a little girl on the street had tugged on her mother's sleeve and pointed at her. "Look, Mama, Wonder Woman!"