by I. T. Lucas
“I would think that he would prefer a daughter.” Syssi pushed the tray of pastries toward Jacki. “Isn’t he afraid that his son might be the reincarnation of David’s brother?”
“I think that he forgot about that.” Jacki eyed the pastries. “I wish we didn’t have proof that reincarnation is real.” She chose a danish and unwrapped it. “I’d rather my child receive a new soul and not a recycled one.”
Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “What are the chances of the soul of Noah finding its way to your baby?”
“You never know.” Syssi lifted her coffee cup. “His brother told him that they would meet again soon.”
“Maybe someone else will get pregnant.” Jacki leaned forward. “Carol is meeting Lokan today at an undisclosed location, and from what she’s told me, she wants to start working on a baby.”
“It’s up to the Fates, girls.” Amanda crossed her arms over her chest. “Let’s talk about the wedding.” She smiled triumphantly. “I managed to convince Gerard to cater it.”
That was news to Syssi. “I thought that he couldn’t do it because he had all the weekends booked solid for the next six months.”
“We’ve gotten lucky, or maybe we owe thanks to divine intervention. First, Kian asked to push back the wedding by a week because he needed more time to arrange accommodations for all the clan members that are coming to celebrate with us, and then Gerard had a cancelation for that Saturday, and he also grudgingly agreed to cater Kian’s birthday. Not only that, his people are going to serve both events.”
“How did you get him to do it?” Jacki asked. “He told you that the best he could do was to provide the food and that you would have to take care of everything else.”
Amanda smirked. “Lots and lots of money, with a side dish of guilt.” She uncrossed her arms and crossed her legs instead. “Pregnancy is tough. I’m only entering my twenty-third week, and I already can’t find a comfortable position to sit or lie down.”
“I hear you, sister. But what does that have to do with Gerard?”
Amanda’s lips lifted in a lopsided smile. “I told him that in my current fragile state, I can’t handle the stress of organizing two events one after the other, and that he had to step up and help out. He’s going to handle everything, including the decorations. Not personally, of course, but he’s going to use his subcontractors. All I have to do is pay the bills, and I can come to both events as a guest, not worrying about a thing.”
Syssi laughed. “I didn’t know that Gerard had a weak spot for pregnant ladies.”
Amanda’s smile wilted. “Just this pregnant lady. He was there when my son was thrown off the horse.”
As a long and uncomfortable silence stretched across the table, Syssi scrambled for a quick topic change. “Isn’t it against the rules to bring his human staff into the bowels of the keep?”
Taking a deep breath, Amanda schooled her features. “I cleared it with Kian. He will assign a couple of Guardians to muddle their memories after each event is over. Gerard said that none of them is immune.”
Apparently, the chef wasn’t the only one who had a soft spot for a pregnant Amanda. Kian would never have allowed that under normal circumstances.
“By the way.” Amanda turned to Jacki. “Why is your hubby working on the weekends? Not too long ago, he was complaining about not having enough work for his men, and now he needs them six days a week?”
Jacki shrugged. “He keeps muttering something about giving the Four Horsemen a run for their money. Don’t ask me how he plans to do that, or what his men can do to help him achieve that goal. None of them is a computer expert.”
Syssi shook her head. “What do the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have to do with computers?”
Amanda laughed. “It’s a nickname for big tech.”
“Now it makes sense. So Kalugal wants to challenge all four giants? Isn’t that a bit ambitious even for him?”
Jacki shrugged. “Obviously. But he can start small and grow over a long time. My man loves a challenge, and unlike the heads of those tech giants, time is on his side. That’s one of the biggest advantages of immortality.”
5
Margaret
“You’ve hardly eaten anything.” The nurse looked at the tray she’d delivered nearly an hour ago.
“I’m nauseous.” Margaret pushed the rolling cart away.
“It’s the codeine.” The nurse picked up the tray. “Once your pain level subsides, and you don’t need it anymore, the nausea will go away.”
Margaret was well aware of the side effects, but she had a feeling that her nausea wasn’t the drug’s fault. It was her fear that Bowen wasn’t coming back.
He’d been gone for over two hours, and it shouldn’t have taken him so long to get breakfast.
“I know.” She forced a smile. “Have you seen Bowen?”
“The firefighter?”
Margaret nodded.
“Not since this morning. I’ll check the waiting room, and if he’s there, I’ll tell him that you are looking for him.”
“Thank you.”
There could be many reasons why Bowen hadn’t come back yet. He might have decided to grab a shower somewhere, or maybe he had to make some phone calls. He wasn’t the type who would leave without saying anything.
And even if he had, she shouldn’t feel like an abandoned child without him. She was a grown woman who had been on her own for a very long time, and she could take care of herself.
Yeah, right.
The truth was that she hadn’t been alone at all. In Safe Haven, she’d been part of a community, protected and taken care of.
Hopefully, the community would survive Emmett’s departure, and she would have a home to go back to. The alternative was too scary to consider.
When a soft knock sounded on the door, Margaret’s heart skipped a beat.
“Come in,” she said so weakly that she was doubtful her voice carried through the closed door.
As a moment later it opened and Bowen entered, stupid tears of relief misted her eyes.
“I didn’t know whether you were sleeping or not.” He put down a large shopping bag on the floor next to her bed. “I figured you would need something to wear.” He smiled. “I doubt they will let you take the hospital gown with you, not to mention that it’s too breezy for the weather.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “What I didn’t expect was how difficult it would be to find a warm dress. They are already selling spring stuff in the stores. I also got you warm fluffy boots, but for now, you can wear only one. I hope it’s the right size.”
“You got me a dress? And boots?”
“Well, yeah. How are you going to put pants on with this cast?”
The mist turned into thick, oily tears that slid down her cheeks. “I can’t believe how kind you are.”
His beautiful brown eyes were filled with concern. “Why are you crying? Are you in pain?”
“No, I’m just emotional.” She wiped her cheeks with a corner of the bedsheet. “It’s the codeine.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t know that, so she could use it as an excuse. “Thank you. I really don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I’m not doing this just for you, so don’t thank me. I’m doing this for my ex-partner. Anastasia wanted to come and take care of you. If I wasn’t available, she would have hopped on the first outgoing flight, and that would have been the end of their romantic vacation.” He smiled apologetically. “She would have probably done a better job than me, though, especially with the shopping. I’ve never shopped for women’s clothing before.”
Margaret’s heart sank.
Bowen didn’t really care about her. He was doing a favor for a friend.
But what had she expected? That a young, incredibly handsome man like him would fall in love with an older woman who was a big freaking mess?
“You have my thanks regardless of your reasons,” she murmured. “And after you deliver me to Anastasi
a, your job will be done.”
“About that.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I decided to stay with you in the cabin and take care of you. Naturally, Anastasia will help you with showering and things like that, but I’ll take care of everything else.”
“Why?”
“I need a vacation.”
That was the lamest excuse she’d ever heard, and she refused to be a charity case. “Taking care of an invalid is not a vacation. Why are you doing this, Bowen? So I won’t be too much of a burden for Leon and Anastasia? I assure you that I won’t be. I’ll stay in my room and out of their way as much as possible, and I’ll only ask for their help with the bare minimum.”
She might have sounded ungrateful, and maybe she shouldn’t have said it, but it just hurt too damn much.
“It’s not like that.” He rubbed the back of his neck again.
“Then how is it?”
“I care about you.”
“You know nothing about me.” She sighed. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, and I really appreciate what you are doing for your friend, but I just hate being a burden. Maybe I should go back to Safe Haven. I’ll find someone who will agree to help, so Ana won’t have to worry about me.”
“Out of the question.” His hard stare made her uncomfortable. “I meant it when I said that I needed a vacation. I’m looking forward to some peaceful time away from my stressful job, and you provided me with the perfect excuse to take some time off.” He smiled sheepishly. “My boss couldn’t refuse my request without looking like an asshole. It’s a win-win situation.”
Margaret let out a breath.
It was possible that Bowen was making it up, but he was giving her an honorable out. She could pretend to believe him, and they could both pretend that she wasn’t a charity case.
“In that case, I’m glad to be your excuse for taking time off. I’ll do my best to not be a burden to you or Anastasia.”
“Nonsense. You need to do the exact opposite, or I’ll feel guilty about my impromptu vacation. Please burden me as much as you can, even if you don’t need to.”
She laughed. “You are a strange fellow, Bowen, but I mean that in the best possible way.”
6
Kian
After everyone had left, Kian pulled his box of cigarillos out of the drawer and headed for the roof.
He would have preferred to go home and spend what was left of the day with Syssi, but calling Annani couldn’t wait, and he’d rather get it over with sooner rather than later. If anyone could shed light on what Emmett was, it was his mother.
He was surprised that she hadn’t called him by now.
Emmett’s capture was big news, and the rumors had most likely spread all the way to Alaska already.
Getting comfortable on one of the loungers, Kian pulled out a cigarillo, lit it, and took a long, grateful puff. When the tension left his stiff shoulders, he placed the call.
“Hello, my son.” Annani sounded in a good mood. “I have been expecting your call.”
“I guess you’ve heard already.”
“Of course. Amanda called me last night and told me everything she knew, which was not much. I was waiting for you to give me more details.”
“Since I haven’t interrogated Emmett yet, I don’t know much myself. We are trying to figure out whether he’s a different kind of immortal or just a confused one who doesn’t know who and what he is. He also might’ve invented the entire thing because he’s unhinged.”
“Do you think he could be one of Navuh’s warriors?” Annani asked.
“He says that he’s never heard of the Brotherhood. He also claims to belong to a group of newcomers who are not immortal, only long-lived, and whose females have fangs and venom like the males.”
“He might be connected to May and Jin.” His mother echoed his thoughts.
“Possibly. You said that none of the female gods had fangs or venom. Did your parents ever mention a different race of people back home whose females had them?”
“My parents never talked about the gods' origins, but Khiann’s father shared with him some information about their home planet. He said that the gods had a violent past that they wanted buried and forgotten, but he did not elaborate. Khiann and I assumed that the conflict had been between rival gods. It never even crossed our minds that there could have been another race of people with whom the gods fought. Perhaps one of the goddesses had dallied with someone from that other race, and her child or children carried their genes. It could be that they never manifested during the gods’ era, but somehow surfaced later.”
“He told Peter that his people were newcomers. If that’s true, they couldn’t be descendants of the gods.”
“Do you believe him?”
“If aliens landed on Earth, we would have known. But everything is possible.”
“Indeed. What else did he tell Peter about his people?”
“He said that his society is ruled by females because for every four males, only one female is born. Did Khiann’s father hint at anything of the sort?”
“No. I would have remembered that. From the way the gods governed themselves, their society was neither matriarchal nor patriarchal. Rulership was hereditary, and if not for Mortdh, I would have been the next ruler.”
“Your parents didn’t have a son. Your father had two daughters, and you were the only child he had with his official wife.”
“True. But even if I had a brother, I think my father would have chosen the one who was best suited to rule based on merit and not gender.”
“That sounds very politically correct, but the reality was that the gods were ruled by your father, a male. You said that he had an older brother who was the son of a concubine, and therefore second to Ahn, who was the son of the official wife. But they also had a sister. Was she the daughter of a concubine as well?”
“I do not know. I also do not know whether she was older or younger, and whether she was suitable for rulership. She was a doctor and a scientist, and I do not think she was interested in a leadership position. And the same was true for Ekin. He was a brilliant scientist, and he was very happy to leave governing to his younger brother so he could devote all of his time to inventing things and philandering.” Annani laughed. “Ekin was a character. He was much more fun than my father.”
“I guess that you took after your uncle.”
“Indeed. Well, not the philandering part, but I like to think of myself as fun.”
“You are certainly not boring. So neither your father nor Ekin mentioned another race of people.”
“They did not.” She chuckled. “Maybe Mr. Emmett Haderech is a great storyteller, and he made it up.”
“I hope so. If not for Mey and Jin, I would have favored that theory. But we can’t ignore the anomaly they represent, and the way it corresponds to Emmett’s story.”
“I want to speak with him.”
Of course she did. Kian hadn’t expected anything else. Annani was scheduled to arrive next Friday for the wedding, and he’d known that she would want to visit the new prisoner.
“Emmett is a powerful compeller. Peter was lucky that Kalugal was able to override his compulsion. You are probably more powerful than both of them, and you might be an immune, but I don’t want you anywhere near him without the protection of earplugs.”
“Then I shall put them in. Anything else?”
“Emmett will have to be chained up. He’s incredibly strong.”
“I see no problem with that. I would like you to prepare everything for my arrival Thursday evening.”
“You are scheduled to arrive together with your people next Friday. Do you want everyone to come a day earlier? Or just you and Alena?”
Annani laughed. "I meant this Thursday, not next week. I cannot wait so long to delve into this new mystery. But do not worry. Originally, I planned to stay for two weeks after the wedding. Instead, I will return home right after your birthday.”
He rolled his eyes. “
It will be my pleasure to have you stay with us for as long as you wish, Mother. I assume that Alena will accompany you.”
“Of course. Naturally, my Odus will have to return to the sanctuary. They will be needed there to fly our people to Anchorage the following week, so I might need to borrow Okidu, but if you cannot spare him, I am sure Alena and I can manage.”
“If you both stay with Syssi and me, that won’t be a problem.”
“Are you inviting us to your home? Three weeks is a long time to have guests over.”
“We would love to have you both, but it’s up to you. Do you prefer to stay in your own house? I can have it prepared for you.”
“Whatever is easier. I do not wish to be a burden. How is Syssi doing?”
“Allegra is an active baby. She’s giving her mother a hard time.”
“That is excellent. It means that my newest granddaughter is strong. I cannot wait to meet her.”
“In due time, Mother. Syssi has five more weeks to go.”
“That is a blink of an eye, Kian. Are her parents coming for the birth of their grandchild?”
“They’d better. I spoke with Adam, and I made it crystal clear that I will not let them wiggle out of it this time. If need be, I’ll send Guardians to get them.”
Annani laughed. “Good for you, my son.”
7
Eleanor
As Eleanor’s phone buzzed with an incoming text message, she expected it to be from Kian asking yet another question about her experience with Emmett, but it was from Greggory.
I miss you. Can you meet me at my place in half an hour? I asked Phinas to give me the rest of the day off. I’m leaving right now.
Damn, she’d thought that he wouldn’t be back until evening, giving her more time to come up with a strategy. Instead, she was out of time and still not ready to face him.
Last night, she’d wiggled out of seeing him by claiming to be exhausted. Naturally, Greggory had been disappointed and couldn’t understand why she hadn’t come running to him the moment she’d returned to the village.