by I. T. Lucas
He lifted her phone. “You can find almost anything on the internet. Which subject would you like to research?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Usually, I browse through books until something inspires me. It needs to be motivational, or helpful in some way.”
“You can create a workshop about overcoming addiction. That’s both motivational and helpful.”
Crap. She should have kept her mouth shut about her past. Bowen didn’t seem to judge her for it, but she would have preferred if he knew her only as the woman she’d become, not who she was before.
“That’s not a place I wish to revisit. I want to focus on positive things, things that are good for the soul.”
“What were your other workshops about?”
“I focus on creativity as a therapeutic medium. To immerse yourself in creative work that you enjoy is a healthy alternative to other forms of escape, which are mostly unproductive. The satisfaction of creating something that is either pleasing to the eye or useful in any way is soothing to the soul.”
“I know what you mean. I don’t have any creative talents, but I get satisfaction even from a simple thing like grilling the perfect hamburger or steak and watching people enjoy eating what I cooked.”
That was so like him. Bowen was a giver.
“That’s a great idea. I could do a cooking workshop.” She scrunched her nose. “The problem is that I’m not a great cook. Wouldn’t it be hypocritical of me to do a workshop on something that doesn’t excite me?”
His lips lifted in a mischievous smile, and there was a spark in his eyes as he leaned closer to her. “What excites you, Margaret?”
She must have imagined it, but Bowen had sounded a little breathy, and the gleam in his eyes was so strong that it looked as if he had tiny flashlights behind his irises.
Perhaps it was a trick of the light. The sun was low in the sky and shining through the large living room windows.
“Every workshop I create is exciting. I love doing the research, discovering new things I didn’t know about, and simplifying difficult concepts so they’re easily understood.” She looked down at her hands. “Mostly, I loved showing the completed projects to Emmett and getting his praise.”
Except, that hadn’t happened often. Emmett had always found something that he didn’t like about her presentation, and the worst part had been that he’d never told her how he wanted it fixed, only that it wasn’t good enough. It had forced her to spend countless hours just trying to figure out what was lacking.
“You miss him,” Bowen stated.
His gruff tone suggested his displeasure, and her natural instinct was to flinch and back away, but she managed to control it. Bowen wasn’t going to hurt her, even if he was unhappy with her.
That was why she decided to answer truthfully instead of lying to protect herself. “Emmett was an important part of my life. So yeah, I miss him.”
“Did you love him?”
“In a way, yes, I did. But it wasn’t the type of love you imagine. I worshipped him, I was grateful to him, and I sought his approval. But I didn’t feel the need to be with him all of the time, and I knew I was one among many others who shared his bed.” She shook her head. “It’s difficult to explain.”
Margaret didn’t understand it herself, so how could she explain it to someone else? Especially a man? They didn’t think the same way women did. He wouldn’t understand that she’d felt the need to please Emmett so he would keep protecting her, and that she’d needed his approval to feel worthy.
“Would you like some tea?” Bowen pushed to his feet and walked toward the kitchen.
That was an abrupt change of subject.
Evidently it had made him uncomfortable, but then why had he brought it up?
“I would love some, thank you.”
44
Kian
“I’ve never seen a real dungeon.” Kalugal followed Kian out of the elevator and looked at the first door they passed by. “Where are the bars and the manacles?”
Kian arched a brow. “Doesn’t Navuh have one?”
Kalugal’s smile disappeared. “I’ve never seen it. I did my best to appear like the dutiful son and stay out of trouble. My father didn’t show his sons any more mercy than he showed the others, which was none.” Kalugal lifted his eyes to look at the art reproductions lining the hallway walls. “This place doesn’t look anything like I imagined. It looks more like a hotel than a prison.”
Anandur banged his fist on one of the doors. “These might seem like regular doors, but they are one foot thick and immortal proof.” He pointed to the small window on top. “There is glass on both sides. The one on the bottom is used to deliver food.”
Kalugal walked over to look at the keypad. “There are no handles. I assume that the door has a hydraulic mechanism?”
“You assume correctly.” Kian kept walking. “There is no handle on the inside either. We can open and close the doors from an app on our phones.”
“I love innovation.” Kalugal pulled out the earpieces from his suit pocket. “Like these little things. Who would have thought that compulsion could be nullified by a tiny computer.” He pushed one into his left ear, then the other into his right, and then tapped on them to activate. “Say something.”
Kian checked the fit. “It takes some getting used to because everyone sounds the same. It’s especially annoying when the speaker is female and sounds like a male.”
“William should have made the voice gender-neutral.” Kalugal waved a hand. “Let’s do this. I want to be done as soon as possible and get back home to my wife.”
“So do I, cousin.”
Anandur shook his head. “How the mighty have fallen.”
Kalugal smiled. “I prefer to think that the mighty have been elevated to a higher state of being. My life before Jacki was like a black and white movie. Now I live in full color.”
“That’s so romantic.” Anandur batted his eyelashes and fanned himself with his hand. “I have tears in my eyes.”
Stifling a chuckle, Kian pulled out his phone and activated the door mechanism.
Inside, Emmett waited for them chained and seated in the same armchair as the day before, but he was glaring at Kian with a little less hostility.
Arwel lifted a stack of papers off the table. “Here are the translations.” He handed them to Kian. “Do you want me to get everyone coffee?”
“Perhaps later.” He walked up to Emmett. “How are you feeling today?”
“Same as yesterday.” He rattled his chains. “This is ridiculous. I have these damn exploding cuffs on my wrists. Do you really think I’d risk losing my hands? Besides, your men carry guns. I’m fast, but not faster than a bullet.”
Kian took a seat in the armchair across from him and motioned for Kalugal to take the other one. “I don’t want you to lose your hands either, and that’s why I asked Arwel to put you in chains. It’s just in case you decide to do something stupid.”
“I won’t. I give you my word.” He glanced at Kalugal. “Is he also a lie detector?”
“I’m something much better.” Kalugal leaned forward. “Lift your leg for me.”
“Why?”
Kalugal shook his head. “He is immune.”
“Are you a compeller?” Emmett asked.
“Yes. I’m the one who released poor Peter from your compulsion, and I did it by overriding yours, which means that I’m a stronger compeller than you. Nevertheless, you seem to be immune to my compulsion.” Kalugal leaned back and turned to Kian. “He’s all yours.”
Kian didn’t waste time on pleasantries and dove right into the interrogation. “How many male hybrids were born in your community before you left?”
“Twenty-two including me.”
If what Emmett had said was true, then many more hybrid males had been born than hybrid females, the gender disparity even larger than that of the pure-bloods. Eleven to one, instead of four to one.
“That’s not a lot given that th
e seventeen pure-blooded males had nearly a century to breed with human females. How many females did they enslave?”
Emmett shrugged, causing his chains to rattle. “It was a fluid number. They kept bringing young ones to breed. The ones who lost their attractiveness tended to the animals and performed housekeeping chores. Many died over the years.”
“From blood loss?” Anandur asked.
“From natural causes.” Emmett cast him a baleful glare. “Human lifespans are short, and they are prone to diseases.”
“Like anemia,” Kalugal said. “I bet that was a problem.”
“Tell me, Emmett.” Kian leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Why do the pure-blooded males stay? Wouldn’t they be happier with human females?”
The guy looked at him as if he couldn’t understand the question. “What kind of life could they hope to have with humans? They don’t live long enough.”
“But they don’t form loving relationships with the pure-blooded females either.”
Emmett shook his head. “You are thinking in human terms, and they don’t apply. For humans, the family is usually one man and one woman, or two men or two women. And in some countries, a man can have several wives, but he doesn’t share them with other men. The twenty original pure-bloods are like a big family, where everyone shares with everyone else according to the rules of conduct, which grant control over breeding to the females. They see nothing wrong with that. They think that human families are strange. There is safety in numbers and other advantages as well."
“Why are the females in charge? Are they stronger? What is their hold over the males?”
Emmett shook his head. “I don’t understand the question.”
Kian let out an exasperated breath. “In human society, males are physically stronger and more aggressive. That’s why until not too long ago, they ruled over the females, and in many places around the world, they still do. Advanced societies strive for equality between the sexes because physical strength is no longer as crucial for protection and for performing most jobs. It became secondary to mental ability, which is equal. Do you understand my question now?”
“The Kra-ell males are physically stronger than the females and mentally their equal, but females are considered the embodiment of the goddess and are revered. They are the key to the future. In fact, the leader is chosen by the goddess, which makes her rulership incontestable. The males are born to serve the females. They are warriors, protectors, and providers, and only the best and the strongest are chosen to father children. Since the Kra-ell are not nearly as fertile as humans, and there are so few females, the competition is fierce. They do everything in their power to remain in the females’ good graces, or they don’t get to breed."
If humans faced the same problem of gender disparity, the outcome would have been very different. Kian had no doubt that it would have been even worse for the females than what they had to endure throughout history. What probably saved the Kra-ell females from a similar fate was their religion. The question was whether the settlers would remain steadfast in their faith.
“The males can father many hybrid children with humans,” Kalugal said. “That should be a strong motive to leave.”
Emmett grimaced. “We are considered an inferior progeny, and we are created to serve the pure-bloods. They want pure-blooded children, and the only way they can have them is to breed with pure-blooded females.”
“It seems like luring them away is not going to work.” Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “Tradition, faith, and gender disparity dictate the structure of their society, and to them, it seems perfectly natural.”
“Give it time,” Kalugal said. “They are isolated, and they are surrounded by humans. Eventually, they will assimilate human values.”
It hadn’t happened over the first eighty or so years of the Kra-ell’s stay on Earth, but then communist China was not the best place for that. Things were changing, though. The world was becoming more and more a global community, and the values that the clan had been promoting in the West were spreading to other places that embraced progress as well, including China. Except, things had a tendency to take two steps forward and then one or more back, and the march of progress wasn’t smooth. Hopefully, one day the Kra-ell would assimilate the messages of freedom and equality, but it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
Navuh and his warriors hadn’t yet, and they were the descendants of gods, who had promoted the same values that the clan had adopted and taken upon itself to continue to advance.
45
Anastasia
“You look smashing, baby.” Leon did an Austin Powers impression with a perfect British accent.
“You look pretty damn dashing yourself.” Ana gave him a once-over.
Leon looked good no matter what he was wearing, but he was absolutely swoon worthy in a suit.
“Do I make you horny, baby?” He pulled her against his hard body. “Do you want to shag instead of going out to dinner?”
Ana laughed. “Tempting, but no. Dinner first, shagging later.” She pushed out of his arms and smoothed her hand over the tight skirt of her little black dress.
She did look smashing in it if she said so herself. The dress combined with the beautiful stilettos and silk stockings made her look like a sixties movie star, which was the style she’d chosen for her hair and makeup, including a bright red lipstick that was a little over the top.
Tonight was special. It was her and Leon’s first official date.
“Then let’s go.” He offered her his arm.
“Hold on. I need to get a jacket.”
“A coat might be better. It’s cold out here at night.”
There was no way Ana was putting on the Safe Haven issued white puffer coat over the perfection she was wearing. In fact, she was going to give it to Margaret.
Ana wasn’t going back to Safe Haven, of that she was sure. What she wasn’t sure about was where she would go if Leon’s village was not an option. But that was a worry for another day.
Tonight, she was going to have fun.
“The jacket will have to do.” She shrugged on the cropped fake fur jacket that Amanda had gotten her. “It looks smashing on me, baby.” Her imitation of Austin Powers wasn’t nearly as good as Leon’s.
“I’m surprised that you’ve seen those movies. You were a baby when they came out.”
“They are classics.” She threaded her arm through his. “Besides, there are thousands of memes on the internet of quotes from the famous British spy with bad teeth and his evil twin, Dr. Evil.”
As Leon opened the door and walked with her into the living room, Bowen let out a whistle.
“You make a very handsome couple.” Margaret smiled.
“Thank you.” Ana fluffed up her curls. “Do you like the hair?”
“I love it.”
“Let’s go.” Leon led her toward the door. “We don’t want to miss our reservations.”
The one downside of going out to dinner was the long drive, but then it was a good opportunity to talk without an audience.
When Ana stepped outside, she was surprised to hear the car’s engine was on. “You started the car already?” she asked as they walked down to the driveway.
“I wanted it to be warmed up for you.” He opened the passenger door for her. “My lady.”
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek before getting in. “You think of everything.”
His satisfied smile was precious. The guy loved doing things for her, and she loved him for it. Fangs or no fangs, Leon was one of a kind.
“I’m so happy to finally get out of the cabin.” She fastened the seatbelt. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it here. But cabin fever is a real thing.” She pulled a compact mirror out of her purse and checked her lipstick. “Do you ever get island fever in your X-Men village?”
He arched a brow. “X-Men village?”
“Would you prefer that I called it the mutant village? Because I kind of like the idea of
living in an X-Men compound.” Ana flipped the compact closed and put it back in her purse. “I will fit in perfectly. Don’t you think?”
When he didn’t answer right away, she cast him a sidelong glance. He was concentrating on the narrow dirt road that was quite steep, but with his enhanced eyesight and other super senses, she wasn’t afraid of distracting him.
Her Superman could handle talking and driving with ease, the question was whether he could handle the idea of her moving in with him.
They’d had a long talk on their afternoon walk, clearing the last of the air between them after last night’s big surprise. When he’d invited her on a date, she’d thought that they had reached a new milestone in their relationship, but maybe she’d been mistaken?
“What’s the matter? You don’t want me moving in with you?”
“Of course, I do. But it’s not just up to me. My boss has to approve it.”
“What are the conditions? Do I need to go before a homeowners' committee? Or is it dependent on proving my paranormal abilities?”
Leon chuckled. “I love how you keep asking questions without waiting for answers.”
“And I don’t like at all your evasive tactics.”
He sighed. “I’m not trying to be evasive, but there is no simple answer to that. It depends on how deep our bond is. It has to be a life-long commitment.”
“Are you talking about marriage?”
That was weird, but maybe his people were conservative and frowned upon unmarried couples cohabitating?
When he didn’t answer, she cast him a sidelong glance. “Old-fashioned mutants is an oxymoron.”
“Marriage is not necessarily a life-long commitment. A lot of couples get divorced.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Ana snorted. “Getting married is as committed as people can get. What more do they want? Some magical blood ceremony that would bind us forever?”
He didn’t laugh. “No blood is involved, and no ceremony, but the bond has a magical aspect to it.”