Dark Secrets Unveiled (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Book 45)

by I. T. Lucas

  The cold ripples of anxiety racing down his spine left a sweaty residue that had his shirt stick to his back. So much so that he had to lean away from the couch’s back.

  His overreaction wasn’t logical.

  David had never been a soldier, and the horror stories he’d heard from his patients had been about their personal experiences and not military tactics. His opinion could only be based on common sense and the several war fiction books he’d read. Those had been written by ex-military, so the tactics and security measures they’d described must have been valid. Besides, he had to believe that Kian and Sari knew what they were doing, and if they thought that the castle was safe, then it probably was.

  “I’ll get the door.” Sari pushed to her feet. “It must be Ojidu with our dinner.”

  Absorbed in his thoughts, David hadn’t heard the butler knock. Perhaps there had been no knock, though, and Sari had heard Ojidu approach the door.

  It was another reminder that he wasn’t dealing with a mortal, and that he should let go of his fear for her.

  Nothing would happen to Sari even if he wasn’t around to protect her. Besides, it was an absurd notion that he could do anything to keep her safe.

  It occurred to him that the source of his anxiety was his upcoming transition. Not because he feared for his life, but because he would be incapacitated and wouldn’t be able to protect her.

  Logically, he knew that she didn’t need his protection, and that she was better equipped to protect herself than he was capable of as a human or even as an immortal.

  David was a healer, not a fighter. He had no combat skills, no training, and in case of an attack, he would be more of a hindrance than help.

  Except, his protective instincts had been activated, and they refused to respond to logic, demanding that he arm himself with a proper weapon and guard his mate with his life.

  18

  Sari

  “You are not eating.” Sari waved with her fork at David’s plate. “If you don’t like it, I can ask Brianna to whip something else up for you.”

  “The beef stew is delicious.” He stabbed another chunk with his fork. “I’m just not that hungry.”

  She frowned. “Only an hour ago, you said that you were starving.”

  “Did I?” He rubbed his hand over his chest. “It’s this damn anxiety. It must have killed my appetite.”

  That wasn’t like him, which was worrisome. What had gotten into him?

  He’d been so confident about his successful transition, and it hadn’t been an act, but ever since he’d gotten it into his head that the castle wasn’t safe enough, he’d been radiating anxiety. Perhaps the worry for her safety had triggered worry about his transition? Had he been suppressing it before for her sake?

  It felt strange to psychoanalyze a psychologist, but the fact that David was one didn’t make him less susceptible to mental anguish. On the contrary, it made him more so because he was more attuned to his feelings.

  But even though David’s profession dealt with emotions, he responded best to logic. In order to relax, he just needed to know all the facts.

  Reaching over the table, she took his hand. “There is no reason for you to be anxious. The safety protocol was designed by Kian and our head Guardian, and it gets routinely updated to account for new technologies.”

  He shook his head. “I’m well aware that my anxiety is utterly illogical, but I’m worried about your safety while I’m incapacitated by the transition and unable to protect you.” He chuckled. “As if I could do that. You are probably stronger and faster than I am, and you are also probably better trained as well, which should make me feel better but doesn’t.” He rubbed his chest again. “I have this caveman-like urge to stand guard over my woman with a battle-ax in my hand. I have no idea where this primitive instinct has been hiding my entire life, but it’s definitely here now, and I can’t shake it off. Regrettably, though, I have zero combat skills, and if someone put a battle-ax in my hand, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I’d probably hurt myself. I feel useless and inadequate.”

  “Don’t say that. Not every male was born to be a warrior. You are a doctor, and your job is to help people, not kill them. I doubt that you could have done that even if you had the skills.”

  His lips tightened into a thin line, and his brows dipped low. “I will kill to protect you. Never doubt that.”

  Even if she didn’t have the ability to scent the intense wave of aggression coming off him, the vehemence in his voice and the coiling of his muscles were enough to give credence to his proclamation.

  Under the outer layer of gentleness, of his healer persona, was another one that she hadn’t seen before. At his core, David was a warrior, a protector.

  Or so she hoped.

  The same traits could easily belong to an undiscriminating killer.

  Deflating, David slumped in his chair and rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think I’m going through menopause. I’m getting hot flashes.”

  Sari frowned. “Do you feel feverish?”

  His pale cheeks were slightly pinker than usual.

  “No, but I’m a little sweaty. It’s the result of the adrenaline rush that was triggered by my irrational anxiety.” He lifted the fork with the piece of stew that he’d skewered long minutes ago and put it in his mouth. “Let’s change the subject to something that doesn’t trigger me.”

  Sari wasn’t convinced. “I want to check your forehead.” She pushed to her feet and walked over to him.

  He smiled. “I welcome anything that gets your hands on me.”

  His teasing was reassuring, and since the waves of aggression had subsided to almost nonexistent, Sari believed that his strange panic attack was over.

  As she put her hand on his forehead, he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. “You know that this is far from scientific, right? Or are immortals also equipped with temperature-reading palms?”

  “We are not.” She cupped his cheek. “You don’t feel too warm, but I should ask Steven to bring us a proper thermometer.”

  “Don’t. I’m enjoying spending time with just you. I don’t want anyone intruding on that.” Tilting his head sideways, he rested his cheek on her hand and sighed. “Your hand is so soft.” He wrapped an arm around her middle and pulled her closer to him.

  She stroked his hair, and for a long moment, they just stayed like that, enjoying the closeness. When his breaths became deeper and more even, and his head became heavier on her hand, Sari thought that he had dozed off, but then he tipped forward and started falling.

  “Oh, dear Fates.” She caught him. “David!”

  He didn’t answer.

  Lifting him into her arms, she carried him to the bedroom, laid him on her bed, and rushed to get her phone from where she’d left it on the dining table.

  Grabbing it, she called Steven while running back to the bedroom.

  “Get in here right away. David has just passed out.”

  “Is he breathing?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m on my way.”

  Tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, Sari sat on the bed and took hold of David’s hand. Her finger resting on his pulse, she was reassured that it was strong and steady.

  “It’s going to be okay.” She lifted his hand to her trembling lips and kissed it. “You are transitioning. Kalugal was right, and you have the immortal genes. Now you need to be strong and hold on tight as your body changes.”

  There was no response.

  Sari kept on talking. “You are going to be immortal, and we will have eternity together. I won’t accept any other outcome.”

  She lifted her eyes heavenward. “Dear merciful Fates, please help David transition. I can’t lose him. Please.” She kept praying until the door to her apartment burst open, and Steven ran into the bedroom, with Prescott and Gordy wheeling a gurney behind him.

  “We are taking him to the clinic.” Steven scooped David into his
arms and transferred him to the gurney.

  He threw her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. He’s going to be alright.”

  19

  Kian

  As the door banged open, Kian instinctively positioned himself to shield Syssi. Except, the unexpected and uninvited visitor wasn’t an invader. It was his sister, who seemed to have an incurable problem with knocking before entering.

  “David is transitioning,” Amanda said while rushing in. “Come.”

  He let out a breath. “I thought that we were under attack. How many times do I need to remind you to knock before you come in?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I knew that you weren’t doing anything fun.” She waved her hand. “Come on. Sari needs us.”

  “Why?” Syssi got out of bed and shrugged a robe over her nightgown. “What’s going on with him?”

  “He lost consciousness while they were eating dinner at her apartment. Steven is hooking him up to the monitoring equipment, and Sari is freaking out because she’s never witnessed an adult transitioning. She needs us there to reassure her. Get dressed.” Amanda turned around and walked out of the room.

  Syssi waved Kian off. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you. It will only take me a minute to get dressed.”

  “I’ll wait for you in the corridor.” He joined Amanda outside and closed the door behind him. “Did you tell Mother and Alena?”

  “Of course.” Tapping her foot, Amanda cast a glance at the door.

  “She will be out in a minute. It’s not like this is an emergency. It will take David at least a day or two to transition.”

  As Syssi emerged from the room a moment later, a door further down the corridor opened, and Kalugal stepped out with Jacki. “We heard the good news.” His cousin grinned. “I told you that my venom would do the trick on the first go.”

  “Yes, you did.” Kian clapped him on the back. “And since you are so good at it, from now on, it will be your job to induce all of our adult male Dormants.”

  Kalugal’s grin faded. “I’m not signing up for that.”

  “Just think about all the men who will be indebted to you. You’ll have an army of sycophants.”

  “Thanks, but I already have too many.”

  The teasing continued until they reached the clinic, where they were greeted by Sari’s tear-stricken face.

  “Oh, darling. What happened?” Amanda pulled Sari into her arms.

  “I’ve already told you. David collapsed during dinner, and he’s unconscious.”

  “What I meant was, did anything else happen since we’ve talked? Why are you crying?”

  “I’m not.” Sari wiped the tears off her face with the backs of her thumbs. “I had a few moments of panic, but Steven seems to have things under control. David is unconscious, but his vitals are strong.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Kian peered into the patient room through the open door. “You have the same equipment we have in the village.”

  Kalugal walked up to where Kian was standing and looked at the machines David was hooked up to. “Steven is a young immortal. Does he have experience with adult transitions?”

  Sari shook her head. “He doesn’t even have experience with adolescent transitions. The last transitioning boy was monitored by Merlin.”

  Kalugal put a hand on her shoulder. “You should ask Bridget to fly over.”

  Sari turned her eyes to Kian. “Should I? My freak-out doesn’t mean that David is in danger. I’m just overreacting. What if he wakes up tomorrow? Bridget has more than enough on her plate without hopping on a plane and flying over here, only to discover that her services are not needed.”

  “They are needed for your peace of mind, Sari.” Kian pulled out his phone. “And ours. I’ll feel better knowing that an experienced doctor is supervising David’s transition.”

  Sari nodded. “I want Bridget here, but I don’t want Steven to feel offended.”

  “I’m not,” the young doctor called out from David’s room. “I was planning on consulting Bridget over the phone, but if she wants to supervise in person, that’s even better.”

  As Kian placed the call, Alena arrived and hugged Sari. “How are you holding up?”

  “By a thread.”

  Bridget answered right away. “What’s up, Kian? Is Syssi okay?”

  He wondered whether she’d heard about David. Knowing Amanda, she’d probably spread the rumor already to everyone willing to listen.

  “David is transitioning. He lost consciousness, and Steven is taking care of him, but Steven has no experience with transitions, adult or otherwise.”

  “Put him on the line.”

  That was Bridget to a tee. No-nonsense, pragmatic, and capable.

  Kian walked into David’s room and handed Steven the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”

  As the two doctors conferred, he looked at David and the familiar medical machinery he was hooked up to. The sight was very familiar by now, evoking both good and bad memories.

  Every time he stepped into a room like this, the echoes of the helpless frustration that he’d felt watching Syssi battling for her life still reverberated through him.

  Kian sympathized with all mates of transitioning Dormants, but this time it was his own sister, and his heart went out to her.

  Unlike him, though, Sari didn’t try to hide her fear, shedding tears for all to see and wearing her heart on her sleeve. There was courage in her open display of love and worry for her mate, and it didn’t detract from her authority in the slightest.

  In fact, he had a feeling that it further endeared her to her people. Sari’s leadership style was very different to his, but it worked just as well.

  He missed the days when his sister had served as his second-in-command. Sari had balanced his detached and authoritative style with her compassion and her easygoing attitude.

  Thanks to Syssi, he was much better now than he’d been back then, but he still had a long way to go. Apparently, even after two thousand years, he still had a lot of personal growth to do, especially since he was about to become a father.

  His daughter would look up to him and follow his example, which meant that he needed to step up his efforts to become the kind of man she would be proud to call her father.

  Ending the call, Steven handed Kian his phone back. “Bridget is flying overnight. She’ll get here tomorrow at around noon.”

  “Why the urgency?” Kian lowered his voice. “Is there anything I should know about?”

  “It’s just a precaution. If David weren’t Sari’s mate, I doubt that Bridget would have made the trip.”

  “We don’t know for sure that he is.” Kian put his phone back in his pocket.

  “Don’t get me wrong.” Steven lifted his hands. “I’m not upset that she’s coming. It’s just that there isn’t much either of us can do other than monitor David’s vitals. But if anything goes wrong, I don’t want my inexperience to be a factor. That’s why I’m very glad to have Bridget looking over my shoulder.”

  That was true. If things went south, no one other than Annani could help David.

  “You are a smart guy.” Kian clapped the young doctor on his back. “But don’t worry. One way or another, David is going to pull through.”

  The doctor smiled. “I like your optimism, especially since it’s absolutely justified. We haven’t lost a Dormant to transition yet, and we’ve had quite a few.” He lowered his voice. “I don’t know why Sari is freaking out like that, but I have to admit that it’s affecting me. Who am I to dismiss a mate’s intuition?”

  “Indeed. Sari is usually a cool-headed woman. The fact that she is so worried about David troubles me too.” Kian stepped out of the room and joined his family in the waiting room. “Bridget is on her way.”

  “I heard.” Sari let out a breath. “You were right. It does ease my mind knowing that she will supervise David’s transition.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ve walked a mile or two
in your shoes. I know what you are going through.”

  “I’m elated and terrified at the same time. Elated that David is a Dormant and that he is transitioning, and terrified that he might not. Did you feel like that too?”

  “I only remember the fear. Syssi was not doing well, Amanda was missing, and I was losing my fucking mind.”

  Their mother had saved the day on both counts. She’d given Syssi a small transfusion of her blood, which helped her survive the transition, and she’d given Kian hope for Amanda, telling him that his sister was okay because she’d remote viewed her lounging in a bathtub.

  Why wasn’t Annani there, though?

  David was not in critical condition, and he didn’t need her blessing, not yet anyway, but Sari could use her support.

  On the other hand, things seemed a little strained between Annani, Sari, and David. There was some nonsense about an encounter between Annani and David’s prior incarnation.

  In Kian’s opinion, the three of them were nuts for believing in that nonsense. His mother had always been drawn to the mystical, and David was a psychologist who was fascinated by the idea of reincarnation. Sari, however, shouldn’t have bought into that crap.

  20

  David

  “Gudbrand!” someone called out. “Wait up!”

  Hearing the snow crunching behind him, David turned around. A large man with a messy long beard and side mustaches was rushing to catch up to him. He looked formidable and was holding a spear, but he was smiling and not aiming his weapon, so he wasn’t a threat.

  He also looked familiar.

  “You can’t sneak out alone like that, my friend.” He clapped David on the back.

  No, not David. His name was Gudbrand, and this was obviously not Scotland or the twenty-first century.

  “Herleif,” he spoke his friend’s name. “Go back to your wife.”