Dark Secrets Resurgence (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 44)

by I. T. Lucas

  “You’re early.” Amanda walked in with a tablet clutched in her hands.

  “Only by a few minutes.”

  Her sister waved hello at David. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m ready.” He waved back. “Where is your cousin?”

  “On his way. You can stay in the ring.” Amanda threaded her arm through Sari’s. “Kian is asking if you want to lead the ceremony, or do you want him to do that. He has experience in modifying it to reflect the age of an adult Dormant.”

  “I haven’t given it much thought, but he is right. Who is going to present David to his elders and vouch for his readiness?”

  “Kalugal, of course. He was the one who found him.”

  “And who else? We need two.”

  “Rufsur can do that.”

  “He doesn’t know him.”

  Amanda arched a brow. “Does it matter?”

  “Everything matters. I want it to be as legit as it can be.”

  Regrettably, Sari couldn’t vouch for David because she wasn’t considered an impartial witness.

  Amanda’s expression softened. “Oh, darling. You are worried.”

  “Of course, I’m worried. Wouldn’t you be if it was your mate?”

  “I would. I was going out of my mind when Dalhu was entombed as penance for Mark’s murder. I couldn’t sleep until he was revived.”

  “So, you know how I feel.”

  “I do.” She tapped her finger over her lower lip. “I can vouch for David. I don’t know him that well, but I had a lovely conversation with him on the way here, and I have no problem vouching for his worthiness and his readiness.”

  “Thank you.” Sari let out a breath. “I really didn’t want to ask Mother to do that.”

  “She doesn’t know David either.”

  Sari grimaced. “She might know him better than you realize.”

  “Pfft.” Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “Alena told me about the nonsense of her encountering him in another life. That’s a lot of hogwash because no one can prove it, and even if there was a way to do that, it’s irrelevant. Look to the future, Sari, not to the past.”

  “How can you say that?”

  Amanda lifted a brow. “Really? You are asking me that? I mated the man responsible for my nephew’s murder. I could have focused on that and made myself miserable for the rest of my immortal life, or I could focus on the mitigating circumstances. Dalhu was a soldier following orders, he didn’t know Mark or me, and it hadn’t been his fangs that had delivered the deadly dose of venom.”

  “You are right.” Sari let out a breath. “I’m making a lot of fuss over nothing.”

  “I’m glad that you’ve come to your senses. Now, who do you want to lead the ceremony? I think that because David is your mate, Kian should do it. Or do you want Mother to lead it? She did a lovely job with Richard’s.”

  Sari might be able to reconcile her feelings about the past life encounter between David and her mother, but she wasn’t sure Annani could.

  “I prefer Kian.”

  “Good choice.”

  68

  David

  While David went through his warmup routine, the gym filled up with people. It seemed like the entire castle population had come to see his induction, but he wasn’t fooling himself that it was because he was so popular.

  They were there for Sari.

  Her people loved her and appreciated her, and by attending his transition ceremony, they were showing their support for her.

  Kalugal entered the gym with his wife, wearing a suit and grinning as if he was the homecoming king at a senior prom. Unless the guy planned to change into gym clothes later, he evidently didn’t consider David much of a threat.

  It was a bit insulting, and it also made a mockery of David’s warmup. Why put in the effort to get ready if he was about to be overpowered with such ease that his opponent didn’t expect to even break a sweat?

  Damn condescending demigod. He should have at least pretended to take it seriously.

  The last to enter was Annani, accompanied by her eldest daughter, Kian, and Syssi.

  David ducked under the rope and stood next to Sari, and then bowed to the goddess as she stopped in front of them.

  She looked at him fondly. “May the Fates smile upon you and grant you a quick and easy transition.”

  David dipped his head. “Thank you, Clan Mother.”

  “You are most welcome.” She glided away and sat at the head table.

  Syssi and Alena joined her, but Kian walked over and stood in front of the mat.

  When Miranda closed the gym’s doors, Sari took a step forward. “Thank you all for coming. I truly appreciate your support.”

  Someone started clapping, and then everyone joined in.

  Sari waited patiently until the applause subsided before continuing, “Since David and I are personally involved, I have asked Kian to lead the ceremony.”

  They were more than involved. They were in love with each other and potential fated mates. But he could understand Sari’s cautious wording. This wasn’t the time or place for public love declarations. It should wait for their wedding.

  Damn, he had known the woman for four days, had fallen for her at first sight, and was already thinking about their wedding.

  Talk about assuming the win.

  And a win it was. Sari was perfect in every way, and he couldn’t have dreamt of a better woman to share his life with. But it all hinged on his successful transition. Hopefully, the smug demigod’s boasting about the potency of his venom juice was justified.

  Kian stepped forward. “I consider it a great honor to present David to this congregation. I don’t know him well, but Kalugal does. He was so impressed with David that he decided to play matchmaker and bring him here to meet Sari.”

  As Kalugal pushed to his feet and took a bow, a few people chuckled, others laughed, and some clapped until he sat back down.

  Kian continued. “David is ready to attempt his transformation. As I mentioned before, Kalugal is vouching for him wholeheartedly, and so does Amanda.”

  More clapping ensued, along with nodding and a few murmurs. Evidently being vouched for by the goddess’s daughter and nephew was a big deal.

  “Usually, this is where I ask who volunteers to take on the burden of initiating the Dormant into immortality, but this time the honor obviously goes to Kalugal.” He turned to his cousin. “Do you volunteer to be David’s initiator?”

  “I do.” Kalugal stood up, took off his jacket, and draped it over the back of the chair.

  “Very well.” Kian nodded and turned to David.

  “David, do you accept Kalugal son of Areana as your initiator? As your mentor and protector, to honor him with your friendship, your respect, and your loyalty from now on?”

  David glanced at Kalugal, who had also taken off his tie and was rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt.

  “My loyalty is first and foremost to Sari. I have no problem promising Kalugal all of those things as long as fulfilling those obligations doesn’t impact my future mate negatively.”

  In the audience, someone chuckled. “You should have been a barrister instead of a psychology professor.”

  Kalugal lifted his hand. “That’s perfectly understandable. In fact, I suggest changing the official wording to include David’s qualification. A mate always comes first.”

  As the audience erupted in applause, some even rising to their feet, Kalugal toed off his shoes and ducked under the rope.

  Kian lifted his hand, and everyone quietened. “Does anyone object to David becoming Kalugal’s protégé?”

  There were a few murmurs, and for a moment, David feared that someone would raise his or her hand.

  As Sari’s future mate, having to answer to Kalugal was problematic, but since they had signed a treaty which the goddess compelled their adherence to, it wasn’t too big of a problem.

  Kian waited a moment longer and then released a relieved breath. “Good. A
s everyone present agrees that this is a good match, let us seal it with a toast.”

  When Ojidu materialized out of nowhere with a tray, Sari took a wine glass, and then Kalugal, Kian, and David took theirs.

  Kian lifted his. “To David and Kalugal, may they enjoy many years of friendship.”

  “I’m looking forward to many pleasant conversations.” Kalugal clinked his glass with David’s.

  After the toasting and clinking were done, and the four of them put their empty glasses on Ojidu’s tray, David had the passing thought that he should question the cyborg butler the following day.

  Hopefully, his transition would not start right away, so he should seize the opportunity to do so before it did. He might not get another chance.

  It was a morbid thought and a stupid one.

  If he feared for his life, he should spend every available moment between his induction and the start of his transition with Sari.

  “Let’s do it.” Kalugal offered him his hand.

  David shook it. “Thank you for volunteering to be my initiator.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. Thank me after you transition successfully.”

  69

  Sari

  The moment Sari had dreaded arrived.

  Sitting between her mother and Kian, Sari held her fingers crossed under the table. It was a stupid superstition, but when faced with potentially devastating uncertainty, logic flew out the window, and people clung to every shred of hope.

  David and Kalugal assumed fighting stances on the mat, and when Kian gave the sign, David was the first to attack.

  Several minutes passed with Kalugal just defending himself, which Sari appreciated. He could have ended the fight in the first minute, but he knew how important it was for David to last a little longer on the mat.

  The truth was that David was not bad, and Kalugal’s fighting skills seemed a little rusty.

  Perhaps he was pretending for David’s sake.

  But if he wasn’t, then David could have won if Kalugal wasn’t an immortal male with triple the strength of a human.

  Sari lifted her eyes heavenward. Please, dear merciful Fates, watch over David. I need him.

  A small hand clutched hers. “He is going to be fine,” Annani whispered. “David is strong. Inside and out.”

  “Thanks,” Sari whispered back.

  When David appeared to be tiring, Kalugal went on the offensive, and Sari had to reconsider her earlier opinion of his fighting skills.

  He was lightning fast, and there was nothing clumsy or unpracticed about his moves. In seconds, he had David pinned face down on the mat, holding him down with a knee on his back and a hand on the back of his head.

  Sari tensed.

  Humans were so fragile. What if David couldn’t breathe?

  Kalugal hissed, and then struck, sinking his fangs into David’s neck.

  Steven, who up until then had sat at his table, rushed forward, but it had been part of the plan, so Sari wasn’t alarmed and kept counting the seconds in her head.

  Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two…fifty-eight.

  On her feet and rushing toward the mat, Sari was about to yell at Kalugal to pull his fangs out, when he lifted his hand to stop Steven, who ducked under the rope no doubt to do the same thing.

  Kalugal withdrew his fangs, licked the puncture wounds closed, and sat on the mat next to David’s prone form.

  He looked up at her and smiled. “I wanted to make sure that he won’t need a repeat performance.”

  “You scared me.”

  “I was counting the seconds and listening carefully to his heartbeat.”

  Steven took hold of David’s limp wrist. After a minute, he nodded and let go. “His pulse is strong and steady.”

  Sari let out a breath. “Thank the merciful Fates.”

  Sitting on the mat, she cradled David’s head in her lap and kept praying.

  For the next thirty minutes or so, no one in the audience spoke or moved, and Sari had a feeling they were all listening to David’s heartbeat along with her.

  Like his pulse, it was strong and steady, but that didn’t mean that he was out of the woods. This was only the first part of the process. In a day or two, they would know whether he was going to transition or not.

  Nevertheless, when David’s eyes popped open and he smiled a goofy smile at her, Sari’s heart leaped with joy.

  He was awake, and he was going to live another day, or two, or forever. And if he didn’t transition, he would live out his human days.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” he slurred. “Are you real?”

  The audience uttered a collective sigh of relief, and then the murmurs started.

  Sari frowned. “Do you know who I am?” She’d never heard of post-induction amnesia.

  “Of course. You are my goddess. I’ve just visited your temple in the clouds. It was beautiful and full of worshipers.”

  It was the venom’s fault. David was still drunk on euphoria.

  “That’s nice. But what’s my name?”

  “My beautiful Sari…” He chuckled. “I’m so woozy.”

  “That’s perfectly fine.” She stroked his hair. “In a few moments, you’ll feel better.”

  “I feel amazing.” He flopped around and looked at Kalugal. “Thank you for the trip, but let’s not do that again.”

  Laughing, her cousin patted David’s shoulder. “With my venom, once is enough. Good luck, my friend.” He pushed to his feet and looked down at Sari. “Let me know how he’s doing.”

  “I will. And thank you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  As people started leaving the gym, they stopped by the mat and wished David good luck on his transition.

  At first, he made an effort to thank them, but he quickly ran out of steam and closed his eyes. “Can you thank them for me?”

  “Of course, my love.” She bent down and kissed his forehead. “Rest.”

  The last to approach the mat was her mother, her siblings, and their mates.

  “Do you want me to carry him to your apartment?” Kian offered.

  Sari could do that herself, but she knew that David would be embarrassed to be carried by her.

  “Yes, please.”

  David’s eyes popped open. “No one is carrying me. I’m walking.”

  “Try to stand up,” Kian suggested. “And if you don’t fall on your face, you can walk.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  Slowly, David lifted to a sitting position and then accepted Kian’s hand up.

  Wobbling on his feet, he grinned. “Hey, I’m standing.”

  “Put your arm around my shoulders,” Sari instructed. “Let’s see if you can walk.”

  Leaning on her just slightly, he took a step and then another, and then stopped and looked at Kian over his shoulder. “You see? I can walk.”

  “Just in case, Syssi and I are going to escort you to Sari’s apartment.”

  David shrugged. “Suit yourselves. But you are not coming in. Sari and I have some business to attend to.” He winked.

  Kian chuckled, Syssi blushed, and Sari kept walking.

  With him shuffling his feet and wobbling this way and that, the walk to her place took much longer than usual.

  “Thank you for escorting us,” Sari said as they parted with Syssi and Kian at the door.

  “Our pleasure.” Syssi smiled. “Let us know how David is doing.”

  “Of course.”

  When they were finally alone, and Sari closed the door, David pulled her into his arms. “I couldn’t wait for them to leave.” He kissed her lips softly. “I want my sponge bath and massage.”

  Sari lifted a brow. “What about the happy ending?”

  “That too.”

  COMING UP NEXT

  The Children of the Gods Book 45

  Dark Secrets Unveiled

  To read the first 3 chapters

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  The Children of the Gods Series

  THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS ORIGINS

  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.