Dark Spy’s Resolution Read online

  “He knows I would never do that because Annani wouldn’t allow it.”

  “He doesn’t know who runs the show. Kalugal is the product of a patriarchal society. It should be easy for you to convince him that you are in charge and that your mother is just the figurehead.”

  “I’m not sure that I’m that good of an actor.”

  “I can do that for you if you wish.”

  “Won’t work. Up until now, Kalugal has been dealing exclusively with me, so if you suddenly take over the negotiations, he would immediately suspect that something is up.”

  Turner nodded. “I can coach you.”

  “How? By practicing on you?”

  “You can do that if you wish. But what I have in mind is teaching you how to lie convincingly, or rather how to become a better actor. It starts with imagining the kind of asshole who wouldn’t hesitate to kill his aunt to prove a point, and then becoming that person until Jin is safely back.”

  “It’s called method acting,” Syssi said. “But actors train for years to be able to immerse themselves fully into a role. Kian has hours.”

  “It will have to do,” Turner said. “After all, you are not a novice. You have two thousand years of experience pretending to be human. That should be worth something.”

  “I’m not very good at it.”

  “And yet you pulled it off. Who will be your role model, so to speak?”

  “Navuh,” Onegus suggested. “I’m sure he would kill his own mother if it benefited him in any way.”

  “I don’t know him well enough to emulate his act.”

  “How about Alex?” Syssi suggested. “Anyone who deals in trafficking is exactly that kind of monster.”

  “Not him. I could never immerse myself in a role like that.”

  “What about the Russian?” Turner offered. “Gorchenco is a cruel, emotionless son of a bitch, but he takes care of his people.”

  Kian grimaced. “He is also a rapist.”

  Turner shook his head. “I’m out of ideas. Immersing yourself in Mother Teresa’s character is not going to help you achieve your objective.”

  “I’ll create a fictional character. Or better yet, I’ll pretend that Jin is my sister. If one of my sisters was captured by Kalugal, and killing Areana was the only way to save her, I might give it serious consideration.”

  “So, it’s settled.” Turner tapped the table. “When you talk with Kalugal, take into account that it will take Jin about six hours to get back to San Francisco. Perhaps I should tell her to get going already. If it’s a no, she can always turn around and head back.”

  Now Kian was convinced that Jin was at Annani’s sanctuary, but as long as Turner didn’t verify it, he could claim ignorance. “There is no need to rush her back. I want the exchange to take place at night, and I prefer for her to stay out of reach until it’s time.”

  “The neighbors will be back by then,” Syssi pointed out.

  “Yamanu will have to shroud the area. Those types of things are better handled in the dark.”

  34

  Kalugal

  “Did you look at the feed from the guest room this morning?” Given Rufsur’s smirk, he was referring to the immune having to strip for him.

  “What did I miss?”

  “Miss Jacqueline the immune is a knockout. The makeup and the wig were designed to make her look plain, and the clothes made her look chunky, but she is perfectly shaped and beautiful. No wonder the warrior risked exposure to save her.”

  “You said that they are not a couple. They didn’t share the bed.”

  Rufsur shrugged. “Not yet. But he’s probably hopeful.”

  “How did he react to you searching her?”

  “He watched me closely, making sure that I was professional about it.”

  “Were you?”

  “Of course. The spy might have been watching. I’m also not into putting my hands on a woman who doesn’t want them on her. There are more than enough willing females for me to choose from, and even if there weren’t any, I would not debase myself like that. I’m an honorable male.”

  Kalugal nodded. The men under his command knew his position on proper seduction etiquette. Getting consent without the help of thralling was not negotiable.

  “I assume that no recording devices have been found on our guests?”

  “None.”

  “That’s actually good news. It means that the tether is removable. Otherwise, those two would have never agreed to it.”

  Rufsur rubbed his hand over his jaw. “That’s true only if the spy bothered to ask their permission. She might be forming a connection with everyone she touches, and it might not even be intentional. It just happens whether she wants it or not.”

  “That would make her life very difficult. She would be treated as a pariah by her own people.”

  Kalugal hadn’t asked Kian whether Jin the spy was a clan member or just another talented human like the immune. When she’d touched him in the club, he hadn’t felt anything different about her, but then immortal females didn’t trigger an alarm like the males did, so there was no way to differentiate them from humans. Not unless they demonstrated unusual strength or enhanced senses.

  But he wasn’t sure about that either.

  What if immortal females didn’t have the same advantages as the males?

  When he’d visited his mother all those years ago, Kalugal had been too young to ponder such questions, and his father was not forthcoming with information on the subject.

  If the spy was an immortal, it would open up some interesting possibilities, though. If he married her, Kalugal would gain several advantages for himself, while Kian could not view that as a move against the clan. In fact, if Jin was an outcast because of her ability, he would be doing her and the clan a favor by taking her for himself.

  Having an immortal mate could provide him with immortal children, or dormant children that could be later induced into immortality. And he would also have her special ability at his disposal.

  As for her looks, just like the immune, she was probably much prettier without the makeup and the wig. But it wasn’t a deal-breaker if she wasn’t. Jin the spy was a great asset even if she was no beauty queen.

  The more Kalugal thought about it, the more he liked the idea. By mating a clan member, he could not only defuse the situation, but also form an alliance with Kian.

  That would be the best solution for everyone.

  Kalugal wasn’t interested in cooperation with the clan, but he wasn’t interested in a conflict either. A non-interference agreement would suffice.

  Rufsur frowned. “You’re smirking, which means that you’re plotting something. What devious plan have you concocted in that brilliant mind of yours?”

  “A change in strategy. When Kian brings Jin the spy to me, I’m going to be the most gracious of hosts and lay on the charm. This troublesome situation could provide me with the most unexpected boon.”

  “You want to keep the spy?”

  “Indeed.”

  “That would start a war.”

  “Not if I marry her.”

  Rufsur gaped, and then dropped onto the nearest chair. “Why didn’t we think of that before? The clan has immortal females. If we play nice with Kian, we could get some for ourselves.”

  Kalugal lifted a hand. “Don’t get carried away. I’ll dangle the possibility of an alliance in front of Kian and see how he reacts to that. He might view us as not worthy of his clanswomen.”

  Rufsur grimaced. “If he judges us based on the Brotherhood’s conduct toward females, that might be the case.”

  “He has no reason to think differently. He knows nothing about us.”

  Which was exactly what Kian used as an excuse for sending the spy after Kalugal in the first place.

  Before initiating contact, Kian had wanted to know who he was dealing with. Or at least that was what he claimed.

  What else could he have wanted, though?

  The clan was not looking for
a confrontation any more than Kalugal was, and both wished to fly under the Brotherhood’s radar and remain hidden from Navuh.

  Perhaps showing Kian that he and his men were nothing like his father and his organization was precisely what Kalugal needed to do.

  Except, how could he prove that?

  In Kian’s eyes, he was guilty until proven innocent, and innocence was always harder to prove than guilt.

  35

  Wendy

  “Can Vlad and I take out a snowmobile for a ride?” Wendy looked hopefully at Mey.

  “I have to get everyone warm clothing first. And then I need to ask if that’s okay. I don’t think the snowmobiles are included in the rental.”

  That wasn’t a no. Mey not shooting down the idea right away was an encouraging sign.

  “I hope they are. I’ve never ridden one.” Wendy looked at Vlad. “Have you?”

  He shook his head. “My mom took me skiing a few times, and I’ve ridden a jet ski but not a snowmobile.”

  That was more than Wendy had ever gotten to do. But then Vlad’s parents were normal people who loved their son. Except, he’d only mentioned his mom.

  “What about your dad? Did he go skiing with you?”

  “I don’t have a dad. I mean, I don’t know who he is.” Vlad looked into his cereal bowl and fished out the one remaining cornflake.

  “Would you like more?” Mey asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  It was his third serving, and that was in addition to two pieces of toast smothered with peanut butter and jam.

  Wendy shook her head. “You are so lucky. If I ate as much as you do, I would turn into a ball. Where is all of that going?”

  “I wish I knew. I try to gain weight, but no matter how much I eat, nothing sticks to my bones.” He smiled shyly. “That’s what my mother says.”

  “Your mom sounds nice.”

  “She is.”

  “I’m done.” Bowen pushed away from the table. “Are you ready to go, Mey?”

  “I need to write down everyone’s sizes first.” She pulled out her phone. “Ingrid, what’s your shoe size?”

  “Eight and a half. I wish I could go with you. I’m choosy about my footwear and my clothing.”

  “I’ll send you pictures. You can’t go out wearing a thin sweater and yoga pants. Besides, I’m only going to get basic stuff. Snowshoes, puffer coats, gloves, scarfs, hats, and warm socks. You and Vlad also need underwear and pajamas.”

  “Get me a swimsuit,” Ingrid said. “I want to get into that hot tub out on the back patio.”

  “I must have some clairvoyant talent because I packed my swim shorts.” Richard waggled his brows. “Although if the others promise not to peek, we can enjoy the hot tub in the nude.”

  “Ooh, you naughty boy. I like how you think.”

  Things seemed to be heating up between those two, and Wendy was happy for them. She was even happier about Richard’s idea to share the hot tub with Ingrid in the nude. If they were busy with each other while Mey and Bowen went shopping, that would leave only Vlad and Leon to pay attention to her.

  Perhaps that was her opportunity to sneak out?

  Except, without a coat and proper shoes, she would probably freeze to death before reaching the town on foot.

  Damn.

  “I also brought mine,” Mey said. “How about you, Wendy?”

  “I have it. I was in a rush, so I just dumped everything I had on the bedsheet and brought it with me. I left nothing in the underground.”

  Mey glanced at Vlad. “Should I get you swimming trunks?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not a fan of hot tubs.”

  Poor guy. He was probably embarrassed about being seen without clothes on.

  As guilt assailed her once again, Wendy’s gut twisted. It would have been so much easier to use Vlad if he were a jerk. Well, not easier because he would have been less trusting, but her conscience wouldn’t have bothered her as much.

  Every time he showed vulnerability, Wendy’s resolve to betray him and the others faltered. But what choice did she have?

  They couldn’t offer her the safe future her uncle had arranged for her, and without his help, she wouldn’t make it a week on the outside.

  Maybe if she were a fighter like Jacki, she could’ve managed, but she wasn’t. She had no skills, and no family to support her. All Wendy had was a paranormal talent that was mostly useless.

  On her own, she would probably end up homeless. Or dead. A young girl alone on the streets had no chance of survival. She’d get raped on the first night.

  The sad truth was that she couldn’t afford to take the moral high ground. As sweet as Vlad was, and as nice as the others were, her life was more important than their hurt feelings.

  Except, more than their feelings would get hurt.

  If she managed to contact her uncle, all these nice people would end up in the paranormal program whether they wanted to or not. But even that wasn’t worth giving her life up for. There were much worse fates than getting conscripted into a government program that paid extremely well and using their special talents to serve their country.

  A small voice in the back of her head reminded Wendy of her uncle’s super-babies breeding program, but she stifled it.

  So what if the director and Marisol were compelling people to sleep with each other? There were much worse things than that too. And when she delivered a bunch of new paranormal talents to him, Wendy was going to demand to be excluded from that as her reward.

  “Wendy, what’s your shoe size?”

  “Seven. And I wear a medium in some clothes and a large in others. It depends on the cut.”

  “Okay.” Mey closed her phone. “I've got everything I need. Any special requests?”

  “Meat,” Leon said. “And lots of it.” He glanced at Vlad. “And also potatoes. We are going to fatten this boy up.”

  “You can try,” Vlad said. “But it’s not going to work.”

  Leon cocked a brow. “Do you object to eating steak, ribs, and potatoes?”

  “Not at all.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  36

  Vlad

  “I want to see the jacuzzi.” As Wendy opened the sliding door to the back yard, a cold gust of wind swept through the cabin’s living room.

  Vlad grabbed the throw blanket from the back of the couch and rushed to wrap it around her. “You should have waited for Mey to come back with the coats.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thank you, but I only want to take a peek.”

  “I turned it on before breakfast,” Richard said. “Check if it’s warmed up yet.”

  “Okay.” Vlad followed Wendy outside and closed the sliding door behind them.

  Lifting her face toward the sunshine, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “It’s so peaceful up here. And the air is so crisp. I wish I could live in a place like this.”

  Vlad commanded his heart to stop pounding like a locomotive. It was beating so hard that even a human could hear it, and if not that, then his labored breathing for sure.

  The friendlier Wendy was toward him, the more he wanted her. His arousal had become almost constant, and he was thankful that his dark clothing and the long hoodie hid the erection that wouldn’t let up. So far, his fangs hadn’t elongated yet, but Vlad was afraid that the smallest touch would trigger that as well.

  He’d never had that problem before.

  Knowing what most girls thought of him stifled any attraction he might have felt. Perhaps it was the smidgen of hope that allowed him to feel things he’d been suppressing since puberty.

  Wendy turned to look at him and smiled, her ruddy cheeks making her look even more beautiful than usual. “I love being surrounded by nature. Do you want to go for a hike later?”

  “Sure. After Mey gets here with the clothes, though. I don’t want you to get sick.”

  Vlad was cold, but he could tolerate it better than Wendy and he was not going to get sick.
br />   “Of course.” She lifted her foot to show him her sneakers. “These would get wet right away, and my toes would freeze.” She walked to the side of the deck where the hot tub was. “But until Mey returns, we can sit here and keep our feet warm in the jacuzzi, or I can get into my swimsuit.”

  He would love to see Wendy in it, but he didn’t want her to see him. If she felt even a little attraction toward him, that would be gone the moment she saw his scarecrow-like body.

  “I’ll check if the water is warm enough.”

  The hot tub was built into the deck, and Richard had left the cover on, but it wasn’t tight, and steam was escaping through the sides. Crouching next to it, Vlad lifted the cover and dipped his fingers in the water. “I think it’s good to go.”

  “For now, I’m just going to dip my feet in.” Wendy sat on the deck and started taking her shoes off, but then stopped. “I can let Ingrid borrow my swimsuit.” She pushed up. “Wait here. I’m just going to give it to her and come back. And put your feet in the water, that will warm you up.”

  He nodded.

  His feet were okay looking, so there was no harm in Wendy seeing those. His calves, however, were just as skinny as the rest of him.

  With a sigh, Vlad sat on the deck, removed his boots and socks, folded his black jeans up all the way above his knobby knees, and put his feet in the tub.

  Wendy was right. The heat from the water spread from his toes all the way up, and the warm vapor heated the air. It would have been pleasant if he weren’t so self-conscious about his knees.

  When Wendy opened the sliding door, he quickly covered them with his hands. “Are Richard and Ingrid coming out?”

  “Ingrid is trying on the swimsuit.” Wendy kicked her shoes off and sat on the deck. “She is taller than me, so it might not fit. It’s a one-piece.”