Dark Queen’s Knight Read online

  “Lokan.” Kian shook his hand. “How is Carol doing?”

  “She’s excited to meet her friends. But she regrets that Wonder couldn’t come.”

  “Yeah. She is operating the café now, and it’s not easy with Carol gone.”

  “You should get some hired help.” Lokan leaned forward. “Some humans wouldn’t mind disappearing for the rest of their natural lives. They would think of your hideout as a sanctuary.”

  “I’m not going to allow criminals in our village.”

  “Not only criminals seek sanctuary.”

  “True. But that’s a discussion for another day. Did you talk to your brother again?”

  “Just to confirm the time and place for tomorrow. He was busy.”

  Kian nodded. “I believe we have enough information to take his men out. Just make sure not to let anything slip about the raid.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t. I just wonder what will happen to Losham after this. He might decide to run.”

  “What if he does?”

  Lokan shrugged. “Then perhaps you should chase after him. The guy is brilliant. If he feels that his career in the Brotherhood is over, he might consider switching loyalties, and he could be an asset to you.” He smiled evilly. “That is if I allow him to live after our meeting tomorrow. If he knew about his adopted son’s proclivities and what that scum did to Carol, then I’m going to hold him accountable for her suffering.”

  “Don't kill him. Bring him to me. I’ll make sure that he pays for his son’s sins. The only reason we are not going after him personally is my promise to you.”

  “I appreciate that. It’s not that I care for Losham. I care about my father connecting the dots.”

  “And rightfully so.” Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “There is another matter I wanted to discuss with you, and it has to do with what you told me about the government collecting paranormal talents.”

  Lokan’s curiosity was piqued. “What about it?”

  “The team that I sent to New York to try and flush out your brother met an interesting woman with an even more interesting story. Apparently, she and her younger sister have unique paranormal abilities, which are perfect for spying. Recently, her sister was offered a very well-paying job that required a nondisclosure agreement. She couldn’t tell anyone what the job was or even where she was going to work. After she left for the new job, the only communications from her were a couple of odd texts. Her older sibling suspects that she’s been recruited by the government to spy for them. I want you to try to find out more about the program. Maybe you can arrange to meet with those whose minds you’ve seen it in before.”

  Lokan arched a brow. “Is there a reason you’re being so cryptic? What are their names? What are their abilities? If you want me to look for a connection, I need to know more.”

  Not really, but he was curious.

  “You don’t need to know that. Not yet. If you find out something and need more information to continue, I might consider it.”

  Leaning back, Lokan crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s funny how you don’t have a moral dilemma about sending me to do your dirty work. Would you have given one of your Guardians permission to peek into people’s heads for no good reason?”

  Kian rewarded his question with a chilling stare. “Yes, I would. Finding Dormants is a matter of survival for my clan, and that overrides all other rules.”

  “Fair enough.” Lokan uncrossed his arms. “So, your interest in the sisters is purely for their genes and not their special talents?”

  Kian’s eyes darted aside, revealing his discomfort, and Lokan wondered whether he was going to lie about it.

  “Mostly but not entirely. What they can do is truly unique. In fact, none of my clan members possesses anything like it. Their abilities could be most beneficial to us. On the other hand, if they are so outside the scope of what we know immortals can do, then maybe they are not carriers of our genes.”

  “Are you suggesting that there are other nonhumans out there?”

  Kian shrugged. “Who knows. Humans are ignorant of our existence. We might be guilty of the same in regard to another divergent species.”

  “There could be another explanation.” Lokan lifted a finger. “Mutation. Species tend to evolve. Maybe the sisters are the next step in human evolution?”

  “That’s an interesting hypothesis. I need to run it by our doctor.”

  As the limo pulled up to the curb and stopped, Lokan looked out the window expecting to see the front of a fancy restaurant. Instead, he saw a casual bistro with an outdoor patio and suburbanite clientele.

  “What is this place?” he asked.

  “This is Gino’s. Gino is an old friend of mine, and his restaurant serves the best Italian food you’ve ever had.”

  8

  Carol

  “I can’t eat another bite.” Vivian pushed her plate away. “My stomach feels like it’s going to burst.” Looking to both sides, she popped the top button of her jeans and sighed in relief. “That’s much better.”

  Carol shook her head. “You didn’t eat that much. I, on the other hand, really overdid it. Luckily, I’m wearing a stretchy skirt.” She pulled on the waistband to demonstrate. “I love this brand. I’m going to order several more in different colors and patterns.”

  The thing was called a bandage skirt, but it was one of the most comfortable and versatile pieces of clothing ever. It was stretchy, so there were no zippers to poke her and the fabric was substantial, so it held its shape. And although it hugged her curves all over, she could still move comfortably in it. Not only that, it didn’t take much space in the suitcase and didn’t get wrinkled. It was a perfect travel piece.

  “I say it’s time to order drinks.” Ella pulled her ID out of her wallet and waved the waiter over.

  “I don’t like it when you do that,” Vivian said.

  “Use my fake ID or order drinks?”

  “The ID.”

  Ella shrugged. “This is my identity outside of the village. I can’t use anything else. Besides, you are using a fake one too, and with how young you look, the waiter will probably ask to see yours as well.”

  “Perhaps. But at least mine shows my real age.”

  With all that Ella had been through and all that she’d achieved, it was easy to forget that the girl was barely nineteen and that Vivian was her mother.

  Even before her transition, Vivian had looked like Ella’s older sister. She hadn’t changed much after it, but she looked younger, healthier, and certainly happier.

  What Carol wondered was how much of it was due to her new and improved body, and how much of it was due to her new and improved life. Living in the village with the man she loved and knowing that her daughter had emerged stronger from her ordeal rather than broken had erased the stress lines from Vivian’s pretty face. With her lips curved in a smile, she appeared to be in her mid-twenties, more than a decade less than her actual age.

  “What can I get you, ladies?” The guy flashed a smile at Carol.

  “Black Russian for me.”

  Ella handed him her ID. “I’ll have a strawberry margarita, please.”

  He looked at Vivian. “And you, miss?”

  She lifted the empty bottle of Perrier. “I’ll have another one of these.”

  When he left, Carol leaned closer. “If you are worried about the calories in drinks, don’t. Our metabolism is great.”

  “I’m staying away from alcohol.”

  Carol’s eyebrows popped up. “Are you expecting?”

  “I’m expecting to get pregnant, but I’m not yet. At least I don’t think that I am.” She leaned in and whispered. “How do immortal females know that they’ve conceived? There is no period, so there is nothing to be missed.”

  “And thank God for that,” Ella said. “That was the best part about transitioning.”

  Carol glanced from mother to daughter. “Really? That was the best part? Because I can think of several benefits that
are so much more monumental than no periods.”

  “Like what?” Vivian asked. “I don’t feel much different.”

  “Yeah, me neither,” Ella agreed. “I’m still only five foot four, and I still carry several extra pounds on my hips. I hoped to pass out and wake up a supermodel. Instead, I never lost consciousness, and I look exactly the same as I did before. And on another note, you were always an immortal, Carol, so you’ve never had to suffer through periods. You don’t know what a pain in the rear they are.”

  “You are both such complainers.” Carol rolled her eyes. “I bet you always see the glass half-empty instead of half-full.”

  Vivian sighed. “You are not wrong, and I’m trying to work on it. I don’t know if it’s a human thing or just me. But enough about us. We want to hear about you and your life in Washington.”

  “There is not much to tell. Lokan is busy, and I’m not, which drives me nuts. I’m used to being overwhelmed with too much work, and now I have nothing to do.” She smiled. “But the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Despite the nightly marathon sex sessions, I’m well-rested, I’m caught up on all the gossip magazines, and I started a foodie blog. Life is good. It could have been perfect if Lokan had moved with me into the village, but that’s not in the cards. Even if Kian gets over his mistrust and allows it, Lokan needs to stay connected to the Brotherhood. He is the clan’s new safety net.”

  When the waiter arrived with their drinks, everyone waited for him to leave before resuming the conversation.

  “How did you come up with the idea for a foodie blog?” Vivian asked.

  “I have an amazing mate who is very concerned about keeping me entertained.” Carol winked. “He doesn’t want me to get bored and start thinking about going on missions again. Whenever he can, Lokan takes me out to the best restaurants in the city. At first, I started rating them for fun, but then I thought about putting it in a blog.” She shrugged. “It’s just something to do until I decide what I really want to sink my teeth into.”

  “You can try for a baby,” Vivian suggested. “Merlin’s fertility center is the new social hub of the village.”

  Carol’s eyes widened. “No way! Did everyone go crazy?” She looked at Ella. “Are you and Julian also trying to get pregnant?”

  Ella patted her shoulder. “My mom is exaggerating. I’m in college now, and I’m in no hurry to become a mother. It’s only some of the couples and a few of the single ladies.”

  “What about Amanda? Is she going for it?”

  “Not as far as I know,” Vivian said. “I’ve never seen her or Dalhu in Merlin’s place.”

  Carol lifted a brow. “Does he run the clinic from his house?”

  “God forbid.” Vivian put a hand on her chest. “Have you been to his place?”

  “Is it that bad?”

  “It’s worse. What he calls the fertility center is his office in the clinic. He glued a sign on the door that says 'Merlin’s Fertility Center'.”

  Carol laughed. “He’s an odd bird, that one, but he’s amusing. Did anyone other than Syssi and Kian conceive yet?”

  “If anyone did, they are not sharing,” Vivian said. “Still, there is an atmosphere of hope in the village. Even those who are not trying for a baby seem more upbeat.”

  “That’s good. I’m glad to hear that. The freaking ghost town of a playground was one of Kian’s worst ideas. Everyone who passed by it got sad without even realizing why. I don’t know what was going through his head.”

  “Hope?” Ella mused. “Maybe Syssi had a premonition that there would be plenty of babies soon, and that they would need a playground.”

  Carol nodded. “Makes sense. Kian does whatever she suggests. Which reminds me. I heard that Syssi had a premonition about Kalugal being in New York, and that a team was sent to investigate.”

  Ella and Vivian exchanged looks.

  “Did you know that?” Ella asked her mom.

  “I knew that they sent a team there, but Magnus didn’t tell me why.” She looked at Carol. “Perhaps it’s supposed to be a secret? Who told you about it?”

  “Lokan. I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to talk about it.”

  Ella shrugged. “It probably isn’t a secret. It’s just that my mom and I are not part of the gossip circle yet.”

  “That’s not a bad thing,” Vivian said. “I don’t need to know everything that is going on with everyone. People should mind their own business.”

  “Yeah, good luck with that.” Carol chuckled. “There are no secrets in a small community like ours. Eventually, and by that I mean within twenty-four hours, everyone knows what’s going on with you whether you like it or not.”

  “It’s a little annoying,” Ella said. “But at the same time, it gives me a sense of security. The community takes care of its members, and if help is needed, it is not only available but also offered freely and wholeheartedly. I think the benefits are worth a little loss of privacy. I wish there were more human communities like that.”

  “There used to be,” Carol said. “When most people still lived in small villages, it was a lot like it is here. The alienation is the product of urbanization.”

  “Which has advantages and disadvantages too,” Vivian said. “I agree that city folks live more isolated lives than those in small communities. But on the other hand, the large city population allows a person to be more selective about his or her choice of friends. A musician might want to hang out with other musicians, and a farmer with other farmers.”

  “Hey,” Ella said. “That reminds me. I heard an interesting statistic. Apparently, farmers have sex more frequently than any other segment of the population. Their average is once a day.”

  Carol snorted. “Once a day is nothing to boast about. Obviously, whoever did that study didn’t know about immortals.”

  9

  Yamanu

  “I’m all packed.” Mey came out of the bedroom carrying her big satchel.

  Yamanu eyed the thing. “How did you manage to fit everything in there?”

  She laughed. “I didn’t. Alena let me borrow one of her suitcases. It’s on the bed.”

  “Oh.” He strode inside, picked up the designer luggage, and brought it to the living room.

  “Should I put it in the cart, master?” Ovidu asked.

  “Let’s see if it fits.”

  The food cart was covered with a tablecloth, but its bottom shelf wasn’t wide enough. His and Mey’s bags made two bulky protrusions.

  “Maybe I should just pack my stuff in shopping bags?” Mey asked.

  “I don’t think it’s a big deal. No one is going to pay attention to Ovidu taking the cart down in the service elevator.”

  “Is the guy across the street still there?” Mey worried her bottom lip.

  “He is. But I’m going to take care of him.”

  She frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “I’m going to plant in his mind an urgent need to visit the restroom.”

  “Can you do it from up here?”

  “Not unless I want the entire block to run for the nearest bathroom. From such a distance, I can only do a blanket thrall, and I can’t narrow it down to one person. I need to be near the guy to affect only him.”

  “I get it. What about me?”

  “While I go down to take care of the watcher, you’ll go down to the parking garage where Ovidu will be waiting for you with the limousine. After I get rid of the guy, Ovidu is going to pick me up from the front of the hotel.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Except, can you take me to the garage? I’m afraid someone might be lurking in there.”

  Poor girl. Up until now, Mey had managed to fool him into believing that she was doing fine, but apparently she felt safe only when he was around.

  “Sure.” Yamanu cupped her cheek. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

  She glanced in the direction of the sa
fe. “Will you remind Alena to take my phone to the lost and found?”

  “She won’t forget, but I will make sure to remind her. The Guardians that we are going to meet at the airport have your new one, and all your calls are already redirected to it. If your sister calls or leaves a text message before we get there, they will let me know.”

  “Did they land already?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Not yet, but we should get going. After they land, the jet will get refueled, and we will take off right after that.”

  Mey nodded, took one last look at the suite, and sighed. “I have good memories of this place. I hope I’m not going to lose them.”

  His gut clenched. “Me too. I trust the Fates, though. They brought us together for a reason, and it’s not to mess up with us. Let’s go.”

  He led Mey out, and together with Ovidu, they took the service elevator down to the parking garage.

  When they exited, Yamanu let his senses expand for a long moment. Once he'd ascertained that no one was hiding behind one of the vehicles or the many thick support columns, he proceeded to the limousine.

  “Lock the doors,” he said before leaving Mey and Ovidu in the car.

  “Yes, master.” Ovidu dipped his head.

  Instead of taking the elevator to the lobby, Yamanu jogged up the ramp to the garage’s exit and came upon the watcher from behind.

  It wasn’t the same guy who Yamanu had caught before, and he decided to take a peek into his mind before thralling him to experience severe stomach cramps. Perhaps watcher number two knew more than watcher number one had.

  As it turned out, number two knew even less. He was a newly hired hand, and his job was to notify number one if Mey left the hotel.

  Useless.

  After thralling the guy to duck into the nearest restaurant to use the facilities, Yamanu called Ovidu to come get him.

  The low-level personnel that had been assigned to watch Mey didn’t indicate that her acquisition was important to whoever had sent them. What were they hoping to find out?