I.T.LUCAS

While the cappuccino machine thumped and hissed, Syssi leaned against the counter and watched Kian sitting on the couch and frowning at his phone.

His expression indicated that clan business was once again intruding on their family time, and on a Sunday evening, that was worrisome. When the cappuccinos were ready, she carried them to the couch. "What's going on?"

Kian set his phone aside as he took the cup she handed him. "I was reading a text from Onegus." He took a sip and sighed. "Superb as always, my love. Thank you."

"You are welcome." She sat next to him, cradling her cup in her hands.

"It took a long time for Allegra to fall asleep tonight." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Was it because of my bathtub time story?"

She cast him a reproachful look. "You need to tame your Captain Grouchy Face stories and make them more age-appropriate. Allegra was overexcited and only relaxed after I read Puss in Boots to heragain."

The illustrations in the book never failed to make Allegra smile.

"I'm sorry," Kian said, but judging by his sheepish smile, he wasn't sorry at all.

Her husband was on a mission to prepare their baby girl for a future as the clan leader, and he used his bath-time stories to convey complicated issues and teach her cause and effect. The problem was that Allegra was much too young to understand the cautionary messages in these tales, and her father was much too stubborn to accept that he needed to wait a few years before their daughter was ready for them.

"Bad guys snatching children is not age-appropriate for Allegra, even if Captain Grouchy Face saves the day, beats up the snatchers, and returns the children to their parents."

"Noted." Kian took another sip of his cappuccino. "How would you tell the story? Should the bad guys snatch a favorite pet instead?"

He was incorrigible. "Stick to Captain Grouchy Face saving cats stuck on trees and helping find lost pets."

"Boring."

Syssi laughed. "I like boring. Boring means that nothing bad is happening. Give me boring all day, any day." She glanced at his phone. "So, what was so urgent that Onegus was messaging you on a Sunday evening?"

"I told you about what Roni's discovered. Onegus has been working on the organizational chart through the weekend, and we've been brainstorming ideas for how to restructure our operations to deal with the pedophilia ring while maintaining our fight against trafficking without reducing the number of rescue missions. At least not significantly. We are also undecided about who should lead the new operations. Onegus suggested Peter, but I'd rather it was led by a Head Guardian. I told him to speak to Bhathian."

"Bhathian is in charge of the training programs," Syssi pointed out. "He can't do both."

Kian nodded. "We can put Kri in charge of training and move Bhathian to lead the new effort. I'm also deliberating whether we should put another Head Guardian in charge of the trafficking operations. That will free Onegus from the day-to-day scheduling and organization and allow him to focus on the big picture."

 "You should do that." Syssi took another sip of her cappuccino and put the cup on the wood saucer, which was a permanent decor piece on the coffee table. "I also think that the two divisions need separate names, and they shouldn't be the trafficking division and the pedophilia division. That just sounds nasty."

"They deal with nasty stuff."

"I know." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "But the people who are fighting them are not nasty, and they need their divisions to have names that they are proud of."

Kian snorted. "These are not high school football teams. Our Guardians don't need that."

"Symbolism matters, my love." She lifted her head and turned to face him. "I would even go a step further and commission two different styles of uniforms. When soldiers go into battle, they rally under a banner and wear specific insignia. It builds unit cohesion and strengthens resolve. Not that our Guardians need it, but since you are including the new Kra-ell recruits, it might help them integrate better and reinforce their loyalty. They are proud people, and titles matter to them."

"You make a valid point, my wise mate." Kian kissed the top of her head. "So, what names would you suggest?"

"Frankly, I haven't given it any thought. It just occurred to me now that you started talking about organizational charts." Syssi thought of borrowing names from famous football teams, but nothing really resonated with her. "We can keep it simple. How about Saviors for the teams saving victims of trafficking, and Avengers for the teams taking out pedophiles?"

"I like it." Kian finished the last drops of his cappuccino and set the empty cup down. "As for the uniforms, right now, everyone is wearing the same black fatigues, and I wouldn't change that for the new division because we need to maintain anonymity, but maybe we can issue pins or patches to designate the two branches."

"That's probably good enough." Syssi lifted her legs onto the couch and tucked them under her. "If you're thinking of putting Bhathian in charge of the Avengers, who do you have in mind for the Saviors?"

"Arwel, if he's up to it. If he's not, I might have to put Peter in charge of the Avengers and Bhathian in charge of the Saviors. Onegus will have to promote Peter to Head Guardian, though, which I don't think he will have a problem with, but some of the other Guardians might. Several are waiting for a promotion."

"That reminds me." Syssi leaned away slightly. "Do you know when Arwel is going to induce Rob?"

"I don't." Kian smiled. "What I do know is that Rob and Gertrude have a thing going on."

"What?" Syssi sat up straighter. "How come I didn't know about this, or better yet, how come your mother and Amanda didn't find out? Is the village rumor mill broken?"

Kian chuckled. "I think they are just in the initial stages of their relationship. I saw them together at the clinic when I went to check on Jasmine and Ell-rom, and the looks and smiles they were exchanging while sharing lunch were telling."

"That's wonderful news. It makes me happy that Rob has already found someone. Gertrude is so perfect for him that I don't know how Amanda didn't think of matching them. I guess she thought it was too early." She frowned. "Although now that I mention it, it is too soon after the horrible breakup Rob has suffered through. I hope it's not just a rebound romance for him. Gertrude deserves better."

Kian shrugged. "Looked like they were into each other, but I'm not an authority on the subject of romance."

"Oh, but you are." Syssi leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips. "You are the best at it because you are real, and you are all in."

"I am." He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. "And so are you."

"True." She kissed his cheek. "As impossible as it seems, our love grows stronger over time."

Leaning her head on Kian's chest, Syssi thought about Ell-rom and Jasmine and the relationship that they had just started. They probably couldn't imagine loving each other more, but they would. "I hope Jasmine wakes up soon. I'm glad that at least Morelle is awake. It would have been much more difficult for Ell-rom if she was also still in a coma. Nevertheless, he is freaking out over Jasmine, and that's understandable. It is taking her a very long time to transition."

"It is." Kian rubbed his hand over her arm. "My mother is also impatient for Jasmine to wake up so we can ask her permission to send Guardians to peek into her father's mind. Jasmine wants to do it herself, but my mother doesn't want to wait, especially after Morelle encouraged her to investigate what happened to Jasmine's mother because Ell-rom suggested that your vision might have been about finding her and not Khiann."

"Why would my vision show Jasmine's mother? I mean, it's possible that she has the same eyes as her daughter, but I didn't ask about her."

"It's just a loose hypothesis, and Ell-rom suggested it as a reach. His reasoning was that when you asked whether Khiann was dead or in stasis, the vision might have revealed something about Jasmine's mother, who might somehow be important to finding Khiann. Jasmine's father never talked about her mother, and she doesn't even know where her mother is buried or how she died."

It was a far-fetched idea, but maybe Ell-rom's hunch had been inspired. They still didn't know the extent of his talents, and since he was glued to Jasmine's side, he couldn't accompany Morelle to the university tomorrow, so his talents could be tested as well.

Initially, Morelle had used her recuperating as an excuse not to go, but Amanda had convinced her to come by simply explaining what was involved and promising to show her the nursery she had created for Evie and Allegra, and that now cared for twelve more little ones, with four full-time nannies and a large group of part-time students. It was such a lovely initiative, and Syssi was proud to have played a big part in making it happen. 

"Perhaps I should ask for another vision," she said.

Surprisingly, Kian nodded instead of trying to talk her out of it. "I think so, too."

"I can do it right now." She pulled out of his arms and sat beside him.

His eyebrows rose. "Here? Won't I affect your concentration?"

"You might," she admitted. "But I want to try. I've become too dependent on using Allegra to enhance my power. I need to go back to basics and do this on my own." She touched his hand. "If it doesn't work, I can always try again another time with Allegra next to me."

Again, he surprised her by nodding his approval. "Should I move to give you more space?"

"No." She smiled. "You can stay right where you are. Just try not to distract me with your handsomeness."

He laughed. "I'll do my best to tame my magnetism."

Syssi closed her eyes, letting her awareness of the room fade away.

She could feel Kian's solid presence beside her, but instead of distracting her, his warmth was a steadying anchor as she reached for that ethereal space where visions dwelled.

When the familiar sensation of floating began to overtake her, Syssi asked to be shown who the woman in the desert was and how she would help them find Khiann.

Having learned a long time ago not to force visions or direct them too specifically, she opened herself to whatever images might come, trusting that what she needed to see would be revealed in its own time and way.

As the familiar scene from her previous vision materialized, the woman appeared as before, wrapped in traditional male desert clothing, the fabric billowing in the hot wind, with only her striking eyes visible—brown with swirling flecks of gold that seemed to catch the sunlight.

This time, however, new details emerged. Behind the woman, mountains rose against the horizon, but not the barren peaks Syssi had seen when she'd followed the woman's gaze. Green slopes were dotted with oak trees, and in the valley below, she caught glimpses of stone houses with flat roofs. Some of them were half-ruined, but others were livable, and people were milling around, men and women in ragtag fatigues. As their voices carried on the wind, she tried to discern the language they were speaking. She'd heard it somewhere before, but she couldn't remember where and what it was.

Listening intently, Syssi tried to catch familiar words, and the vision obliged, isolating a conversation between two women who were standing next to a jeep and bringing it closer to her as if she was standing right next to them. When she heard one of the women mention Azerbaijan, things clicked into place, and a moment later, the other woman mentioned Kermanshah, Syssi's suspicion was confirmed.

The two places the women were talking about were in Kurdistan, specifically the part controlled by Iran, and Jasmine's mother was Iranian.

As the vision began to fade, it zoomed back to the golden-eyed woman, and Syssi caught one final detail—a distinctive pendant that was partially hidden by her scarf. It looked like it was carved from amber or some similar golden stone.

Opening her eyes, Syssi let out a breath. "I saw the same woman, the same place, but this time I got more clues. I'm pretty sure it was Kurdistan, but I'm not sure whether the woman was Jasmine's mother and I was being shown the past, or it was Jasmine in the future, looking for her mother in the area of Azerbaijan and Kermanshah, which were both mentioned quite clearly. There was another clue—a pendant that the woman wore, which I didn't see in the previous image, but it was partially hidden under her scarf, and I couldn't see the design. I think it was made from amber, and it looked old."

Kian nodded. "Kurdistan spans parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, so Jasmine's mother might have come from the area controlled by Iran. We have to talk to Jasmine's father, but Ell-rom was very clear that Jasmine wants to handle that herself. Perhaps we can start investigating the Kurdish angle without directly involving her father just yet. See if Roni can dig deeper into Kyra's past, focusing on that region."

"That's a good idea." Syssi winced as her head started to throb. "The vision felt different without Allegra's boost. It was just as clear as the ones I had with her help, maybe even clearer because I felt more in charge and found it easier to steer it where I wanted it to go, but it's taken more out of me. It was draining." She gave Kian a smile. "Next vision, I'm summoning with Allegra in the room."

Chapter 2: Morelle

As Morelle walked beside Brandon toward the vehicle parking area, her anxiety grew with each step. The morning sun felt warm on her scalp, reminding her of her compromised appearance, although why she was bothered by that was unclear.

As someone who had spent her entire life on Anumati covered from head to toe, she could have been bald under the hood and the veil, and no one would have known or cared.

She had been a statement—a thing—a princess, a priestess in training, but not a female with desires and mundane concerns like being fond of her beautiful brown hair.

 Resisting the urge to run her hand over the soft fuzz of new growth, she clutched the purse that was more for appearances than to hold anything of importance. She had nothing to put in it besides her earpieces or the teardrop, but she was wearing both, so the thing was empty.

Brandon put his hand on the small of her back. "Are you nervous or excited?"

"A little bit of both," she admitted. "I'm excited to see the world beyond the village. As for the testing, I'm nervous about Amanda having the same results as the head priestess. I might have no special talents."

"Having special abilities is not as important as you might think." Brandon walked her into a big hall made of glass. "I don't have any special talents either, and I'm a council member, which is an important position in the clan that is based on merit. It's not just about the talents you are born with. It's the abilities you develop and your drive to succeed." He pressed a button that was located on a panel next to a set of metal doors.

"What is this?" she asked, pointing at the doors.

"It's an elevator or a lift that takes passengers up or down. I'm sure you had them on Anumati."

"We did, but the first and only time I was in one of those was in the spaceport. The temple and the palace were only two stories high, and we used stairs."

The spaceport elevators had been made of glass, which had made the experience of traveling in them terrifying.

The speed had been dizzying, and the passing levels rushed by in a blur. 

Thankfully this elevator had no windows at all, only a mirror, and Morelle couldn't tell how fast it was going, only that it was going down.

Still, the small space wasn't free of traps. Her own reflection still startled her despite having seen it multiple times over the past several days, and it wasn't just because of the lack of hair. Morelle was still getting used to being outside without her robs and veil, her face and body exposed for all to see that her eyes were blue, not black and huge, and that she had breasts.

When the doors opened, it was to a large hall with many rows of vehicles and many thick columns that held up the ceiling.

The one Kian stood next to was larger than the others, and it was black. She recognized his two bodyguards, the friendly redhead, and the stoic blond.

"Good morning," Kian greeted them.

"Good morning." She smiled and offered him her hand like she had seen Brandon doing.

The sooner she learned Earth customs, the better. 

He shook it lightly and then exchanged greetings with Brandon.

The redhead opened the back door for her. "My lady?" He offered her a hand as if she needed help getting inside the vehicle.

When they were all seated in their seats, she glanced at the Odu who was sitting behind the wheel, and offered him a smile through the small mirror that was mounted above him.

Morelle was no longer anxious around the Odus after spending four days at Annani's and being served by them. She'd also met Kian's, Amanda's, and Alena's Odus at the family dinner on Saturday. They had all been perfectly pleasant and accommodating.

The entire family had been just wonderful, welcoming her and Ell-rom with open arms. It was enough to melt even her cynical heart and make her experience profound gratitude toward her mother, who had sent her and Ell-rom to Earth to find their father. She was even grateful to Ani, the queen of the gods, for sabotaging the settler ship and having it arrive on Earth seven thousand years later.

If they had arrived on time, they would have most likely perished with all the other gods, and even if they had arrived after the bombing, they wouldn't have been welcomed by such a loving family.

Kian, who was sitting across from her in the roomy interior of the vehicle, regarded her as if trying to guess what she was thinking about. "If you are wondering why Amanda and Syssi are not here, they have gone ahead to prepare the lab."

"I wasn't wondering that at all. But what do they need to prepare for me? Amanda said that the tests are very simple and don't require much effort."

"They're clearing the space," he explained. "The lab usually has quite a few people working there: researchers and research assistants, as well as volunteers and paid participants. We thought it best to have your testing done privately."

The unspoken implication hung in the air. They didn't want witnesses to whatever might happen in case she exhibited a deadly talent like her brother.

Morelle's stomach tightened. "Are you concerned about what Amanda might discover?" 

"There is that, but we are also a large group, and none of us looks like the average human."

"In what way?"

The redhead leaned forward. "We are better looking by a lot."

"Oh." She smoothed her hand over her head. "The gods' heritage and my bald head stand out."

Kian crossed his legs. "Even without hair, you are a very striking female, Morelle. You will draw attention, so be prepared for curious looks as we walk from the parking area to where the laboratory is located."

It was good that he had warned her.

"Thank you for telling me. I would have felt very awkward otherwise." She shifted in her seat. "I'm excited about seeing the place of learning where Amanda works and visiting the nursery, but I'm afraid that the visit will be a waste of time. I don't have any talents. After all the tests that the head priestess put me through, I will be very surprised if Amanda finds that I do."  

The head priestess had tested Morelle extensively, always looking disappointed when nothing manifested. But perhaps she'd been looking for the wrong things.

As the vehicle began moving, the windows turned opaque, and Brandon took her hand. "The vehicle drives autonomously until we reach a certain distance from the mountain entrance. It's one of our security measures, so the entrance to our village remains a secret."

"Is it because of me?" Morelle narrowed her eyes at him. "So I won't know where it is?"

"It's standard protocol for everyone living in the village," Kian said. "If one of our people gets captured, the information cannot be tortured out of them."

"The Doomers?" she asked. "Or the humans?"

"The Doomers," the redhead said, "But also the humans to a lesser extent."

Morelle still didn't know much about those terrible enemies who had been mentioned on several occasions, and every time she asked Brandon about them, he found a clever way to change the subject.

When the method was kissing, she didn't mind as much. 

They had done a lot of that after the first time, and she was eager to explore more, but Brandon insisted on taking things slow because she was still recuperating and wasn't fully recovered.

That was a good incentive to push herself on that weird machine Gertrude had guided her to use.

"What happens if the vehicles all break down?" she asked. "Amanda said something about a pulse of energy that can disable all electronic devices on Earth. How would people find their way back home?"

"Council members and Head Guardians know the way," Brandon said.

That made sense, and she hoped that one day she would be entrusted with that knowledge, too. Morelle didn't want to be the outsider with the secrets anymore. She wanted to be a valued member of her community.

At some point, the windows turned clear again, and the Odu took over the driving. At first, the world outside the windows didn't seem much different than the one she'd seen in the village, but then they reached a populated area, where the tall buildings covered in glass gleamed in the morning sun, and humans walked on the streets, hurrying from place to place. 

"The facility where the lab is located is called a university," Brandon said. "Does that translate well to Kra-ell?"

She nodded. "The gods have universities. The Kra-ell don't, or at least they didn't when I was there."

"They have high learning institutions now," Kian said. "But nothing that compares to the elite universities of the gods. Those are reserved for their upper class, and even commoner gods can't get in."

She shook her head. "Thousands of years later, things are still pretty much the same over there."

"It seems to me that time on Anumati moves at a different rate." Kian crossed his arms over his chest. "They are such an ancient civilization, and they live forever. They don't want things to change. They are comfortable with how things are."

The university campus buzzed with activity as their group made its way toward Amanda's lab. Brandon held on to Morelle's hand, but when he switched and placed it on her lower back, he felt the tension in her muscles as students and faculty turned to stare at their unusual-looking procession.

"Is there a movie shoot going on, and no one told us?" someone murmured, but it was loud enough for his immortal hearing to catch.

"Has to be. Look at that woman. She's stunning. Must be sci-fi with that shaved-off hair."

"I'm going to Google it. She looks familiar."

Morelle must have heard everything as clearly as he had, but given how stiff her posture remained, she didn't understand that the comments were complimentary.

He leaned closer to her ear. "They are saying that you are beautiful, and they think we are actors on our way to film a scene in a movie."

She nodded. "What did they say about my shaved-off hair? I did not understand."

Science fiction probably did not translate well to Kra-ell. "They think that you are an actress in a futuristic movie, and having shaved-off hair is the style of the future. They might also think that you are a soldier in an elite unit. They usually shave off most of their hair for practical reasons."

"Is that why they think I am a performer of fictional stories?"

"Performers are usually the most attractive people. They are chosen for their looks." He smiled as her shoulders relaxed slightly. "They think you are gorgeous, which, of course, you are."

"Thank you," she whispered back. "I don't know why this is important to me, but for some reason, it is."

Looks were important to everyone because people wanted to be deemed attractive and desirable, and although Morelle had grown up in a warrior culture that worshipped strength above all, some things were universal.

Morelle lifted her chin and actually smiled at a group of passing students, causing several of them to stumble.

When they reached the lab, Amanda sauntered toward them with a big smile on her lips and her arms open wide to embrace Morelle. "Welcome to my domain."

Syssi followed with her own embrace and then hugged her husband as if she hadn't seen him in weeks instead of mere hours.

That was what Brandon wanted.

He wanted to be loved like that.

"Can I see the nursery?" Morelle asked. "I've kept thinking about it and imagining it since you told me about it at dinner."

Brandon's heart squeezed at her enthusiasm.

Her natural affinity for children had taken him by complete surprise. He'd watched her with Allegra on Saturday, and the way she'd instantly connected with the child had been heartwarming.

"It will have to wait for after the testing," Amanda said. "I only cleared the lab for two hours, so we don't have time to visit the kiddos now, but we can visit them after we are done."

Morelle nodded. "I understand."

As Amanda and Syssi led Morelle deeper into the lab, Brandon and Kian walked over to the sitting area in the corner of the large room, which consisted of a row of six chairs with two small side tables on each end. Stacks of old magazines that had seen better days had been left on the tables.

Anandur and Brandon had remained outside, guarding the entrance to the lab.

"Any progress with InstaTock?" Kian asked.

Brandon shook his head. "Not much since I'm dedicating most of my time to Morelle. I had a few ideas sketched and ran them by Kalugal. He suggested that I show them to a sample of our target audience—Lisa, Parker, and Cheryl. He told me that Cheryl is an expert on the platform." 

Kian nodded. "So I've heard. But there is no rush with InstaTock. Morelle's well-being takes precedence, and she needs you." He smiled. "It would seem that our most confirmed bachelor is off the market."

Brandon lifted his hands. "What can I say? I was enthralled by Morelle from the first moment I saw her."

The past four days had been extraordinary. Morelle was unlike any female Brandon had ever been with or known, and he'd known many over his long life.

She was fierce and childlike at the same time, and she had a darker edge that fascinated him. It was just a hint of the Kra-ell ruthlessness and tenacity that emerged at certain moments.

She was excited.

The many kisses they had shared had tested his self-control, and despite Morelle's encouragement, he had proudly managed not to take it any further.  

She might have believed herself ready for more, but he knew better. She was still recuperating, getting stronger each day, and learning more about her new world. They had all the time in the world to explore each other's desires, and rushing things would only diminish the experience.

Each night, after Morelle fell asleep, he'd slip away to his own house, returning before she woke. Annani had offered to let him stay, but he'd declined the invitation even though he'd originally planned on sneaking in at night.

Brandon had realized that he needed to slow down for his own sake as much as for hers.

"She needs time," he'd told the Clan Mother. "Even if she doesn't realize it yet."

Morelle had spent millennia in stasis and, before that, her entire life in enforced isolation. Everything was new to her, including feelings, experiences, and choices. He wouldn't risk overwhelming her with physical intimacy before she'd had time to process the emotional connections she was forming for the first time in her life.

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Vampire’s Consort

When Gabriel’s company is ready to start beta testing, he invites his old crush to inspect its medical safety protocol. Curious about the revolutionary technology of the Perfect Match Virtual Fantasy-Fulfillment studios, Brenna agrees. Neither expects to end up partnering for its first fully immersive test run.

King’s Chosen

When Lisa’s nutty friends get her a gift certificate to Perfect Match Virtual Fantasy Studios, she has no intentions of using it. But since the only way to get a refund is if no partner can be found for her, she makes sure to request a fantasy so girly and over the top that no sane guy will pick it up. Except, someone does. Warning: This fantasy contains a hot, dominating crown prince, sweet insta-love, steamy love scenes painted with light shades of gray, a wedding, and a HEA in both the virtual and real worlds.

Captain's Conquest

Working as a Starbucks barista, Alicia fends off flirting all day long, but none of the guys are as charming and sexy as Gregg. His frequent visits are the highlight of her day, but since he’s never asked her out, she assumes he’s taken. Besides, between a day job and a budding music career, she has no time to start a new relationship. That is until Gregg makes her an offer she can’t refuse—a gift certificate to the virtual fantasy fulfillment service everyone is talking about. As a huge Star Trek fan, Alicia has a perfect match in mind—the captain of the Starship Enterprise.

The Thief Who Loved Me

When Marian splurges on a Perfect Match Virtual adventure as a world infamous jewel thief, she expects high-wire fun with a hot partner who she will never have to see again in real life.

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Neither expects to find their forever Perfect Match.

My Merman Prince
The beautiful architect working late on the twelfth floor of my building thinks that I’m just the maintenance guy. She’s also under the impression that I’m not interested.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I want her like I’ve never wanted a woman before, but I don’t play where I work.
I don’t need the complications.
When she tells me about living out her mermaid fantasy with a stranger in a Perfect Match virtual adventure, I decide to do everything possible to ensure that the stranger is me

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