Chapter 14 Kian
KIAN
The Sunday morning traffic into downtown Los Angeles was light, which Kian regarded as the one redeeming factor for having to leave the house on the weekend and miss precious time with his family.
Sitting in the back of the SUV beside his mother, Kian watched the city pass by through the tinted windows.
As usual, the brothers sat up front with Anandur behind the wheel and Brundar next to him, scanning their surroundings as if they expected assassins to jump out from every passing car, or just the barrel of a rifle.
It had never happened before, but that didn't mean it was such a far-fetched scenario.
The SUV was bulletproof, but it wasn't a Batman car.
It didn't have hidden machine guns that popped out of the hood, or missile launchers concealed in the trunk, or an ejector seat for unwanted passengers.
There were no oil slicks to deploy against pursuers, no grappling hooks to swing between buildings, and definitely no capability to transform into a tank or a submarine.
What it did have was reinforced armor plating, run-flat tires, and a security system that would make the Secret Service weep with envy.
That should be enough, but perhaps Kian could challenge William's genius squad to come up with some upgrades.
"You seem amused," his mother said. "Care to share?"
He smiled. "I was just thinking about giving the SUV some upgrades."
"What kind of upgrades?"
"Have you seen any of the Batman movies?"
"Oh, yes." She laughed. "It was very entertaining, and Val Kilmer was so handsome."
That one had been five or six Batman movies ago, but he doubted his mother had watched any of the newer remakes.
"I was thinking of the Batmobile. It would be nice to have some gadgets installed in my SUV."
Annani frowned, all amusement leaching from her face. "Are you expecting villains to attack your car?"
"Not really." He took her tiny hand in his. "Don't worry about it. I was just having random thoughts."
She didn't look convinced. "Do you think anyone will come searching for Navuh?"
"I doubt it. His adopted sons are probably engaged in a game of thrones over who will rule the island, and none of them wants Navuh back.
" He shifted, turning to face her. "I still can't believe the Fates delivered him to us like this.
Our greatest enemy just dropped into our laps, quite literally, without us having to lift a finger. "
"The Fates work in mysterious ways." Annani put her other hand over their conjoined ones. "Perhaps this is their way of bringing to an end five thousand years of conflict."
He regretted having to tamp down her optimism. "I think it's a temporary reprieve until whoever took over the island gets settled and continues Navuh's work. They have to."
"Why?"
"Because the entire operation is built around exacting influence and gaining power, with the end goal being world domination.
If they don't continue on the path that Navuh set and try to pivot, the Brotherhood will fall apart.
Whoever is in charge can't allow that to happen, especially given that they are closer to their goal today than they have been in many centuries. "
His mother smiled. "I agree with your assessment, but I am hopeful that without Navuh at the helm, the Brotherhood will be less effective.
Perhaps his fall was just the thing needed to slow down their expansion, and things will go back to how they were just a few decades ago, when it seemed we were finally getting ahead. "
His mother was the quintessential optimist, and he hated to remind her that the Brotherhood, along with its evil, ever-expanding taint, was not the only thing to worry about.
The Eternal King was a much bigger threat because he was impossible to defend against. If he decided to annihilate every living being on Earth, it would be done in the blink of an eye and without warning.
"The Eternal King is a worry for another day," his mother said, evidently reading him with ease. "Right now, we should give thanks to the Fates for handing us Navuh. To do otherwise is to belittle their gift."
She was right, and Kian nodded in agreement, sending his heartfelt gratitude to the Fates and apologizing for always seeing the glass half empty.
"I wonder what Navuh wants to talk to you about."
His mother shrugged. "He wants to negotiate, but I am not interested in whatever he thinks I want."
"He might have precious relics from the time of the gods. Perhaps even another tablet that contains more information than the one you took from your uncle."
"Hmm." Annani pulled her hand out of his and leaned back.
"That would indeed be valuable to me. But if Navuh has anything like that, why has he not used it?
We have built an empire with Ekin's tablet, utilizing all the technological information he had stored in there.
Navuh has never seemed to be able to catch up to our progress. "
Kian smiled. "He doesn't have William. He alone was able to decipher what the tablet said."
Annani's brow furrowed. "Navuh had Tony, and yet he never used his knowledge. He was only interested in the smart sons Tony could produce for him. What a waste."
"Tony is not nearly as smart as Kaia, but Navuh's approach was always different than ours.
Breeding for brute force to start with, and lately breeding for smarts, but it was always about building his army.
It was never about gaining a technological advantage over us.
I thought it was because he didn't have the means that we had, but maybe it was a strategic decision.
" He grimaced. "As much as I hate to admit it, he might have been right going the biological route rather than the technological one.
His enhancement project seemed to have failed, but if it had succeeded, he might have been able to deal us a devastating blow.
I need to find out what progress he has achieved on that front and what plans he has put in motion for the future of the program. "
"Are you going to see him today?" Annani asked.
"Yes. I'll come with you to visit Areana first, and then I'll excuse myself and go see him."
"Do not let him know that you are curious about his offer. Be as dismissive of it as you can."
Kian chuckled. "This is not my first interrogation, Mother. I know what I'm doing."
"I know you do, but I need to make sure.
I know Navuh. Maybe not well, but better than you do.
He is prideful, and the biggest chip on his shoulder is that he is not a god.
He is a very powerful immortal, even more so than many of the gods were, but he can never claim godly status, and it irks him to no end. "
"I'll try to remember that and maybe use it to goad him."
"Do not underestimate him, my son. Navuh is very clever. He will see right through your attempts to provoke him."
As the keep came into view, its glass facade reflecting the morning sun, Anandur pulled into the underground parking structure. And a few minutes later, they were in the elevator, ascending to the penthouse level.
Areana welcomed them, her cool, pale beauty like moonlight to his mother's fiery sun.
"Areana." Annani swept forward and embraced her, holding her close. "You look so beautiful in this gown. The gray color suits you."
His aunt smiled, looking radiant even though her skin was not luminous like he knew it could be if she allowed it. "Your seamstress is a treasure, and she must never sleep. Three more gowns were delivered yesterday afternoon."
Annani glanced down at Areana's feet and frowned. "You need matching shoes for your new gowns."
Kian stood with the brothers, watching the exchange with a smile on his face. Having Areana back made his mother happy, and when she was happy, so was he.
After several more gushing compliments had been exchanged, Areana finally turned to Kian. "I'm so glad you came with your mother." She pulled him into her arms.
"Aunt Areana." Kian returned the embrace, somewhat awkwardly. She might be his aunt, but he barely knew her, and he wasn't comfortable with physical affection from anyone other than his immediate family.
She released him and stepped back, smoothing her hands over her gown. "The penthouse is beautiful. I especially enjoy the view."
"Have you tried the lap pool on the terrace?" he asked.
She glanced at the glass wall that separated the living room from the sprawling terrace. "Not yet. I spend most of my time by Navuh's side."
"Is there anything you need?" he asked. "Anything we can provide to make you more comfortable?"
Areana's smile was tinged with sadness. "You've already done more than I could have hoped for. I don't have words to express my gratitude."
"You're family," Kian said. "It's what we do."
The words seemed to affect her, and she blinked rapidly as if fighting back tears and forcing composure.
"Forgive me," she said after a moment. "I'm usually not so easily overwhelmed. It's just difficult to adjust to so many changes all at once."
"You are entitled to your feelings." Annani threaded her arm through Areana's. "Let us sit down."
Areana nodded, then seemed to remember her duties as hostess and turned to Brundar and Anandur who had remained standing by the door. "Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Can I offer you tea? I'm afraid I don't know how to make much else."
"Tea would be lovely," Annani said, settling onto one of the plush sofas.
"Tea would be great," Kian said, taking a seat across from his mother and motioning for the brothers to sit down.
Areana fluttered around the kitchen, and Kian wondered if he should offer her his help. Life in the harem had been luxurious, and servants had handled everything. Areana had likely never needed to prepare her own food or drink.
She might regard the offer as an insult, though.
When Areana returned with the tea, she set the tray on the coffee table and sat beside Annani with her hands clasped in her lap.
Annani turned sideways so she was facing Areana and took her hand. "I am so excited about finally showing you the village. Amanda is performing her usual magic, transforming the big green into a festive party. It is going to be so beautiful."
Areana winced. "I haven't told Navuh about going to the village this afternoon, or about the welcome party." She looked down at her hands. "I didn't want him to feel abandoned."
"How will you explain your absence?" Kian asked. "Bridget tells me you rarely leave his side."
"I'll tell him that Kalugal is visiting Lokan and that I want to spend some time with my sons and my grandson. It won't be a complete lie since I will be spending time with them in the village. Just not here."
Kian supposed he could understand Areana trying to protect Navuh's feelings, even if he had little sympathy for them, but he couldn't understand how fated mates could deceive each other.
Then again, he'd hidden things from Syssi for years in the name of protecting her. She hadn't known that the little girls' transitions weren't induced by Annani's mere presence but by tiny infusions of her blood.
Now she knew, and Allegra had already received the transfusion, making her immortal.
"How is Navuh?" he asked, not really caring about the evil creature but wanting to know what he was about to face when he visited him.
"About as well as you'd expect." Areana sighed.
"He's frustrated because of the paralysis and angry about having been captured by the clan.
" She turned to his mother. "He wants to speak with you.
He says he has something valuable to offer, something that will be worth your time.
" Areana hesitated. "He refused to tell me what it was. "
Kian exchanged a glance with his mother. "We were trying to guess what it might be. Navuh has already asked Bridget to convey the message to my mother."
"What if Navuh asks about his sons?" Annani suddenly asked Areana. "He might request that they come down to see him, and your lie will fall apart."
Areana's face fell. "He doesn't want to see them. He regards them as traitors."
"That's probably for the best," Kian said. "Kalugal and Lokan want nothing to do with him either."
His words didn't seem to comfort Areana. If anything, she looked more distressed.
"They're his children," she said softly. "My children. Our blood runs in their veins. They can deny it as much as they wish, but it won't change the fact that he is their father."
"I think they are trying to do their best to forget that," Kian said, perhaps more harshly than he intended.
"Navuh has spent five thousand years trying to destroy us and subjugate humanity.
He's responsible for countless deaths. If he ever had any parental feelings, they were clearly overshadowed by his ambition. "
Areana flinched, and Kian immediately regretted his words.
"Forgive me," he said. "I know this is complicated for you. He's your mate, and you love him despite everything. I'm not trying to make this harder."
"I know what he's done." Areana met his eyes, and there was steel beneath the softness. "I'm not blind to his faults or his crimes. But I've also seen the parts of him that others don't. The vulnerability he hides behind cruelty. The fear that drives his need for control. He's not a monster, Kian."
In his book, Navuh was exactly that, but Areana didn't need to hear it. "I reserve judgment for after I talk with him." He rose to his feet. "Brundar, you're with me. Anandur, you stay here to guard the Clan Mother and Lady Areana."
"Aye, aye, captain." Anandur saluted him.
Areana stood as well, anxiety clear in her expression. "Please remember not to tell him about the party."
He put his hand on her shoulder. "I have no intention of discussing social events with Navuh."
"He's still weak. Please don't—" Her eyes pleaded with him.
"I'm just going to talk with him. I'm not going to torture a male paralyzed from the neck down."