Page 87 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

"How is the claustrophobia?" he asked instead.

"Strangely absent." She chuckled. "I guess the anxious energy before a complicated mission burns through irrational fears. Besides, it's not claustrophobia. It's being underground that bothers me. I don't like rooms without windows."

It probably had to do with her imprisonment, but he wasn't going to probe. Perhaps sometime in the future she would talk to him, after she'd had enough time to compartmentalize her experiences, so opening one can of worms didn't release them all.

The doors to Kian's office were never locked, and as they walked in, Max flicked on the lights and headed straight for the desk where a laptop had been left to be used for video conferences.

"This is such a nice office." Kyra took a seat next to the conference table. "It seems like such a waste that it's rarely used. Can't someone else use it as their office while Kian is in the village?"

He turned to look at her over his shoulder. "Would you like it to be yours?"

She laughed. "To do what? Manage my rebels from afar? Besides, if I ever have an office, I want it to have a window."

He turned on the screen, checked his phone's wireless connection to the laptop, and then joined Kyra at the conference table.

He glanced at the clock to check the time when the call came through, and the large screen over Kian's desk flickered to life, revealing Kian's office in the village.

Kian sat at the head of the other conference table, which wasn't nearly as fancy and as big as this one. He was flanked by Onegus on one side and Turner on the other. Jade and her Kra-ell team took the other seats.

"Good evening," Kian greeted them. "Kyra, let me introduce Turner, the man I turn to whenever I need strategic advice or connections anywhere around the globe."

Turner smiled and lifted his hand. "Welcome to the clan, Kyra. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the village."

"Thank you." She smiled back. "I can't wait to see it."

"Let's get started," Onegus said. "Turner has intelligence from his contacts in Tehran." The chief waved a hand at the strategist. "Turner, go ahead."

"The good news is that so far, none of the other children have been taken."

"And the bad news?" Max asked.

"The families have arranged for additional security," Turner said. "Soldiers are now posted at all four residences. The missing girls' parents are trying to keep the disappearances quiet, but they're understandably distraught, and they have been making inquiries through various channels."

"What kind of inquiries?" Kyra asked.

"Official and unofficial," Turner said. "Fareed, Soraya's husband, is a commander in the Revolutionary Guard. He's the one who brought in the security personnel, and he also has powerful connections enabling him to pull a lot of strings. The fact that his own daughters have been taken might ruin his military career. He failed to protect them in his own home."

The dude couldn't have prevented Doomers from taking the girls even if he'd posted guards inside the house twenty-four seven.

"I assume they have surveillance cameras in the house," Max said.

Turner nodded. "Everyone has them these days, but the Doomers destroyed them. Fareed has no idea who took his daughters and their cousin. At first, they thought that the girls had escaped, but since they didn't take any belongings with them, that idea was dismissed. Fareed suspects either rebels or criminals, and he is waiting for a ransom demand."

Max exchanged a glance with Kyra. That complicated things. Her sisters and their children were being watched.

"My contact believes that the increased security is why no attempt has been made on the other children yet," Turner continued. "There are simply too many eyes on them at the moment."

"Is there anything your contact can do to protect them?" Kyra asked.

Turner shook his head. "They're human, and they can't protect against Doomers. Humans have no defense against immortals with even elementary mind control abilities."

"Which brings us to a tactical consideration," Onegus interjected. "The presence of these guards means that we need Yamanu. Max's shrouding and thralling abilities aren't strong enough to cover a large group, and neither is Jade's compulsion. Drova is still recovering from her bullet wound, so she can't join this time."

"You are right," Max agreed with the chief. "We can't do this without Yamanu."

"I'm calling him now," Kian said. "I hoped we would find another way, but it is what it is."

A moment later another window opened on the screen, revealing Yamanu.

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