Page 29 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
Carol walked into the living room, transformed from a domestic goddess to the polished beauty he was accustomed to seeing. Her curly hair was perfectly styled to frame her cherubic face, her makeup was flawless, and the dark pink dress she wore hugged her curves, making her legs look endless in the matching heels.
"You look absolutely stunning." Jacki pulled Carol into her arms.
"So do you," Carol said.
Jacki waved a dismissive hand. "You'll have to impart the fashion knowledge you gained to me because I'm clueless. Ialways wear the same types of outfits because I can't figure out what else will look good on me."
The doorbell rang again before Carol could respond. This time it was Syssi and Kian, and another round of greetings ensued.
"Let's adjourn to the dining table," Carol said once all the embraces and compliments had been exchanged.
Lokan helped Carol serve, falling into a rhythm as if they had done this a thousand times before. Was it a couple thing? Were they so attuned to each other that they could perform any task in perfect synchrony?
The thought sent a wave of comforting warmth through him. Each of them was capable and formidable in their own right, but together, they were a force of nature. They would figure this out.
Hey, perhaps they could start a new fashion business from scratch?
The clan would provide them with all the fake documentation they needed, and he had plenty of money stashed away from all the side hustles he'd run behind his father's back for nearly a thousand years.
"This is delicious," Syssi said after her first bite of the Mung bean and tofu stir-fry.
"I want the recipe." She chuckled. "Not that Okidu would let me sneak into the kitchen and cook anything, but I can give him the recipe."
"It's easy," Carol said. "The secret is plenty of freshly grated ginger.”
"Write it down for me, will you? Okidu needs exact instructions. He's very literal."
"I will," Carol promised.
"How are you both adjusting?" Jacki asked. "It must be quite a change from Beijing."
Carol and Lokan exchanged glances.
"It's been nice," Carol said. "Peaceful. Wonderfully, blissfully peaceful. For about three days."
"And then?" Kian prompted.
"And then the boredom set in," Lokan said bluntly. "We're used to operating with our tanks filled with adrenaline. This feels like retirement, and I'm not ready for that lifestyle yet."
"You're not retired," Kalugal said. "You're regrouping."
"For what?" Lokan set down his fork. "What's the next move? Because watching our father's organization tear the world apart via news feeds isn't productive."
Kian leaned back in his chair, studying them both. "The Brotherhood's influence is growing, and we need to counter it. I've been toying with an idea of creating a task force that will undermine their influence."
"Their network is too vast, too entrenched," Lokan said. "If you cut off one head, three more appear."
"I'm talking about political influence." Kian took a sip of wine. "Something that can be achieved with a small force of skilled operatives."
Carol perked up. "Go on."
"The Brotherhood has been placing their people or compromising existing officials in governments worldwide. We need to do the same, but instead of using blackmail and bribery, we'd use the one secret weapon the Brotherhood doesn't have. Beautiful, charming, immortal females."
"A honey trap operation." Carol grinned. "I love it."
"What I have in mind is more sophisticated than that." Kian refilled his and Syssi's wine glasses. "I'm talking about long-term influence, not just information gathering. We can guide policy decisions, counter Brotherhood initiatives, and in doing so, save countless lives."
Carol sighed. "I would have loved a job like that. It's right in my wheelhouse. But I'm happily mated, and my seduction days are behind me."
