Page 10 of Dark Gambit Reliance

"ThePhantom of the Operais on the stage of a large concert hall, and we are all sitting in a private booth, dressed to the nines like royalty. I love it."

Kian chuckled. "Who needs a Perfect Match machine when we have Toven to entertain us."

"Why did you stop?" Aliya asked. "It was so beautiful."

Toven gave her an apologetic smile. "That's all I remember. But if you enjoyed it, stop by our house at any time, and Mia's grandmother will gladly put it on for you and join you to watch it. It's her favorite opera, and when I'm in the mood, I sing the duet with her."

Like all gods, he had a great singing voice, and whenever he capitulated to Rosalyn's pleading for him to sing with her, she was so delighted that he had no heart to refuse.

"I would love that." Aliya cast Vrog a sidelong glance. "But I would love even more to see it in an opera house like the one Toven showed us."

"That was the Metropolitan Opera house in New York." Kian pushed to his feet. "If you want to go, you will have to wait for this crisis to blow over first."

7

KIAN

Kian had hoped that Yamanu would be enough and that he wouldn't need to get Toven involved on the ground in Karelia.

Were they actually going to do it?

He felt as if he was getting dragged into action before it was actually needed. If not for Jade's message to Emmett, they wouldn't have known about Igor, and Igor wouldn't have known about them. But now the clan had one of Igor's subjects, and she was possibly Marcel's fated one.

Once again, the situation had the Fates' signature all over it, and Kian resented being used by them to further their plans.

"The purebloods," Turner said. "How many of them were strong compellers? And could they compel each other?"

Vrog put down the glass of water he'd been sipping on. "All purebloods could compel to some extent. But it only worked on hybrids, humans, and animals. They couldn't compel each other."

"Then how come you still feel compelled to help Jade?" Kian asked.

"I'm a hybrid, and she could've compelled me, but she didn't. I took a vow to serve her loyally to the day I die, and I take my vows seriously, but I also vowed loyalty to the clan, and I will not betray it even if it means betraying the one I made to Jade."

"The Mother punishes vow breakers." Aliya's olive-toned skin turned a shade paler. "They are doomed to forever walk in the valley of the shamed."

Vrog took her hand. "I've been a good steward of the tribe's money, and I will give it all back. That should satisfy the Mother."

Aliya didn't look sure at all, but she nodded. "I'll pray for the Mother to accept your gift."

"It's not only mine. Half of those funds are yours."

The sale of his school brought Vrog a nice chunk of money, and he'd planned to use it to open a new school near the village, but since Kian had offered to finance the project, Vrog got to keep his money.

Aliya shook her head. "I never thought of the money as mine."

Turner lifted his hand. "Let's get back to the reason we are here. Are you sure that Jade couldn't compel the other purebloods?"

"I'm not," Vrog admitted. "Perhaps Emmett can answer that question better than I since he has the ability. He says that he can even compel purebloods, but Emmett likes to boast, and I'm not sure I believe him." Vrog grimaced. "Don't base any of your military decisions on what he tells you. He's not a bad guy, but he's not very Kra-ell in nature."

Vrog had said it as if being a Kra-ell was a badge of honor.

"Maybe that's a good thing." Kian reached for the cookies Bridget had put on the table. "The Kra-ell are too bloodthirsty for my taste, pun intended."

"Indeed." Turner leaned back in his chair. "I'll sum up what we've learned so far, and then I'll tell you my plan."

That was unexpected. "Is it ready?"

"I still need to iron out a few details, and naturally, it's up to you to act on it or not, but you asked me to prepare an actionable plan, which I did."

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