Dark Awakening: Echoes of Destiny (The Children Of The Gods #88)

57. Kian

57

KIAN

K ian glanced at his watch, pushed to his feet, and walked over to stand by the window of his office. Most days, watching the early morning activity in the village square below was a source of calm and satisfaction for him, but not today. The usual bustle seemed muted as if the community could sense the tension in the air.

When a knock sounded on the door, he walked over and opened it. "Good morning, Toven."

"Good morning." The god walked in. "Are you sure you need me here for this?"

Kian could understand Toven's reluctance to witness Jade's reaction to the accusations against her daughter.

"I do, in case she doubts me or thinks that Parker has made things up."

Toven nodded. "I'm here for you." He pulled out a chair and sat down. "How are you holding up?"

Kian was surprised by the question. Most people thought of him as invincible, and usually he was the one asking others how they were doing.

"I've been better, and I'm not looking forward to inflicting pain on Jade, but we'll get over this hurdle just as we have gotten over every other."

Toven nodded. "I spent a long time last night thinking about what to do with the girl. I think we should ask Annani to try to bind her power. Annani managed to get Igor to talk. Granted, it was when he was drugged within an inch of his life, and his resistance was nonexistent, but Drova is still young, and she is probably not as powerful as her father. Not yet."

Kian sat down across from the god. "I considered that option, but if that doesn't work, we are left with nothing and a girl who knows no one can stand in her way. I'd rather keep my mother as an option and a threat. As long as Drova doesn't know whether my mother can bind her power, she will fear it and be easier to control."

Toven didn't look convinced. "I trust your judgment. You've been managing people for a long time."

"Thank you."

As another knock sounded at the door, Kian tensed, expecting Jade, but as he rose to his feet the door opened, and Shai walked in with a tray of coffees. "All black, as you requested."

"Thank you, Shai."

His assistant nodded and walked back out.

After Kian handed one of the paper cups to Toven and pulled out one for himself, the two of them sat in tense silence for a few minutes until another knock sounded at the door, this time announcing Jade's arrival.

Kian got up and opened the door for her. "Good morning, Jade. Please come in."

"Good morning." Jade entered, her posture as rigid as always, but her eyes were wary.

She must suspect what this was about.

"Please, take a seat." Kian gestured toward the chair across from Toven and took his place at the head of the conference table. "Regrettably, I'm the bearer of bad news this morning. The one responsible for the thefts and sabotages is Drova."

Jade's eyes shifted to Toven. "Did she confess?"

"No."

She turned back to Kian. "Then how do you know?"

"Parker was caught on camera stealing from one of the houses. We went to talk to him last night, and after Toven managed to break through Drova's compulsion, Parker told us that she compelled him, Lisa, and Cheryl to steal things for her and mess with the trash incinerators and motorized shutters."

The color drained from Jade's face, and she turned to Toven. "You said that she did not confess anything. Was there anything suspicious about her behavior?"

"Drova passed my examination with flying colors, answering all the questions perfectly, too perfectly, in fact. Her ability to resist compulsion is extraordinarily strong, but she made one mistake. She appeared too calm and confident. Everyone else I interrogated was a little nervous. It's natural for people to feel that way because they are afraid of saying something that will make them look guilty, even if they are not. Even you were a little nervous, despite knowing that your questioning was a mere formality and that no one suspected you."

Jade's jaw tightened. "That's not proof of anything other than youthful swagger."

Kian took a deep breath. "If that was the only thing making her a suspect, you wouldn't be here. But together with Parker's testimony, there is no doubt. We can do the same with Lisa and Cheryl before they have a chance to talk to Parker, and I'm sure we will hear the same thing."

Jade let out a resigned breath. "I was always afraid that Drova would grow up to be like her father, and I was so relieved when she didn't manifest any compulsion ability. But it seems she was hiding it from me."

"Not necessarily," Toven said. "I think her ability has developed only recently. When I first compelled her, it wasn't any more difficult than with the other purebloods."

Kian drummed his fingers on the table. "Could she have been faking it back then as well?"

"She wasn't," Toven said. "But now that her ability has manifested, we have a much bigger problem on our hands than the minor nuisances she caused. Drova is young, and her power will continue to grow. She could potentially become as powerful as Igor."

As the words hung heavy in the air, Jade's eyes flashed with a mix of emotions: fear, pride, and fierce protectiveness warring for dominance.

"You are not putting my daughter in stasis," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Drova is not evil like Igor. She might be misguided, but she means well."

Kian held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I would never suggest that, Jade. But we need to take precautions."

He outlined the plan for house arrest, explaining the need for compulsion-filtering earpieces for anyone coming in contact with Drova.

Jade listened, her expression growing more troubled with each word. When Kian finished, she shook her head. "What about hunting? She'll go crazy if she's locked in a house all the time."

That was a valid concern, and the last thing he needed was a crazed, powerful compeller on his hands. "We can make arrangements for hunting trips. You'll need to accompany her, wearing the earpieces, of course. Physically, you're still stronger and better trained, so she won't be able to overpower you to take your earpieces out as Igor did to me."

A flicker of doubt crossed Jade's face. "I'm not sure about that anymore. Drova is a formidable fighter who can stand her own against me."

"Then take your second with you," Kian suggested. "Together with Kagra, you should be able to control her if necessary. We will also put a location cuff on her, so if she runs, we will send Guardians to retrieve her."

"Where would she run?" Jade scoffed. "She's just a kid, and she looks very different. Where could she possibly go?"

Kian leaned forward, his expression grave. "Jade, we need to be realistic here. Drova is as dangerous as Igor was. With her abilities, she could go wherever she wanted and take whatever she wanted. If she's smart about it and knows her limitations, very few could stop her."

"Is that a threat?" Jade's voice was sharp.

"Absolutely not," Kian assured her. "I would never threaten Drova or any member of our community. I'm simply pointing out the potential dangers if she were to venture into the human world and make enemies. She is powerful but not invincible. A sniper, for instance, could still take her out from afar."

Jade mulled this over, her fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest of her chair. Finally, she let out a long breath and gave a small nod. "I understand the necessity, but what happens now?"

"We need to bring Drova in for questioning. How do you want to handle this? You can bring her in yourself, or we can send Guardians with earpieces."

Jade's response was immediate. "I'll bring her. She's my daughter. It should be me."

Kian didn't expect any other answer from her. "Very well. I expect you back here within an hour."

"I might need a little more time." Jade rose from her chair. "I need to prepare her."

"Two hours tops. If you are not here, I will assume she overpowered you, and I will send Guardians after her."

"Understood."

"Thank you, and I'm sorry. I wish none of this was necessary."

A sad smile flickered across Jade's face. "So do I."

As the door closed behind her, Kian slumped in his chair. "That went better than I expected."

Toven nodded. "Jade has always been pragmatic, and I think that deep down she knew."