Page 6 of Dark Rover’s Luck (The Children Of The Gods #95)

6

KIAN

"T he problem is that no one is going to believe a random staffer popping up near a leader of a country," Onegus said. "We can't just slip our people in as top aides overnight."

Yamanu's lips quirked. "But we can thrall key aides who are already in place. That might be more discreet. Instead of forging a new identity for an immortal, we pick a staffer close to the seat of power and manipulate them."

Kian liked that idea. It was simple enough and much more doable than training people and then seeding them.

"That's crossing an even darker line," Onegus said. "But it might be necessary for certain high-value positions."

The conversation shifted into more practical logistics—who to target, how to maintain secrecy, how to ensure the thrall remained stable. Kian listened, letting them hash out the details.

He disliked every word.

The clan had rules for a reason, rules forbidding forced subjugation of humans outside dire emergencies. But then this was a dire emergency on a global scale.

He rubbed his temples, a headache starting at the base of his skull. "We also need to consider the possibility that the Doomers have done exactly that—thralling staffers around major leaders. We might be walking into a hall of mirrors where everyone is already compromised."

Jade nodded. "We need a chain of watchers, a network, not just one or two people. And that's an enormous undertaking." She shifted her gaze to Turner. "We don't necessarily need immortals for that. We can use humans."

Turner let out a breath. "My network is comprised of military operatives, not politicians. I don't think I can help with that."

"Which leads us back to how far we take this?" Kian's gaze swept over the group he'd assembled.

He hadn't intended to go into global politics in this meeting. It was definitely above Max's pay grade and probably Yamanu's as well. The Guardian had been right when he'd suggested that Kian talk it over with his mother and sisters first.

"We're possibly talking about a shadow empire," Turner said. "Covert watchers in every major capital. Controlling or at least influencing policy from behind the scenes." He exhaled. "That's how the Doomers operate. We'd just be flipping the board. But the logistics of that are daunting."

"Not just the logistics," Onegus said. "It doesn't feel right, but we have no choice. We are forced to do this to counterbalance Navuh's influence."

"We do it to preserve life and freedom," Kian said. "He does it to enslave and destroy. That is a key difference."

Onegus tapped the table once more. "We can do this discriminately—use mind control only to block catastrophic decisions or to weed out Doomer influences. We don't need to control every decision leadership makes, only the ones that can lead to existential threats."

"Like allowing fanatics to build nuclear bombs," Max said. "Or policies that allow extremist infiltration."

Kian appreciated the Guardian's perspective. "I like your suggestion. We can focus on critical threat scenarios." He raked a hand through his hair. "I still need to think this through and maybe brainstorm it with all the head guardians and council members. I like the idea of intervening only in the highest-stakes contexts—nuclear weapons, major war escalations, and policies that allow Doomers' influence to spread uncontrollably. I don't want us to become puppet masters."

"There's one more angle to consider," Turner said. "We keep referencing China's involvement, but it's bigger than that. We know that Doomers are playing a multi-continental game. They stir up conflict in smaller countries, pit them against each other, and distract the United States while focusing on nuclear ambitions in Iran and other places that should never have access to such devastating weaponry. This is a Hydra with many heads. Even if we cut one off, others might be sprouting in Africa or Latin America."

"It's overwhelming," Max muttered. "But we have to start somewhere."

Kian couldn't agree more.

"What about Eastern Europe?" Yamanu asked. "I bet the Doomers are also trying to get a foothold there."

Kian nodded. "We'll add that to the to-do list. Let's keep an eye on Eastern Europe, but we can't spread ourselves too thin."

The truth was that he had no idea how he would pull any of it off. The entire clan, including the Kra-ell and Kalugal's people, numbered in the hundreds, and most of them were not trained in undercover work. Even those who were, like Mey and Eva, wouldn't want to leave the comfort and security of the village to embark on missions abroad.

Kian needed a damn miracle.

"Okay, people." He pushed to his feet. "We are not going to solve the entire global mess in one sitting, and we all have things to do."

As people began to stand, he offered handshakes and pats on the shoulder in reassurance he didn't feel.

Once everyone left, he exhaled, letting the tension slip from his shoulders. He walked to the wall of windows behind his desk and looked out over the village. The café was busy as always, with people sitting around the small tables, chatting, drinking their coffees, and eating their sandwiches or pastries. Two Kra-ell children were on the swings in the playground, while their mothers sat on a nearby bench. Everything seemed so normal and serene, while the world outside their small haven was unraveling.

Kian stared at the trees, the gently waving greenery, and thought of nuclear fallout leveling entire cities. The imagery in his mind was too ghastly to contemplate, but ignoring it was foolhardy.

Such an unimaginable outcome would be the real cost of inaction. A cost none could afford to pay.

He pressed a palm against the cool glass of the window, letting the sunlight warm him from the other side, and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

Despite his two millennia of experience, he was still constantly challenged with new, unprecedented, and seemingly more daunting threats.

This new chapter in the clan's history might mean stepping out from the shadows onto the global stage. Perhaps not openly, but in the same clandestine manner the Doomers had been operating for thousands of years.