Page 46

KIAN

T he early morning sun was strong enough in the summer to necessitate protective eyewear, and as Kian stepped out of the bus behind Syssi, he put on his sunglasses.

According to the latest updates, the planes would be arriving within minutes of each other—Kalugal's jet from Cairo along with his entourage and the clan's jet from Toronto carrying Lokan, Carol, and the three Guardians.

Turner's associate had collected them from Finland and dropped them off in Canada, where Eric had collected them with the clan's jet and flown them home.

Syssi slipped her hand into his. "I'm so excited, but that's nothing compared to what Wonder must be feeling." He nodded, glancing to where the tall brunette stood with Anandur, their hands clasped, fingers interlaced.

Hopefully, Esag's appearance wouldn't cause a rift between them.

They were truelove mates, and there was no way Wonder had any feelings other than friendship left for Esag, but Kian didn't envy Anandur's position.

If Syssi's former boyfriend suddenly appeared in her life, Kian wouldn't have been happy.

But that was a small worry compared to the stress of the past few days.

Lokan and Carol had been hunted across multiple countries, with enhanced Doomers on their trail, a snitch in Turner's network, and then fucking Gorchenco coming back from the dead and making things even more difficult for them.

He should have had the guy killed when he had the chance. He more than deserved it for what he had done to Ella.

Thankfully it all ended well, and Lokan and Carol, along with the three Guardians he'd sent to help them, were on their way home. The cherry on top, though, was the discovery of Esag and his companions.

It seemed like the Fates took pity on him sometimes and delivered occasional doses of good news to keep him going.

"It's a miracle that after five thousand years, we've found more survivors."

"The Fates work in mysterious ways," Syssi murmured.

"Indeed."

Kian watched Wonder smoothing her hands over her jeans, checking her hair, adjusting her collar. Anandur stood beside her, a mountain of barely contained tension.

"How are you holding up?" Anandur asked her.

Wonder's laugh was shaky. "I survived five thousand years in stasis and rebuilt my entire life. Yet the thought of seeing Esag again makes me nervous like that uncertain girl I used to be."

"You're not Gulan anymore," Anandur said. "You are Wonder now. Strong, confident, mated to a devastatingly handsome Guardian." He pretended to flip his hair back, which was ridiculous since his red curls were cropped short.

That earned him a small smile. "Devastatingly handsome?"

"I calls it like I sees it," he said and struck a pose, which made her laugh.

Brundar actually cracked what might have been a smile. His brother's antics had that effect occasionally, or rather rarely, and even then, only when Anandur couldn't see it.

"Aircraft on approach," Okidu announced cheerfully from his position by the bus door.

No one argued with his superior hearing.

They all turned to watch the sky, and soon Kian could make out the distinct shape of Kalugal's sleek jet approaching from the east and behind it, the clan's smaller plane.

"Both at once," Syssi said. "The Fates have a sense of drama."

The larger jet landed first and taxied to the hangar, where Kalugal's ground crew was waiting while the smaller one circled overhead.

When the runway was clear, the smaller jet aligned for approach and landed a few minutes later.

Kian waited patiently for the doors of both jets to open and for the passengers to spill out.

First to disembark were Lokan and Carol, and Kian started toward them when Kalugal's voice boomed across the tarmac. "Lokan!"

He practically sprinted toward his brother, the two meeting halfway in an embrace that brought a smile to Kian's face.

Carol hung back with the Guardians for a moment, letting the brothers have their reunion, before Kalugal pulled her into the hug as well.

"You finally made it," Kalugal said. "With enhanced Doomers and the Russian mafia on your heels."

"It was an adventure." Carol patted her curls, which were brown now instead of blond. "One I'd prefer never to repeat. And we couldn't have made it without these three." She motioned to the Guardians and then shifted her gaze to Kian. "Thank you for sending them to us."

As the reunion continued, Kian's attention was drawn to movement from Kalugal's plane. A figure emerged at the doorway, and even from a distance, there was no mistaking his flame-red hair.

Wonder made a sound—half gasp, half sob—and started forward. Anandur moved to follow, then stopped himself, fists clenched at his sides.

Esag froze at the top of the stairs, his eyes finding Wonder immediately despite the distance and the crowd and the five thousand years since they had last seen each other.

Wonder's long legs ate up the distance, and Esag met her halfway, the two colliding in an embrace that spoke of tremendous shared loss and the miracle of unexpected reunion.

"I thought you were dead," Esag's voice carried despite being muffled against Wonder's shoulder.

"We thought the same of you." Wonder pulled back to look at his face. "Esag, you haven't changed at all. Still the same red hair, the same freckles..."

"You've changed," he said wonderingly. "You look so strong, so confident. The Gulan I knew would never have run so fast in front of strangers."

"I'm Wonder Woman now, and I don't hide what I can do from my clan members." She turned, gesturing for Anandur to come over. "Esag, I want you to meet my husband, Anandur."

Esag grinned as he extended his hand. "Aren't you a handsome fellow. It's like looking in the mirror."

"Great," Brundar murmured. "Another clown."

Kian had a feeling that Brundar was right, and that Esag and Anandur were similar, not just in appearance.

Anandur shook the offered hand. "Wonder says that a lot. The same red hair, the same questionable sense of humor."

Esag laughed. "You're clearly a male of excellent qualities."

"Modest, too," Wonder added dryly. "You are practically like twins, born four thousand years apart."

Kian stepped forward. "Welcome to the clan. I'm Kian, Annani's son, and this is my wife, Syssi."

"The princess's son." Esag's eyes shone as he took his hand. "Kalugal has told me a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope."

"The best." Esag kept staring at him. "I know you are not Khiann's son, but I swear I can see him in you."

Kian just nodded, not wanting to dive into the long explanation about his mother choosing the fathers of her children according to qualities she recognized in them that resembled those of her lost husband.

"Annani is eager to see you all," Syssi said warmly.

What she didn't mention was that Amanda was currently transforming the village green into party central, but that was meant to be a surprise.

"Princess Annani lives." Esag shook his head. "And she's the mother of an entire clan. She was always a force of nature."

Lokan and Carol had made their way over, the various groups converging into one large gathering. The introductions were somewhat chaotic, the ancient immortals meeting younger ones, old friends discovering new connections.

"We brought with us many figurines," Esag said. "Is there enough room in this bus for all the passengers and the cargo?"

"Oh, yes, Master Esag." Okidu rushed to open the storage compartments.

Esag looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Okidu? Is that really you?"

"Yes." The butler bowed. "It is I."

Without waiting a moment longer, Esag rushed to the Odu and embraced him like a long-lost family member, which in a way he was.

"You survived." Esag took a step back. "What about your brothers?"

"They are all well, Master. The Clan Mother escaped with all of us. You will see four of my brothers in the village."

"Where are the other two?"

"In the clan's other locations," Kian said. "Let's get everyone on the bus and I'll tell you about it on the way to the village."

"Of course." Esag motioned for Davuh and Roven to come with him.

What followed was a careful procession as the three retrieved crate after crate from Kalugal's plane, and the others joined in to help them, handling each one like spun glass and passing them from hand to hand in a chain that ended at the bus's storage compartment.

"How many are there?" Camden asked, hefting another crate.

"Many," Roven replied. "Five thousand years is a long time to be carving."

"Each one is a memory," Esag added softly. "A person lost forever."

The solemn moment was broken when Din emerged from the jet's cargo hull struggling with something large and ungainly wrapped in paper and blankets.

"Need help with that?" Max called out.

"I've got it," Din grunted. "It's not heavy. Just difficult to carry."

For some reason, his entire group burst into laughter.

"What's that?" Grant asked as he made room for it in the bus storage compartment.

"It's a lamp," Din said defensively.

"That's being generous," Fenella said.

Even Esag was smiling. "In five thousand years, I've never seen anything quite like it."

"And you won't for another five thousand," Max predicted. "Because there can't be two of those in existence. The universe wouldn't allow it."

"Everyone's a critic," Din muttered, but he was smiling too.

With the cargo taken care of, they began boarding the bus, and as Kian followed Syssi inside he glanced at where Wonder was seated together with Esag, clearly wanting to continue their reunion.

Anandur sat across the aisle from them with Brundar, close enough to be present but giving them space to reconnect.

"That can't be easy for him," Syssi whispered.

"Seeing your mate reunite with her first love would test anyone," Kian whispered back.

Lokan and Carol claimed seats near the front, with Grant and the other two Guardians sitting behind them, and the Cairo contingent filling the middle section. The energy in the bus was electric—joy, relief, and anticipation all mixed together.

Kian and Syssi sat across the aisle from Lokan and Carol, and as Okidu started the engine, Kian leaned forward to look at his cousin. "Ready to settle down in the village?"

Lokan nodded, but there were shadows in his eyes.

It couldn't be easy for him. He'd been forced to leave behind everything he'd worked for and sever his contact with the island and its people.

His dream of liberating the island seemed farther away than ever.