Page 80 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents
How long would he be able to maintain a majority of immortals in the council?
Even under the best of circumstances and the best intentions of each faction, the Kra-ell were very different people than the immortals and the gods. Other than mutual security concerns, their interests did not align with the clan's, and they might take his people for a ride none of them wanted to join.
He would have to come up with a solution for separating the two groups while still maintaining control over the Kra-ell, at least until he was sure that they wouldn't go back to their old ways of enslaving humans for free labor and breeding.
"Are we ready to start?" Shai asked.
Kian nodded, signaling to his assistant to begin the recording. "Would you like to start us off with your report about the bulletin board?"
Shai stood up. "As requested, we posted a bulletin asking for the perpetrator of the recent thefts and sabotages to come forward with a promise of leniency. Unfortunately, no one hasconfessed. However, the post has generated quite a colorful array of responses from the community." He paused, a hint of a smile lifting his lips. "Should I recite a few for the council's amusement?"
"Are any of them malicious?" Kian asked.
Shai shrugged. "Not explicitly, but discontent was implied. Someone suggested jokingly that the Kra-ell must have invisibility powers we don't know about and are doing those things to us out of spite. Another mentioned mischievous spirits and gremlins who love to cause trouble, which, in my opinion, is another thinly veiled reference to the Kra-ell."
As everyone cast glances at Jade, she shrugged. "People like to talk and complain. I wouldn't take it too seriously."
Nodding, Shai continued, "My personal favorite was: 'Wake up, sheeple! It's obviously a conspiracy to keep us distracted from the real issues, like the fact that the café ran out of pistachio ice cream and hasn't replenished it since last Tuesday.'"
Kian found the comment amusing despite the possible note of truth in it. He had considered that the small thefts and sabotages were meant as a distraction from a bigger plot.
Amanda chuckled. "Maybe it's a poltergeist. You know, one of those noisy, troublemaking ghosts from folklore. They're said to move objects around and cause general chaos to get people in trouble."
Kian shot his sister a mock stern look. "I think we'll stick to investigating the living for now, but thank you for the creative suggestion."
She dipped her head. "You are welcome."
Kian turned to Jade. "I'm sorry that so many are quick to blame the Kra-ell."
Jade shrugged again, her face a mask of indifference. "I share their opinion, so I can't be angry at them for thinking that. The problem is that I can't find the culprit despite my efforts, and that is after employing my most intimidating methods save for resorting to torture."
Kian winced. The Kra-ell were, in many ways, savages who appreciated strength above all else, and to hold their respect, Jade needed to be brutal, but he didn't want to know what her methods were. As the leader of the combined community, he should know that, but since he was contemplating separating their people at some point, in the interim he could let Jade govern them as she pleased.
57
JASMINE
Jasmine sat at the vanity, brushing her hair as she watched Ell-rom getting dressed through the mirror.
The morning sunlight changed the color of his eyes, turning it into a shade of an incredible blue that on anyone else would have looked fake but fit her alien prince perfectly.
His beauty was ethereal.
Last night, following their first declarations of love for each other, had been their first joining, and she wanted to commit to memory every moment of it, save for the end when Ell-rom had turned away, biting the pillow instead of her neck.
Jasmine had experienced a moment of disappointment, but she'd quickly gotten over it. They'd made love twice, but he hadn't bitten her or the pillow the second time around.
She hadn't asked him about it, and she wasn't going to. She'd promised him that she was in no rush and that he shouldn't feel pressured to do anything he wasn't ready for.
Ell-rom approached her from behind and leaned over her shoulder to look at her in the mirror. "You look beautiful, my love."
"You look not so bad yourself." She turned her head and kissed the underside of his jaw. "I love you."
They had overslept this morning, so making love again would have to wait until after Ell-rom's nap. Right now, he was running late for his session with Julian.
"I'm sorry about last night," he murmured.
"Don't you dare." She turned fully and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Last night was perfect, and I don't want you to attach any negative feelings to this cherished memory."