Page 41 of Dark Gambit: The Play

If he was being a dick, she could at least lash out at him, but he was polite and soft-spoken as always, just distant.

The two guards accompanying them weren't talking between themselves either, and the silence in the minivan was oppressive.

Shifting, she faced Marcel. "I know that Tom was talking about Jade when he told me about the slaughter of the males and the kidnapping of the females. I always wondered why she loathed Igor so much, and why she tolerated being his prime female despite that. Maybe she's looking for a way to avenge her people, and that's why she found Safe Haven's paranormal program so fascinating. A powerful compeller like Tom could release her from Igor's compulsion and then she could kill him, but to do that, she needs to have access to him."

"What about the other females?" Marcel asked. "Do they find him less loathsome?"

"They all want to be his prime, but Jade is the most powerful, and that's why he tolerates her. She gave him a daughter, which as you know is rare. Not that it matters. Igor prefers a son to be his successor."

She might be disclosing too much information, but at this stage, it wasn't important. The inner workings of the Kra-ell society wouldn't give them any military insight into the compound, so it wasn't relevant. It was just something she knew Marcel would find fascinating and it would encourage him to engage in conversation with her.

Maybe he would even reciprocate with information about his people. She still doubted that paranormal abilities were the only thing distinguishing them from regular humans. The story about finding the three hybrids while looking for people with paranormal talents also didn't make sense. If those hybrids could pass for humans, they wouldn't disclose their deepest secret willingly. Being the progeny of aliens and their inhuman longevity put them at tremendous risk.

Then again, Tom or another powerful compeller could have forced the information out of them, so there was that.

"He murdered Jade's sons," Marcel said quietly. "He most likely did the same to the other females that he brought to the compound. We know that Jade is a strong compeller in her own right, so she might have been able to retain more of her independent thinking. The others might not have been as strong, and he compelled them to forget their loss, or did something else to make them want him despite what he did to their males."

Sofia was grateful for the information Marcel had shared and horrified by the tragedy that had befallen Jade. She didn't know how old the female was, so when Tom had told her about what Igor had done to her people, she hadn't thought about Jade having male children that had been murdered along with the other males.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, but I wish I didn't know that. Poor Jade." She let out a breath. "I never thought I would say that about her. She's so strong and so condescending. She is not very likable."

"She's not." Marcel gave her a tight smile. "The three survivors from her clan don't like her, but they respect her, and two of them still feel loyal to her."

"What about the third?"

"They had a falling out, but he would still help her if he could."

Sofia nodded. "It demonstrates that he's a good person."

Marcel pursed his lips. "Most people have some good and some bad mixed in. You said that even Igor wasn't all bad."

She chuckled. "In his case, the scale tips heavily to the bad side."

What about her grandfather? Had Valstar been involved in the slaughter?

Probably.

He'd killed children.

The realization pulled a gasp out of Sofia. "Mother above, my grandfather is a monster."

Marcel tilted his head. "Does he belong to Igor's inner circle?"

She nodded. "He's under Igor's compulsion, though. Everyone is. But he doesn't have a collar around his neck."

"Does your mother?"

"Of course. Even Igor's daughter with Jade has one. Not that she would ever attempt to escape. Her life is charmed despite not having a chance to become his successor and having a bitchy, demanding mother. She's treated like a princess."

"In a traditional Kra-ell community, she would be the ruler. Not because she's Igor's daughter, but because she's Jade's. From what you told me, Jade is the most powerful female in the compound."

Sofia nodded. "So if your people ever get rid of Igor, Jade would become the next leader?"

That wouldn't be a great improvement.

Jade was ruthless, and she wasn't kind, and she didn't even try to hide her low opinion of humans. If it were up to her, they would all be just servants and farm workers. At least Igor accepted that humans were as intelligent as the Kra-ell and were useful for more than breeding and menial jobs.

"I don't know," Marcel said. "The people who were born into Igor's rule are used to his patriarchal regime. They might be resistant to things going traditional again. The best would be a new system that is not gender-based. A new democratic era for the Kra-ell, where those who are the most capable and willing to serve their community get elected with the help of a confidential voting system."