Page 69 of Dark Gambit Reliance

Ekin had been a scientist and an inventor, and Toven was a scholar, a philosopher, and an explorer. Mortdh had been the only one with political aspirations.

"You were more like Ekin than Mortdh was, in intellect as well as in temperament. Well, except for the womanizing. Ekin was legendary in his relentless pursuit of ladies regardless of their mated status."

Toven laughed. "He was, and most of those legends were true. The only one that was a total fabrication was that he wanted to get his half-sister pregnant. That never happened."

"My mother told me that it was common among the gods. As long as the mothers were not related, it was fine to mate a half-sister, even encouraged."

"Athor was a scientist herself, a geneticist, and for a goddess, she wasn't very attractive. She had her human servants to have fun with, and she wouldn't have allowed Ekin anywhere near her."

"Speaking of attractiveness, what does Jade look like?"

"She doesn't look significantly more alien than Aliya, and she could be considered attractive by those who like their women super bossy, abrasive, and intimidating." He chuckled. "She's you, just prettier."

"I don't know what's more offensive, your insinuation that I'm bossy and abrasive or that I'm not good-looking enough."

For a moment, the god didn't respond, probably trying to figure out whether Kian had really been offended or was just teasing.

"I hope you're not serious," Toven said.

"I'm not. Have you spoken with William?"

"Not yet. I called you first."

"I'll call him. A lot depends on whether he can have his equipment ready in time for Sunday."

48

SOFIA

"Sofia." Marcel put his hand on her shoulder. "Wake up, love."

She bolted upright. "What's happening? Did they talk to Jade?"

Worried about the meeting between Toven and Jade, she'd spent most of the night tossing and turning, finally falling asleep when it was already light outside.

The worry was not only about the outcome. It was also about whether it would even happen and whether Toven was walking into a trap.

Nevertheless, the rush of adrenaline burned through the grogginess, and she was instantly wide awake.

"They did. Shai is on the line with the details, and later Kian wants to talk to you."

"Okay." She pulled the blanket up to her chin.

Marcel turned the speaker on. "Go ahead, Shai."

"Good morning, Sofia. Kian is extremely busy organizing the mission, and he asked me to give you an update."

"I appreciate it."

"Here is what's going to happen over the next forty-eight hours."

When he was done, Sofia's chest felt so tight that she could barely breathe. "Jade is going to kill my grandfather?"

"Toven will try to convince her to hold off until after we take over the compound," Shai said. "We need him alive to capture Igor, but she's not going to show him mercy once Igor is caught. According to her, he's a murderer and doesn't deserve leniency."

"I don't get it," Marcel said. "With Igor out of the compound, Valstar is no doubt in charge of the trigger to detonate the explosives. We can't risk leaving him alive."

Sofia shuddered.