Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(2)

Her little jibe worked. Kian looked at her sternly, but a smile was tugging at his lips. “You’re forgiven. Now talk… respectfully…”

Okay, I can do respectful…

Amanda straightened her back and clasped her hands before her on Kian’s desk. Affecting her teacher’s voice, she asked, “How do you feel about Syssi? Think about it for a moment before you answer. I want you to get a clear picture in your head.”

Kian didn’t take long. “She is sweet. I like how unassuming she is. She is definitely smart, and not prone to dramatics or exaggerations like some people I know…” He looked at her pointedly, and she rolled her eyes. “Syssi is beautiful, lush, sensual… lustful… I can’t get enough of her, and she responds in kind… We are definitely in serious lust with each other.” Kian smiled, then took in a hissed breath.

“Are you sure it’s only lust?” Amanda probed gently.

“What else could it be? We’ve known each other for less than four days…” Avoiding Amanda’s eyes, Kian once again raked his fingers through his messed-up hair.

“So you didn’t become a jealous monster when another male was sniffing around her, or turn practically demonic just at the thought of her with another guy?” Amanda asked with a smug smile.

Bracing his elbows on the desk, Kian dropped his head on his fists. “I did.

Big time.” He sighed. “I was ready to pound Anandur to a pulp, and barely held myself from breaking Alex’s arm when the scumbag touched her. I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never been the jealous type, not even with Lavena, whom I loved… had a child with… I don’t understand what’s happening to me.”

Poor guy, he has no idea…

“Yet you’ve told Syssi that she is important to the clan, that she should not fear addiction because she can choose some other male for her mate.”

Kian’s anger flared anew. “So? It’s true! I wanted her to know she is important to us, and I didn’t want her to feel trapped or forced. She has the right to know what her options are.”

Amanda palmed his tightly fisted hand and held it in both of hers. “You lied, Kian; lied to yourself, lied to Syssi, and by doing so you hurt both of you,” she said in a somber tone to drive the point home.

Kian tried to pull away from her, but she held on. “Listen to me! She is important to you, and you want her to choose you because you want her for yourself, not for the clan. That’s what she wanted to hear, needed you to say, and it also happens to be the truth.”

When he didn’t try to refute this, she continued, “Syssi is not like us. She is not someone who has casual sex. This thing with you means the world to her. The poor girl had just one lover until now and went without sex for two years, for goodness’ sake… And the way you explained things made her feel like she is nothing to you… Way to go, Kian…” With a last disapproving look, she finally let go of Kian’s hand.

“I’m an ass…” Kian dropped his head and rubbed at his temples.

“I’m such a moron…”

“No, my dear, sweet brother, you’re not a moron, just inexperienced; shagging thousands of women notwithstanding. You don’t know how to deal with your own emotions, let alone someone else’s. You’ve never had to woo a female so you don’t know how to go about it. But all is not lost. I’ll help you romance her back.” Amanda squared her shoulders, pushing her chin up.

Kian chuckled. “You, Amanda? What do you know about wooing or romance? What do any of us know? We use and discard partners like dirty underwear or used condoms.”

“Okay, Kian, now you’re being crude. As regent, you’re not allowed.”

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “In here, I’m just your brother.”

“Could have fooled me… Watch your tone, Amanda… I demand respect, Amanda…” She emulated his haughty tone, crossing her arms over her chest and jutting her chin out.

“Cut the crap. What do you suggest I do, Miss Know-It-All?”

“I do have some human female friends, and I’ve read a few romance novels, so I do have some idea of what mortal females want—besides the shagging, or in addition to it, that is. You should take her out on a date, make it several dates, to some classy, romantic restaurant, or a show, the theater.

Take her dancing. And gifts—I think mortal females expect that from their suitors. Shower her with attention, but it has to be outside the bed… or the wall… or the closet… or the shower…” True to her nature, Amanda couldn’t help herself and kept going. But he just smirked. “Make her feel she is the most important person in the world to you. Tell her how you feel, show her; give yourself to her and make her yours.” Amanda sighed. How she longed for a man to become as enamored with her as Kian was with Syssi. But what were the chances of that? None.

“But what if she is not compatible, and I have to let her go, erase her memories? It’s going to hurt like hell…”

“Letting her go is going to hurt like hell regardless of what you do.

You’re already head over heels with her. But, at least this way, giving it all, letting this thing between you bloom, you’ll get to sample a little bit of wonderful. The consequences of not admitting the truth and following your heart would bring a whole new world of hurt, much worse than just letting her go.” She shivered. “I hate to think what that would do to you.”