Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(41)

Except, it was entirely possible that she was busy with some guy in a back room, and though it was a bit early for that, it was still the most likely explanation.

Hell, he really didn’t need this on top of what was going on with Syssi, but knowing that doubt would keep eating at him till he made sure Amanda was all right, he got Onegus on the line. “We have what might be a situation.

Amanda hasn’t returned home yet, and she is not answering her phone. Could you send the guys to check her usual hangouts? Better yet, get William to track her phone signal.”

“I’m on it, boss.” Onegus ended the call.





3 4

D A L H U

A fter leaving the motel, Dalhu found a large shopping mall and turned into its underground parking.

“Are you taking me shopping?” Amanda asked as soon as she realized where he was heading. “So nice of you,” she mocked.

He glanced her way, a smirk curling his lips. “I promise I will take you shopping later, but not now, and not here.”

“Really?” She looked surprised.

“Really.” What he had in mind was breaking into some store later at night and grabbing provisions for the mountains. But for now, he’d let her think what she would.

Waiting for the right opportunity to present itself, he slowly drove around the parking garage. Going down a few levels, Dalhu eventually found what he was looking for. A young man was exiting his car, and there was nobody else around. Not wasting any time, Dalhu stopped and got out of his Mercedes.

Thralling the young man to trade his old, battered Honda for Dalhu’s rental took only a few seconds. Hopefully, it would take the Brotherhood some time to track the Mercedes to the guy and start looking for the Honda.

Dalhu was taking every precaution he could think of.

Amanda made a face as he rushed her to the passenger seat of the small car. “You are really taking me slumming. At least the Mercedes was something I was comfortable being driven in. This car is just blah, and it smells.” Amanda resumed the nonstop complaining she had started as soon as they left the motel, probably hoping he would grow sick of her annoying company and decide she wasn’t worth the trouble.

Oh, man, she had it wrong. He couldn’t imagine anything that would detract from how much he wanted her. She could’ve sung for hours, off key, while farting, and he would’ve found it charming.

“It’s not going to work, Professor. I know what you’re trying to do.”

Dalhu smirked.

“Stop calling me Professor. Why do you do that anyway?”

“Because I can’t believe how lucky I got. My woman is gorgeous and smart—a professor no less—it makes me proud to say it.”

“Well, I don’t like it. Call me Amanda. You sound condescending when you say professor.”

“How do you figure that?”

“You say it as if I’m stupid despite being well educated.”

Dalhu glanced her way before returning his eyes to the road. “Guilty as charged. You are being stupid if you think this constant nagging will change my mind. I just tune it out.”

“Insufferable man…” she spat.





3 5

K I A N

“W e checked all of the clubs; she wasn’t at any of them. And William couldn’t get a signal. He said her phone is history.” Onegus delivered the dire news.

Kian was going slowly insane.

Syssi had gone from sleeping to losing consciousness, and now this.

Frantic with worry, he paced the small room, feeling like his world was crumbling around him and he was powerless to do a damn thing about it.

Maybe I should pray. Kian’s face twisted in a sardonic grimace. If only I could think of a deity I could pray to… He stopped in his tracks and pulled out his phone.

“It’s Kian, put my mother on the line, please. It’s urgent.” He resumed his pacing.

“What happened?” Annani came on line, her melodic voice instantly providing him with a measure of relief.

Sighing, he felt like a small boy again, when sharing his troubles with his mother had always managed to make him feel better. “I met a girl, Syssi, and she is a Dormant.”

“I know all about her.” Kian heard the smile in his mother’s voice.

“How?” he asked, awed by her astounding powers.

“Nothing profound, Kian, we do get texts and phone calls up here. The news traveled through the grapevine.” She chuckled at his misconception.

“I see… Anyway, Syssi is transitioning and is not doing well. She lost consciousness a little while ago, and we don’t know what to do. And to top it off, Amanda is missing.” He waited for Annani to say something.

“I am flying over. I will be there in a few hours,” she said after a short pause.

Kian was torn between wanting his mother’s support and keeping her safely away. “No, Mother, you can’t come. It’s too dangerous. With the Doomers here in LA, we can’t risk your safety like this.”

“My daughter is missing, my future daughter-in-law is unconscious, and you think I will stay here twiddling my fingers? I am coming, whether you like it or not. Have the helicopter ready to pick me up from our airstrip.” She waited for him to say something. “Kian, this is where you say yes, Mother,”