Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(46)

Even the little snoring sounds she makes when she sleeps—they soothe me.”

He chuckled, but then his smile wilted, and he rubbed the place over his heart.

“I get crazy jealous and possessive over Syssi, I never did with Lavena. I don’t know why… she never does anything to encourage these feelings. It’s just me, acting like a caveman who’s guarding his turf, all primal instinct and no brains.” Glancing at his mother’s satisfied smirk, Kian raked his fingers through his hair.

“You react this way because your immortal body and your soul recognize the one woman who completes you, and you would do just about anything to guard her and keep her safely to yourself. It is as it should be for a male of our kind. I am so happy that against all odds, fate—with a little help from Amanda—has granted you this rare fortune of a truelove match… But are you sure Syssi feels the same way about you?”

“Yes, why do you keep asking? Do you have a reason to doubt it?” It was disconcerting the way his mother double checked. Did she think he was not lovable? Or worse, that Syssi was some kind of opportunist? Seeking to gain something other than his love and devotion?

“Close the door, Kian.” Annani gestured toward the open door, where the Guardians keeping vigil in the corridor outside were listening in on their conversation.

He had completely forgotten that they were not alone. Now everyone would know how out of control he was.

Whatever… let them.

As he felt a soundproofing shield snap into place, Kian figured his mother wished to guard their conversation. Couldn’t she have done it before asking him all those personal questions? Annani was the only one whose power was strong enough to block other immortals, affecting them as easily as they affected humans.

“I kept asking to make sure I was not bringing you in on my most guarded secret without a very good cause.” She sighed, gesturing for him to take a seat on the chair beside the bed.

“What I am going to reveal, I shared out of necessity only with Alena.

And now I am sharing it with you… The way we turn our girls is not the way we led everyone to believe we do. They cannot turn just by being exposed to my magnificent self.” She smiled sheepishly as she paused for effect. “I give them a small infusion of my blood to facilitate the change.”

Kian was speechless for a moment. “No wonder you kept it secret. I assume only your blood works? Obviously, if anybody else’s had, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal.”

“Now you understand why I cannot risk it leaking out. I would become even more of a target than I already am. This information must not fall into the wrong hands by someone blurting it accidentally, or it being tortured out of them.”

“Yes, you were right to keep it a secret. So how does it work? Was it always done like that with the girls?”

“No, it was not needed when there were enough boys from different matrilineal descent to facilitate the change. The girls were turned at around the same age as the boys, at puberty. It was such a lovely ceremony, similar to an engagement party but not as binding. The girl’s family would choose an older transitioned boy, or her future intended if there was one, and throw a big party with lots of food and entertainment. Scantily clothed dancers would put on a show to arouse their audience with their erotic and enticing moves.

And at the end of it, the young couple would be escorted to a secluded room for the girl’s first kiss and her first bite. Nothing more was allowed, and knowing the consequences, no boy ever crossed the line. A paid substitute was provided for him if later his need became too pressing. And it wasn’t because premarital sex was allowed for the boys and not for the girls or any such nonsense; it was just discouraged for those not yet seventeen. In most cases, one bite was enough, but occasionally the boy was called for a repeat performance.” With a wistful smile on her lovely face, Annani gazed blankly at the wall.

“So how did you come up with the idea of giving them your blood? Was it ever done before?”

“No. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and I was desperate.

We could not use our boys to turn the girls; it would have been considered incest, and as far as we knew, it would carry disastrous consequences. I remembered my uncle mentioning that even a small amount of a god’s blood could bring miraculous healing to a mortal, and I figured it was worth a try.

The first Dormant girl child was born, of course, to Alena, so obviously I had to ask her permission before trying something potentially dangerous on her daughter. She agreed that we had to try; otherwise, we would’ve been doomed to extinction and her female children to mortality. Luckily, by the time her first son was born, you were old enough to be his initiator. And the rest is history. We decided to keep it to ourselves, and concocted the story of my amazing ability to bring about the change by my godly presence alone.

Truthfully, I did not think anyone would buy it, but they did.” Annani shrugged her bare shoulders.

“That’s the real reason you came.” Kian stated the obvious.

“I would have come regardless, but yes. Your girl should have been fine with your venom alone, but she is not. I figured I could increase her chances of survival by giving her a boost with a tiny infusion of my blood. If she makes it… when she makes it… Syssi could become the mother of a new line, and her descendants could mate with mine. There will be no more need for my blood. She is the key to our future, Kian. I am happy you love her and she loves you back, but I think I would have done it even if that was not the case. She is just too important.”